How to Delete a Meta Facebook Account

Thinking about deleting your Meta Facebook account for good? You've come to the right place. This guide gives you everything you need to know, from the crucial differences between deactivating and deleting to a complete step-by-step walkthrough for permanently removing your profile. We’ll cover how to save your data, navigate Meta's Accounts Center, and what really happens after you hit that final delete button.

Deactivate or Delete? Making the Right Choice

Before you get rid of your account, it's important to understand the two options Meta gives you. They might sound similar, but their consequences are drastically different. One is a temporary pause, while the other is a permanent goodbye.

Deactivating Your Account: The Temporary Break

Think of deactivation as putting your account on hold. Your profile disappears from public view, but your data remains on Facebook's servers, ready for when you decide to return. It’s the perfect choice if you just need a digital detox, want to take a short break, or aren’t 100% sure you want to leave forever.

When you deactivate your Facebook account:

• Your profile, photos, timeline, and posts are hidden from other users. They won’t be able to search for you or view your profile.
• Some information, like messages you’ve sent to friends, may still be visible in their inbox.
• Your name might still appear on friends' lists, but only for them to see.
• You can continue to use Facebook Messenger. Your profile picture will still be visible in your chats, and people can still send you messages.
• You can reactivate your account at any time by simply logging back in with your email and password. All your previous settings, friends, and content will be restored as if you never left.

Deleting Your Account: The Permanent Solution

Deletion is the nuclear option. When you choose to delete your account, you are telling Meta to permanently erase all of your data. This action is irreversible. After a 30-day grace period, there’s no coming back.

When you permanently delete your Facebook account:

• You will never be able to regain access to your account.
• All of your content - including photos, videos, posts, and status updates - will be permanently deleted. You cannot retrieve anything you haven't saved beforehand.
• Your access to Facebook Messenger will also be deleted. Your message history will be gone from your end. Similar to deactivation, people you’ve messaged may still have copies of those conversations.
• You will no longer be able to use Facebook Login for other apps or websites you've signed up for with your Facebook account (like Spotify, Instagram, or Airbnb). You'll need to create new login credentials for those services.
• There is a 30-day window after you initiate the deletion process where you can cancel it by logging back in. After those 30 days are up, the process starts, and your account and information are gone for good.

Your Pre-Deletion Checklist: 3 Things to Do First

Jumping straight to deletion can lead to lost memories and unintended consequences. Before you commit, run through this simple three-step checklist to make the process smooth and regret-free.

1. Download a Copy of Your Information

Your Facebook profile likely holds years of photos, conversations, and memories. Before deleting it forever, it's wise to download an archive of your information. This backup will include things like:

• Posts, photos, and videos you've shared
• Your private messages
• A list of your friends
• Information from your profile's 'About' section

To start your download, navigate to Settings & Privacy >, Settings >, Accounts Center >, Your information and permissions >, Download your information. From there, you can request a file containing all your data. This process can take some time, so be sure to do it well before you plan to delete your account.

2. Check Your Third-Party App Logins

Over the years, you’ve probably used your Facebook account to sign into dozens of other websites and apps. It’s convenient, but once your account is deleted, all of those logins will stop working. This could lock you out of a service you rely on.

To find out which services are connected to your account, go to Settings & Privacy >, Settings >, Apps and Websites. You’ll see a list of every app and website connected to your Facebook profile. Go through the list and create new logins (using an email and password) for any services you want to keep using.

3. Manage Your Pages and Groups

Are you the sole administrator of a Facebook Page or Group? If so, deleting your account will leave that Page or Group without an admin, and it will likely be removed. To prevent this, you must transfer ownership to someone else before you delete your account.

For a Page, go to the Page's settings and add another user as an Admin with "Full Control." For a Group, navigate to the "Members" section of your group and grant Admin privileges to another member.

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

If you've decided on a temporary break, deactivating is a simple process. The steps are almost identical whether you’re on a computer or your phone, as Meta now funnels this process through its central "Accounts Center."

On a Desktop Browser:

1. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings & privacy, then click Settings.
2. In the left-hand menu, click on Accounts Center. This will take you to your Meta account management dashboard.
3. From the Accounts Center menu, select Personal details.
4. Next, click on Account ownership and control.
5. Choose Deactivation or deletion.
6. Select the Facebook account you wish to deactivate.
7. Make sure Deactivate account is selected, and click Continue. You'll be prompted to enter your password for security, and then you can confirm the deactivation.

On the Mobile App (iOS & Android):

1. Tap the hamburger menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom-right corner (iOS) or top-right corner (Android).
2. Scroll down and tap Settings & privacy, then tap Settings.
3. At the very top of the screen, tap the Accounts Center section.
4. Under "Account settings," tap Personal details.
5. Tap on Account ownership and control.
6. Tap Deactivation or deletion.
7. Choose the account you want to deactivate.
8. Confirm that Deactivate account is selected and tap Continue. Follow the on-screen prompts and enter your password to finalize.

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

If you're completely sure you want to erase your digital footprint on Facebook, this is the final step. Following your pre-deletion checklist is highly recommended. The process itself is straightforward and, just like deactivation, is managed through the Meta Accounts Center.

On a Desktop Browser:

1. Follow steps 1-6 from the deactivation guide above. Essentially, navigate to Settings & privacy >, Settings >, Accounts Center >, Personal details >, Account ownership and control >, Deactivation or deletion and select your account.
2. On the next screen, choose Delete account instead of deactivate. Click Continue.
3. Facebook will ask why you are deleting your account and give you alternatives. You can provide a reason or just click Continue.
4. You'll be shown a final confirmation page detailing what will be deleted. It will again remind you to download your information. If you're ready, click Continue one last time.
5. Enter your password for final verification and click Delete Account. Your account is now scheduled for permanent deletion.

On the Mobile App (iOS & Android):

1. Follow steps 1-7 from the mobile deactivation guide. This will land you on the same "Deactivation or deletion" screen.
2. Select Delete account from the options and tap Continue.
3. Similar to the desktop version, Meta will ask for a reason. Select an option or simply tap Continue to proceed.
4. You will be presented with the final confirmation of permanent deletion. After reviewing it, tap Continue.
5. Finally, enter your password and tap the final Delete Account button.

What Happens After You Request Deletion?

Once you've confirmed your deletion request, your account doesn't vanish instantly. Meta gives you a 30-day grace period to reconsider your decision.

During these 30 days, your account is essentially in a deactivated state - it’s invisible to everyone else on Facebook. If you change your mind at any point within this window, you can cancel the deletion process simply by logging back into your account. Doing so will restore your profile and all of your information.

However, if you do not log in for 30 days, the permanent deletion process begins. At that point, your account and all associated data, including messages and photos, will be removed forever and cannot be recovered.

Final Thoughts

Deleting your Meta Facebook account is a significant decision, but it’s one that puts you in firm control of your digital identity. By understanding the difference between a temporary deactivation and a permanent deletion, and by carefully preparing with a pre-deletion checklist, you can move forward confidently and without losing any important memories or access to your other digital services.

As you curate your online presence, managing your professional or brand accounts can become an even bigger priority. With fewer personal distractions, you can focus on strategies that genuinely work. We created Postbase for just that reason - to offer a clean, reliable, and modern way to handle social media management without the overwhelming complexity. It's designed for today's video-first world, helping you plan, schedule, and analyze your content across all platforms from a single, intuitive view, making social marketing simpler and more intentional.