How to Deactivate a Business Page on Facebook

Thinking of stepping back from your Facebook Business Page? Whether you're rebranding, shutting down, or just need to hit the pause button, deactivating or deleting your page is a clear, manageable process. This guide will walk you through the differences between deactivating and deleting, provide a checklist of tasks to handle first, and give you step-by-step instructions for getting it done right.

Deactivate vs. Delete: What’s the Big Difference?

Before you make any changes, it’s important to understand the two options Facebook gives you, as they have very different outcomes. One is a temporary pause, while the other is a permanent decision.

Deactivating a Facebook Page (The Temporary Option)

Deactivating a Page used to be called "unpublishing." Functionally, it's the same idea: you're taking your Page offline temporarily without losing any of your hard work. Think of it like putting your Page in storage.

• It's fully reversible. You can reactivate (or re-publish) your Page whenever you’re ready, and it will reappear exactly as you left it.
• Your page becomes invisible. No one from the public can see your Page, find it in a search, or view your content.
• All your content is saved. Your posts, photos, videos, reviews, and follower list remain intact behind the scenes.
• You retain full admin access. As an admin, you can still view the page, see insights, and make changes to the content while it’s deactivated.

When should you deactivate? Deactivation is the perfect choice for seasonal businesses pausing for the off-season, brands undergoing a major rebranding, or founders who just need to take a break from social media management without torching their existing community.

Deleting a Facebook Page (The Permanent Option)

Deleting a Page is exactly what it sounds like. It is a permanent, irreversible action that erases your Page and all its content from Facebook for good.

• It is not reversible. After a 30-day grace period, there is no way to recover your Page or its content.
• Everything will be gone forever. All your posts, photos, videos, followers, likes, check-ins, and reviews will be permanently deleted.
• Your Page username is released. Once the deletion is final, your unique Page URL/@username will become available for other users to claim.

When should you delete? Deletion is best for businesses that are closing permanently, getting acquired, or merging two duplicate Pages into one definitive brand presence. If there is even a small chance you might want to return to the Page someday, choose deactivation instead.

Your Pre-Flight Checklist: 4 Things to Do Before Deactivation or Deletion

Jumping straight to deactivation might feel like the quickest option, but taking a few minutes to prepare will save you potential headaches down the road. Here's a quick checklist to run through.

1. Download a Copy of Your Page Data

Years of posts, photos, and messages hold valuable business history. Before you delete anything, download a complete backup of your Page. Facebook allows you to export all your information, including posts, photos, videos, Page info, and more, into a downloadable folder. Even if you're just deactivating, this is a smart practice for data security.

You can find this option in your Page’s settings under Privacy > Your Facebook Information > Download Profile Information.

2. Inform Your Followers

Don't disappear without a word! If you have an engaged audience, it's good practice to post a final message letting them know about the change. This helps manage customer expectations and preserves the goodwill you’ve built.

• If you’re moving, direct them to your new social media accounts, website, or newsletter.
• If you’re taking a break, let them know you're pausing your Page and when they might expect to hear from you again.
• If you’re closing, thank them for their support and provide any necessary details about the business shuttering.

3. Check Your Connected Apps and Ad Campaigns

Your Facebook Page often acts as a central hub for other tools. Disconnecting it can have a ripple effect you may not have considered. Run through this list:

• Instagram Account: Is your Page linked to an Instagram Business or Creator account? Removing the Page will sever this link, impacting your ability to run ads or access certain business features on Instagram. You may need to connect it to a different Page or convert your Instagram back to a personal profile.
• Meta Business Suite: If you manage assets here, ensure that deleting the Page won't remove access to something else you need, like an Ad Account or Pixel.
• Third-Party Apps: Do you use tools for website logins, comment management, or CRM integrations that are connected via your Page? Be prepared to update the settings in those apps.
• Facebook Ads: Log in to Ads Manager and make sure no active campaigns are running from the Page you plan to remove. Deleting the Page will immediately stop those ads.

4. Settle Admin Permissions

If you have a team of people with different roles on the Page, be sure to communicate the upcoming changes. If you are the Page owner and plan to delete it, there’s no need to remove other admins first. However, to avoid any confusion or attempts to reverse the decision, it's a courteous step to let everyone know what is happening.

How to Deactivate Your Facebook Page (Step-by-Step)

Ready to temporarily take your page offline? This process should be done on a desktop computer for the most straightforward experience using Facebook’s New Pages Experience.

1. First, make sure you are in control of your Page. Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of Facebook. Select "See all profiles" and choose the Business Page you want to deactivate.
2. Once you're viewing Facebook as your Page, click your Page’s profile picture in the top-right again to open the menu.
3. Go to Settings &, privacy, and then click on Settings.
4. In the left-hand menu, select Privacy.
5. Next, click on Facebook Page Information.
6. You'll see a list of options. At the bottom, find Deactivation and deletion and click the View button next to it.
7. By default, Deactivate Page should be selected. This is the temporary option. You’ll see a quick explanation of what this means. Click Continue.
8. For security, Facebook will ask you to re-enter your password. Do so and click Continue.
9. Finally, you'll be asked for a reason why you're deactivating. Select one and confirm your choice. Your page will now be invisible to the public until you choose to reactivate it.

To reactivate the page, you can simply log in as an admin, go to settings, and you will see the option to re-publish it.

How to Permanently Delete Your Facebook Page (Step-by-Step)

If you're absolutely certain that you won't need your Page again, follow these steps to delete it for good. Remember, after 30 days, this action is final.

1. As with deactivation, start by switching over to your Business Page profile by clicking your profile picture in the top-right, selecting "See all profiles," and choosing the page.
2. Click on your Page's profile picture again in the top-right corner.
3. Navigate to Settings &, privacy >, Settings.
4. From the left-hand menu, choose Privacy, followed by Facebook Page Information.
5. Find the Deactivation and deletion row and click View.
6. This time, select the Delete Page option. A description of what this permanent action does will appear. Read it carefully and then click Continue.
7. Facebook will again offer you the chance to download your information or transfer a copy. This is your last chance to do so. After reviewing these options, click Continue.
8. Enter your password one last time to confirm your identity and authorize the deletion.
9. Click Continue to schedule the deletion.

Your page will initially be deactivated for 30 days. During this window, you can cancel the deletion by logging in as the page admin and following the on-screen prompts. After 30 days have passed, the Page and all its content will be permanently removed.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're temporarily deactivating a Facebook Page for a rebrand or permanently deleting it as part of a business change, the process is pretty straightforward once you understand the key differences. Just be sure to run through the pre-flight checklist to back up your data and let your audience know what's coming, ensuring you maintain a clean and professional brand experience every step of the way.

Sometimes, business owners think about deactivation because managing multiple social platforms has become too complex and time-consuming, especially with older tools built for a simpler version of the internet. We created Postbase to fix this exact problem, offering a simple, modern platform designed for today's reality of short-form video and constant engagement. If you decide to fire up a new page or simply need a better way to manage your strategy, having a tool that just works can change everything.