How to delete or deactivate your Facebook account

There are many reasons to take a break from Facebook or part ways for good. You may find you’re spending too much time on the platform, or maybe you have concerns about the platform’s effects on your mental health. Or, perhaps you’re alarmed by past data breaches that have exposed over 500 million users’ personal information, and you feel that using the platform isn’t worth the risk to your online privacy.

Whatever your reasoning, keep reading to learn step-by-step how to delete or deactivate your Facebook account, whether you’re using the Facebook app or in a web browser. And remember: if you deactivate your Facebook account, you can reactivate it later. But if you delete it, your account will be gone for good.

How to delete a Facebook account on your phone (iOS and Android apps)

Here’s how to delete your Facebook account using the mobile app. These steps are the same across iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android, so you can follow these directions on any device.

1. Open the Facebook app, then tap the three-line menu in the bottom right or top.

2. Scroll down and tap Settings & privacy, then tap Settings, then Meta Accounts Center.

3. Tap Personal details, and then Account ownership and control.

4. Tap Deactivation or deletion and select your account. Then, select Delete account and tap Continue.

5. Enter your password and follow the instructions to confirm.

How to delete a Facebook account on a computer (PC and Mac)

If you want to delete your Facebook account using the web version, follow the steps below. Note that the steps are the same whether you’re using a Mac or PC and are very similar to the mobile app instructions.

1. Go to Facebook.com.
2. Click your profile picture in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Click Settings & privacy > Settings.
4. Click Meta Accounts Center > Personal details > Account ownership and control.
5. Click Deactivation or deletion and select your account.
6. Select Delete account > Continue.
7. Enter your password and follow the instructions to confirm.

How to deactivate and reactivate your Facebook account

To deactivate your Facebook account, follow the same instructions as deleting, but select Deactivate account instead of Delete account. If you’ve deactivated your Facebook and want to reactivate it, all you have to do is log back into your account with your username and password.

What’s the difference between deactivating and deleting your Facebook account?

Deleting your Facebook account is permanent, but deactivating it is temporary. When you delete your Facebook account, all your content, including photos, videos, and posts, will be gone for good. This removes your personal information from Facebook, reducing the potential negative effects of data leaks on the platform.

But if you delete your account, certain information, such as messages you’ve sent to other users, will still be accessible on other people’s accounts. Additionally, the platform retains backup copies of accounts for 180 days after deletion.

Meanwhile, from a cybersecurity standpoint, only deactivating your Facebook account won’t do much to protect your personal information, since the platform continues to store all of your data.

However, temporarily deactivating your account could be the right choice if you want to hide your profile from other users and take a break from the platform.

Pros and cons of permanently deleting your Facebook account

Here are some advantages and disadvantages to consider before deleting your Facebook account:

Pros and cons of temporarily deactivating your Facebook account

Below are some advantages and disadvantages to think about before you deactivate your Facebook account:

How to download your Facebook account data

You can download a copy of your Facebook account data before deleting it so you don’t lose any of your data, such as photos, videos, or posts.

Here’s how on desktop and mobile:

1. Click your profile pic (computer) or the three-line menu (mobile).
2. Go to Settings & privacy and then Settings.
3. Select Accounts Center, then Your information and permissions.
4. Choose Download your information and then Download or transfer information.
5. Select the relevant profile, then tap Next.
6. Select either Available information or Specific types of information based on your preferences.
7. Choose whether you want to Download to device or Transfer to destination.
8. Follow the on-screen instructions to download or transfer the files.

Reasons why people leave Facebook

People delete Facebook for various reasons, from online privacy concerns to reducing time spent on social media.

Here are some key factors that may cause users to delete their Facebook accounts:

• Privacy concerns that users may have about data collection and the use of security of their personal information.
• Too much personal information shared on Facebook can make some people uneasy, prompting them to delete their accounts to reduce their digital footprint.
• The frequency of scams on social media makes some users nervous, as they fear they may accidentally click a phishing link or fall for a Facebook Marketplace scam. 
• The negative impact on some users’ mental health due to constant comparison and anxiety can prompt some individuals to leave the platform. According to some academic studies, deleting Facebook led to an improvement in subjective well-being for most participants.
• The addictive nature of social media can make it hard for users to turn away. A recent study notes that, on average, users spend 20 minutes per day on Facebook, which equates to 10 hours per month.
• Too many ads on the platform can quickly become annoying and cause users to leave Facebook.

Safeguard your online presence

Even after deleting your Facebook account, plenty of other sensitive data is at risk of online threats. Norton 360 Deluxe helps keep your internet browsing private and monitors the dark web, alerting you if it finds your data has been leaked. It also comes with AI-powered scam detection to help keep you safer online.

FAQs

How do I deactivate my Facebook account?

Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Accounts Center > Personal details > Account ownership and control > Deactivation or deletion > select the relevant account > select Deactivate and follow the prompts.

What happens to your content if you delete Facebook?

If you delete your Facebook, all of your content will be permanently deleted, and you will be unable to access it.

Can you cancel a Facebook account deletion?

Yes, you can cancel a Facebook account deletion within 30 days by logging back into your account. After the grace period, your account will be permanently deleted.

Why can’t I delete my Facebook account?

Some users have reported difficulty deleting their Facebook account. If you encounter this issue, try navigating directly to the Facebook deletion page.

Additionally, note that Facebook delays the deletion for 30 days after it’s initiated, and if you log back into your account within 30 days, the deletion will be canceled.

How do I make my Facebook more private?

To make Facebook private, go to Settings & privacy, then Settings. Scroll down to Audience and visibility and click through each option to adjust your privacy settings.