Updated on 6/30/2023 with Meta Accounts Center instructions.
Ever think about deleting your Facebook account? Perhaps you don’t want to worry about the privacy threat you and your spouse pose when posting. Or maybe you’d like some time back in your life and simply want to spend less time online.
Whatever your reason for ditching Facebook, you should know that deleting your account is a relatively easy thing to do. There are two ways to quit – one that’s reversible in case you change your mind, and the other permanent, for those who are certain they want out.
Deleting Your Facebook Account
Deleting your Facebook account is only an option for people who are absolutely sure they’re never coming back to Facebook and don’t mind the idea of starting from scratch in the event they do change their minds.
When you delete your account, Facebook permanently removes it. Facebook says the deletion process typically takes about one month although “some information may remain in backup copies and logs for up to 90 days.”
To delete your account, visit the Account ownership and control page in your Meta Accounts Center on your computer (if you aren’t seeing the Meta Accounts Center, go to facebook.com/deactivate_delete_account), select “Delete Account,” select the “Continue” button, and follow the prompts.
On your phone:
- Open the Facebook app.
- Tap your profile icon in the lower right corner.
- Select Settings (cog icon) in the upper right corner.
- Select “Meta Accounts Center.”
- Select “Personal details.”
- Select “Account ownership and control.”
- Select “Deactivation or deletion.”
- Select your account.
- Select “Delete your account” and select “Continue.”
Keep in mind that messages you’ve sent to other people or posts you’ve shared with groups remain on Facebook even after you delete your account.
How to Download Your Facebook Data
Before permanently deleting your account, you may want to see the information the Facebook has stored about you and your activities. To check it out, go to the Facebook Your Information page. It’s advisable to download a copy of all the data Facebook has on you. On your computer:
- On Facebook.com, select your profile icon in the upper right corner.
- Select “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings.”
- In the “Your Facebook Information” section, select “Download profile information.”
On your phone, go to the Facebook app and then
- Open the Facebook app.
- Tap your profile icon in the lower right corner.
- Select Settings (cog icon) in the upper right corner.
- Scroll down to “Your Information ” and select “Download your information.”
- Select the information you want to download (by default, all data is selected) and tap the “Create File” button.
Even if you’re staying on Facebook it’s a good idea – you might be surprised at how much there is.
Why do you want all your data? For one thing, it’s pretty enlightening to see the vast amount of information you’ve shared on Facebook. Even casual users may find that they’ve shared an incredible amount of information about myself.
If you do decide to download your personal archive, make sure to store it somewhere safe. It will likely be a huge repository of personal information you likely don’t want to share with others.
Deactivating Your Facebook Account
Deactivating your account is an alternative to deleting: it puts your account on hold and hides your timeline on the site. Facebook doesn’t delete any of your information just in case you want to come back into the fold. I’ve actually used this option in the past and it’s an easy way to take a break from Facebook and then later switch the lights back on. Once you do, everything comes back – your friends, your likes, previous posts and anything else you did at the site.
You should know, however, deactivating your account does not remove your name from your friends’ lists of friends. If it bothers you that your friends might wonder why they’re not seeing your posts, but can still see you as a friend, it might make sense to let them know you’re leaving the network for a while.
To delete your account, visit the Account ownership and control page in your Meta Accounts Center on your computer (if you aren’t seeing the Meta Accounts Center, go to facebook.com/deactivate_delete_account), select “Deactivate Account,” click on the “Continue” button, and follow the prompts.
On your phone:
- Open the Facebook app.
- Tap your profile icon in the lower right corner.
- Select Settings (cog icon) in the upper right corner.
- Select “Meta Accounts Center.”
- Select “Personal details.”
- Select “Account ownership and control.”
- Select “Deactivation or deletion.”
- Select your account.
- Select “Deactivate your account” and select “Continue.”
[EDITOR’S NOTE: If you can no longer access your Facebook account because you don’t remember the login, read our article on How to Delete an Old Facebook Account When You Can’t Log In]
[Image credit: screenshots via Techlicious, laptop image via Smartmockups]
For the past 20+ years, Techlicious founder Suzanne Kantra has been exploring and writing about the world’s most exciting and important science and technology issues. Prior to Techlicious, Suzanne was the Technology Editor for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and the Senior Technology Editor for Popular Science. Suzanne has been featured on CNN, CBS, and NBC.
