How to Delete Your Facebook Account Permanently
After years of photos, check-ins and birthday reminders, many people decide they are ready to leave Facebook for good. Others want a break, more privacy or fewer distractions. Facebook moved its delete option into the Accounts Center, so even people who have tried before often cannot find it.
This guide shows how to delete your Facebook account permanently on a phone or computer, how to deactivate it instead, what to do first so you do not lose anything important, and what happens to Messenger. It also answers the most common questions from Reddit and Google.
Quick answer: To delete your Facebook account, open Facebook, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Center. Tap Personal details, then Account ownership and control, then Deactivation or deletion. Select your account, choose Delete account, follow the prompts and enter your password. Facebook keeps your account for 30 days in case you change your mind, and logging in during that time cancels the deletion. Download your data first and transfer any Pages or Groups you manage.
Before You Delete Facebook: 5 Things to Do
- Download your information. In Accounts Center, go to Your information and permissions, then Download your information. HTML is easiest to browse.
- Transfer Pages and Groups. Add another admin, or they may become inaccessible.
- Update app logins. If you use “Log in with Facebook” for other apps or sites, switch them to email logins first.
- Handle ads and business tools. Stop active ad campaigns and remove business assets.
- Save contacts. Note phone numbers or emails for friends you only reach on Facebook.
How to Delete Your Facebook Account on iPhone or Android
- Open the Facebook app and tap the menu (three lines or your profile picture).
- Tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
- Tap Accounts Center.
- Tap Personal details, then Account ownership and control.
- Tap Deactivation or deletion and choose your account.
- Select Delete account, tap Continue and follow the prompts.
- Enter your password and confirm.
How to Delete Your Facebook Account on a Computer
- Go to facebook.com and click your profile picture in the top right.
- Click Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
- Click Accounts Center.
- Go to Personal details, then Account ownership and control, then Deactivation or deletion.
- Select your account, choose Delete account, enter your password and confirm.
These steps match current guides such as DevX’s 2026 walkthrough.
Delete vs. Deactivate Facebook
| Deactivate | Delete | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile visible? | No | No, then removed |
| Messenger | Still works | Removed |
| Come back? | Log in anytime | Only within 30 days |
| Photos and posts | Saved | Permanently erased |
What Happens After You Delete Facebook
- Your profile disappears from Facebook right away.
- After 30 days, your account and content are permanently deleted.
- Backup copies may take up to 90 more days to be removed from Meta’s systems.
- Messages you sent stay in other people’s inboxes.
- Your Instagram account is not affected. See how to delete your Instagram account.
Not Ready to Leave? Alternatives to Deleting
Many people delete Facebook because of privacy worries, too many ads or endless scrolling. If that sounds like you, these settings may solve the problem without losing years of memories:
- Run a Privacy Checkup under Settings & Privacy to control who sees your posts, profile and friend list.
- Limit past posts so old public posts are visible to friends only.
- Turn off off-Facebook activity in Accounts Center to reduce tracking from other apps and websites.
- Adjust ad preferences to see fewer targeted ads.
- Unfollow or snooze people and Pages that fill your feed.
- Turn off notifications or remove the app from your phone and only check it on a computer.
How Long Does It Take to Delete Facebook?
Requesting deletion takes about two minutes. The account then sits in a 30-day waiting period, and after that Facebook begins permanently removing your data. Meta says it can take up to 90 days after deletion begins to remove everything from backup systems, but your account is not visible to anyone during that time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cancel Facebook account deletion?
Log in within 30 days and choose to cancel the deletion.
Can I delete Facebook but keep Messenger?
No. Deleting Facebook removes Messenger too. Deactivating Facebook lets you keep using Messenger.
How do I delete Facebook if I cannot log in?
Recover your account first using the Forgot Password option, then follow the deletion steps.
How do I delete a Facebook account of someone who passed away?
Family members can request removal or memorialization through Facebook’s Help Center.
Can I stop Meta AI without deleting Facebook?
You can mute it. See how to turn off Meta AI.
The Bottom Line
To delete your Facebook account, download your data, hand off Pages and app logins, then go to Accounts Center, Personal details, Account ownership and control, Deactivation or deletion, and choose Delete account. Stay logged out for 30 days. Deactivate instead if you want to keep Messenger.
Steps were accurate at the time of writing. Facebook changes its menus often, so labels may differ slightly.
