If you want to take a break from Facebook or stop using it completely, you have two options: deactivate your account temporarily or delete it permanently. Both options are available through Meta’s Accounts Center, but they have very different consequences.
Deactivating Facebook hides most of your profile while keeping your information so you can return later. Deleting your account is intended to be permanent and removes your profile, photos, posts, videos, and other Facebook data after the deletion process is completed. Before choosing either option, it is worth understanding exactly what will happen.
Deactivate vs. Delete a Facebook Account
Deactivation is the better choice if you are unsure whether you will want Facebook again. Your information is kept, and you can usually reactivate the account simply by logging back in.
Deletion is designed for people who want to leave Facebook permanently. Once the deletion process is complete, you cannot restore the account or recover the information that was removed.
| Option | What happens | Can you return? |
| Deactivate | Your Facebook profile is temporarily hidden | Yes |
| Delete | Your account and most of its content are permanently removed | Only before deletion becomes final |
Another important difference involves Messenger. You can generally continue using Messenger when your Facebook account is deactivated. If you permanently delete your Facebook account, you will no longer be able to use Messenger with that account.
What to Do Before Deleting Facebook
Before permanently deleting Facebook, download any photos, videos, posts, or other information you want to keep. Facebook lets you export a copy of your information through Accounts Center. Once your account has been permanently deleted, you should not expect to be able to recover this data.
You should also check whether you use Facebook to sign in to other apps or websites. Deleting your Facebook account means Facebook Login will no longer work for those services, so set up another login method before deleting your account.
Finally, check that you have selected the correct Facebook profile. Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta profiles can appear together inside Accounts Center.
How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account
You can temporarily deactivate Facebook from the mobile app or a web browser. The exact appearance of the menus may vary slightly depending on the device and version of Facebook you are using.
- Open Facebook and sign in.
- Go to Settings & privacy and select Settings.
- Open Accounts Center.
- Select Personal details.
- Select Account ownership and control.
- Open Deactivation or deletion.
- Choose the Facebook profile you want to deactivate.
- Select Deactivate account.
- Tap or click Continue and follow the instructions.
Facebook may ask you to enter your password and choose a reason for deactivating your account before confirming the change. The current Accounts Center route follows the same general process on mobile and desktop.
What Happens When You Deactivate Facebook?
When you deactivate your Facebook account, other people generally cannot view your profile or the content on your timeline. Facebook keeps your account information, including your photos and posts, so it can be restored if you decide to return.
Some information may remain visible. For example, messages you previously sent to friends can still appear in their conversations, and your name may remain visible in certain places. You can also generally continue using Facebook Messenger while your Facebook account is deactivated.
Deactivation does not have to be permanent. If you only want to take a break from Facebook for a few weeks or months, it is usually a better option than deleting the account.
How to Delete Your Facebook Account Permanently
Permanent deletion is found in the same Accounts Center menu as deactivation.
- Open Facebook and go to Settings & privacy > Settings.
- Open Accounts Center.
- Select Personal details.
- Select Account ownership and control.
- Open Deactivation or deletion.
- Choose the Facebook profile you want to remove.
- Select Delete account.
- Tap or click Continue.
- Follow Facebook’s instructions to confirm permanent deletion.
Facebook may offer you the opportunity to download your information before you finish. Take advantage of this if there are photos, posts, or other data that you may want in the future.
If you cannot find the option, update the Facebook app or try accessing Facebook from a web browser. Meta periodically changes the appearance of Accounts Center, although Deactivation or deletion remains under the account ownership controls in current versions.
What Happens When You Delete Facebook?
Deleting your Facebook account removes your profile and schedules your photos, posts, videos, and other account information for permanent deletion. You will also lose access to Messenger through that Facebook account.
If you use Log in with Facebook on games, apps, or websites, those logins can also stop working. Change the login details for important services before deleting Facebook so you do not accidentally lose access to another account.
Deleting Facebook does not automatically erase messages from another person’s inbox. Copies of messages you previously sent may still be visible to their recipients even after your Facebook account has been deleted. This is an important distinction because deleting your account is not a reliable way to remove messages that other people have already received.
Can You Cancel Facebook Account Deletion?
Facebook currently provides a period after requesting deletion during which you may still be able to change your mind. Current guidance commonly specifies 30 days from the deletion request. After that period, the account can no longer be recovered.
If you recently requested deletion and want to keep the account, sign back into Facebook and follow the option to cancel the deletion if it is still available.
Do not rely on this grace period as a backup plan. Before requesting permanent deletion, download anything you want to keep and make sure deletion is really what you want.
How to Reactivate a Deactivated Facebook Account
Reactivating a temporarily deactivated account is much simpler. In most cases, you only need to log back into Facebook using the email address or phone number and password associated with the account.
Your profile, photos, posts, friends, and other saved information should then become available again.
If you cannot log in, you may need to reset your password or recover access to the account first.
What If You Can’t Access Your Facebook Account?
If you have forgotten your password, use Facebook’s account recovery options before trying to deactivate or delete your account. You may be asked to identify the account using an email address or phone number and verify that the account belongs to you.
If you think your Facebook account has been hacked, focus on recovering and securing it first. Once you regain access, you can return to Accounts Center and choose whether you want to deactivate or permanently delete it.
Facebook generally requires you to have access to the account before making major account changes, which helps prevent someone else from deleting your account without permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deactivation temporarily hides your account and lets you return later. Deletion is intended to permanently remove your account and data.
Yes. You can generally continue using Messenger after deactivating your Facebook account.
Yes. You will lose access to Messenger through the Facebook account you delete.
You may be able to cancel deletion within Facebook’s cancellation period. After permanent deletion, the account cannot be recovered.
Not necessarily. Messages you previously sent may remain visible in other people’s inboxes.
No. Deleting your Facebook account does not automatically delete a separate Instagram account, even if both are connected through Accounts Center.
