How to Delete a Managed Page on Facebook

Decided it’s time to say goodbye to one of your Facebook Pages? Whether your brand has evolved, you're simplifying your online presence, or a project has run its course, deleting a Page is sometimes a necessary step. This guide gives you the direct, step-by-step instructions for permanently removing your Page from both desktop and mobile, and a pre-deletion checklist to make sure you don't lose anything important along the way.

Before You Hit Delete: A Pre-Deletion Checklist

Permanently deleting a Facebook Page is a big step, and you can’t undo it after the 30-day grace period. Before you proceed, running through this quick checklist can save you from future headaches and potential data loss. Don’t skip these steps - your future self will thank you.

1. Know the Difference: Deleting vs. Unpublishing a Page

First, be absolutely certain that deletion is what you want. Facebook offers two options for taking a Page offline, and they serve very different purposes:

• Unpublishing a Page: This action makes your Page invisible to the public, including people who have liked it. However, the Page still exists, and as a Page Admin, you can still see and edit it. All your content, followers, and settings are preserved. This is a great temporary solution if you're rebranding or need to pause your social media activity without losing your work. You can republish it at any time.
• Deleting a Page: This is a permanent action. When you delete a Page, you are telling Facebook to permanently remove all of its content, followers, insights, and settings. After a 30-day grace period (during which you can change your mind), the Page is gone forever. This is the right choice if you are completely done with the Page and never intend to use it again.

If you just need a break, choose to unpublish. If you’re ready to remove it for good, proceed with deletion.

2. Announce the Change to Your Followers

If you have an active community, don’t just vanish without a word. It’s good practice to post a final update informing your audience about the change a week or two ahead of time. You can let them know why the Page is closing and, if applicable, direct them to your new social media home, website, or other Facebook Page. This maintains goodwill and ensures your most loyal followers can find you elsewhere.

3. Download a Copy of Your Page Content

This is arguably the most important pre-deletion step. Your Facebook Page might hold years of posts, photos, videos, messages, and valuable community interactions. You don't want to lose all that history. Facebook allows you to download a complete archive of your Page's information.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Navigate to your Page and click on Settings.
2. In the left-hand menu, click on Privacy, then select Your Facebook Page Information.
3. Next to Download Your Page Information, click on View.
4. You can choose a date range, format (HTML is easier for offline viewing, JSON is for importing to another service), and media quality. You can also select which types of data you want to download. To be safe, just download everything.
5. Click Request a download.

The process can take a few hours or even days depending on how much content you have. Facebook will notify you when your file is ready to download. Securely save this file on your computer or a cloud drive.

How to Delete Your Facebook Page: The Step-by-Step Guide

Once you’ve backed up your data and you’re ready to proceed, you can begin the deletion process. The steps are slightly different depending on whether you are using the classic Page experience or the newer Page experience, and whether you're on a computer or your phone.

Deleting a Facebook Page from a Desktop Computer (New Pages Experience)

Most pages have been migrated to the "New Pages Experience," which has a slightly different interface. Here’s the updated way to delete your Page:

1. Log into Facebook and switch to the profile of the Page you want to delete. You can do this by clicking your profile picture in the top-right corner and selecting the Page.
2. Once you're acting as the Page, click on its profile picture in the top-right corner again and select Settings & privacy, then click Settings.
3. In the left-hand menu, click on Privacy, then choose Facebook Page Information.
4. Scroll to the section titled Deactivation and deletion and click View.
5. You'll be given the option to Deactivate or Delete. Select Delete Page and click Continue.
6. Facebook will ask for your password to confirm the action. Enter it and click Continue to schedule the Page for permanent deletion.

Deleting a Facebook Page from the Mobile App (iOS & Android)

You can also easily delete a Page from the Facebook app on your phone. The process is very similar to the desktop one.

1. Open the Facebook app and tap your profile picture (or the Menu icon, three horizontal lines) in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the drop-down menu at the top of the screen to switch to the Page profile you want to delete.
3. Once you’re controlling the Page, tap on the Menu icon again.
4. Scroll down and tap on Settings & privacy, then tap Settings.
5. In the search bar at the top of the Settings page, type "delete" and select "Delete [Your Page Name]'s page and information".
6. Choose Delete Page from the options and tap Continue.
7. Follow the on-screen prompts, enter your password to confirm, and finalize the deletion request.

What Happens After You Start the Deletion Process?

Hitting "delete" doesn't make your Page disappear instantly. You have a chance to reconsider.

• Your Page is Unpublished Immediately: As soon as you confirm the deletion, your Page is taken offline. It becomes inaccessible to the public.
• You Have a 30-Day Recovery Window: Facebook holds your Page in a pending deletion state for 30 days. During this time, you have the option to reactivate it. If you log back into the Page as an Admin within this window, you’ll see an option to cancel the deletion.
• After 30 Days, It's Gone Forever: Once the 30-day period passes, the Page and all its content are permanently and irrevocably deleted. You cannot get it back. Your Page name also becomes available for others to claim.

Can't Delete Your Page? Common Issues and Fixes

Sometimes you might hit a roadblock while trying to delete your Page. Here are a few common problems and how to solve them.

Problem: You Don’t See the Option to Delete the Page

Solution: You likely don't have the necessary administrative permissions. Only users with a full Admin role can delete a Facebook Page. Roles like Editor, Moderator, or Advertiser do not have deletion privileges. Check your Page role under Settings > Page Access. If you're not an Admin, you’ll need to ask someone who is an Admin to either delete the Page for you or grant you full "Facebook access" with Admin permissions.

Problem: Your Page is Part of a Meta Business Suite or Business Manager Account

Solution: If you manage your Page through Meta Business Suite (formerly Business Manager), the deletion process is slightly more complex. In some cases, you may need to remove the Page from your Business Portfolio (Business Account) before Facebook lets you delete it through Page Settings.

• Go to business.facebook.com/settings.
• Navigate to Accounts > Pages.
• Select the Page you want to delete and click Remove. You must be an admin of the business account.

Once it’s removed from the Business Account, you should be able to follow the standard deletion steps listed above.

Problem: The Page's Content and Likes Were Merged from Another Page

Solution: If your Page was once merged with another, it might have inherited certain restrictions that can interfere with deletion. This is a rarer issue, but it can happen. In this scenario, you may need to file a formal support request with Facebook to get the restriction lifted. Navigate to the Facebook Help Center and look for an option to contact support about Page issues.

Final Thoughts

Deleting a Facebook Page is a decisive step, but following the right procedure ensures a clean, worry-free process. By preparing ahead of time, backing up your valuable content, and understanding the steps involved, you can confidently remove your Page and focus your efforts where they matter most.

Sometimes, pruning old projects is about focusing your brand's voice on the platforms that drive real results. Juggling too many profiles can lead to burnout - one of the reasons some people decide to delete a page in the first place. At Postbase, we built our platform to help you manage the social channels that truly matter with less stress and more creative freedom. Instead of hopping between platforms, you can see your entire strategy in one visual calendar, manage all your engagement in a single inbox, and schedule video content that actually publishes reliably, every time.