How to Delete a Business Profile on Facebook

Thinking about deleting your Facebook Business Profile? Whether it's a duplicate page from an old marketing experiment, a business you recently sold, or a project you've moved on from, getting rid of an old page can feel like necessary spring cleaning for your digital presence. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from the important prep work to the final click, ensuring your page deletion process is smooth and permanent.

Deactivate vs. Delete: What’s the Right Choice?

Before you commit, it's important to understand the two options Facebook gives you. One is temporary, while the other is a permanent, no-turning-back decision.

Deactivating a Facebook Page

Think of deactivation as putting your Page into hibernation. It’s a temporary solution for when you want to take a break but aren't ready to say goodbye forever.

• What happens: Your Page becomes invisible to the public. People won't be able to search for it or see its content.
• Your admin abilities: You can still access the Page's settings and see insights, but you can't post new content. You can also still receive messages, but your Page won't show up in search results for people who want to message you.
• Can you get it back? Yes. At any time, you can sign back in as an admin and reactivate the page, bringing all your content, photos, and followers back online exactly as they were.

This is a good option if: You're rebranding and need the Page hidden temporarily, or you're stepping away from the business for a while but might return later.

Deleting a Facebook Page

Deletion is the final, permanent choice. Once your Page is gone, it's gone for good.

• What happens: You schedule the Page for permanent deletion. Meta provides a 30-day grace period during which the Page is deactivated and hidden from the public. If you do nothing, it will be automatically and permanently deleted after 30 days.
• Your admin abilities: During the 30-day window, you can cancel the deletion process. After that, your access and the Page itself are completely removed.
• Can you get it back? Only within the 30-day grace period. After that, all your content, likes, followers, and Page history are erased forever. There's no recovery option.

This is the right choice if: The business has closed, you created the Page by mistake, you're dealing with a duplicate, or you are absolutely certain you will never need the Page again.

Before You Delete: A Pre-Deletion Checklist

Jumping straight to the delete button can cause headaches later. Running through this checklist first can save you from losing valuable assets and prevent future complications.

1. Confirm You Are an Admin

Only users with full Admin privileges can delete a Page. Editors, Moderators, and other roles don't have this ability. Here's a quick way to check your role:

1. Go to your Facebook Page and look for the left-hand menu.
2. Click on “Professional Dashboard.”
3. In the Professional Dashboard menu, find and click on “Page Access.”
4. You’ll see a list of people with access. Make sure your name is listed under "People with Facebook access," and that it indicates "Full control." If you don't have it, you'll need to ask someone who does to either grant you admin access or handle the deletion themselves.

2. Back Up Your Content

Your Page might hold years of photos, videos, posts, and valuable customer interactions. Since deletion is permanent, downloading a copy of your Page is a smart move.

To download your Page information:

1. Navigate to your Page’s Settings.
2. Click on Privacy, then Facebook Page Information.
3. Find the option that says "Download Page Information" and click "View."
4. You can choose a date range, format (HTML is best for viewing, JSON for importing data elsewhere), and media quality. You can also select which types of data you want (e.g., just Posts and Photos & Videos).
5. Click “Request a Download.” Facebook will process your request, which might take a few hours or days depending on how much content you have. You'll receive a notification when your file is ready to download.

3. Announce the Move to Your Audience

If your Page has an active following, dropping off the face of the platform without a word isn't great for your brand's reputation. A simple "farewell" post is good practice. Let your followers know that the Page is being sunset, and, more importantly, where they can find you now. Link to your website, your Instagram profile, your email newsletter, or any other platform where you'll remain active.

4. Disconnect Any Linked Apps

Over the years, you might have used your Facebook Page to log in to various third-party tools or integrated it with other platforms (like your e-commerce site or a scheduling tool). It's a good idea to visit those platforms directly and disconnect your Page to avoid broken integrations or access issues down the road.

5. Unlink from a Business Manager/Meta Business Suite

This is a common speedbump. If your Page is owned by a Meta Business Suite or Business Manager account, you often can't delete it directly. You first need to remove it from the business portfolio.

Here’s how:

1. Go to business.facebook.com/settings.
2. On the left, select "Business Assets."
3. Find and select the Page you want to remove from the list.
4. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right and select "Remove from Business Account."
5. Once it's removed, it will function as a standalone page again, and you can proceed with the standard deletion steps below. Note: You must be an admin of the Business Account to do this.

How to Delete Your Facebook Business Page: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once you’ve completed the checklist, you’re ready for the main event. Here’s how to do it using Facebook’s updated "New Pages Experience" interface:

1. Switch to Managing Your Page
   On your personal Facebook profile, click your profile picture in the top-right corner, then click "See all profiles." Select the business Page you want to delete. This will switch you from managing your personal account to managing the Page directly.
2. Go to Page Settings
   Once you are acting as your Page, click your Page’s profile picture in the top-right corner again. From the dropdown menu, select "Settings & privacy," and then click "Settings."
3. Navigate to Page Information
   In the main Settings menu on the left, click on "Privacy." Then, in the secondary Privacy menu, click on "Facebook Page Information."
4. Find the Deletion Menu
   You'll see a list of options. Scroll to the bottom and find "Deactivation and Deletion." Click the "View" button next to it.
5. Choose “Delete Page”
   You'll now be presented with the two choices we discussed earlier: Deactivate Page or Delete Page. Select "Delete Page," which notes it is permanent. Click “Continue."
6. Final Steps and Confirmation
   Facebook will give you one last chance to download your information. If you've already done that, you can skip this and just click "Continue." For security, you'll be asked to enter your personal account password to confirm that you are the one authorizing the deletion. After entering your password, click "Continue" one last time.

And that’s it! Your Page is now scheduled for permanent deletion in 30 days. It will be invisible to the public immediately.

What Happens Next? The 30-Day Cancellation Window

If you have a sudden change of heart, you still have 30 days to reverse the decision. To cancel the deletion:

• Log into your personal profile.
• Go back to Settings & privacy > Settings > Privacy > Facebook Page Information.
• You'll see a message that your page is scheduled for deletion with an option to “Cancel Deletion.” Click it, and your Page will be reactivated instantly.

If you don’t take any action within those 30 days, your Page, along with its full history, will be gone for good. There is no support channel or hidden trick to get it back after that point.

Final Thoughts

Getting rid of a defunct Facebook Business Page can clean up your brand identity and help you focus your marketing efforts where they'll have the most impact. By preparing correctly - confirming your admin access, backing up your data, and informing your audience - you can make the deletion process straightforward and stress-free.

We've seen countless marketers get tangled up managing duplicate pages, struggling to keep different brand messages straight because older tools make simple tasks chaotic. We built Postbase to bring clarity to social media management. With one clean visual calendar and a unified inbox for all your active accounts - from Instagram to TikTok to LinkedIn - you can focus your energy on the profiles that truly matter, making it easier to keep your brand strategy sharp and effective, all from one simple dashboard.