How to Delete Your Facebook Account Permanently (2026 Steps)

ByChandra Updated on
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In May 2010, “Quit Facebook Day” asked people fed up with Facebook’s privacy changes to delete Facebook account profiles on 31 May. About 34,000 people pledged to quit, which critics called a flop next to Facebook’s hundreds of millions of users. Today deleting your account is much easier. Here are the current steps.

Delete Facebook account

Quick answer: On Facebook, go to Settings & privacy > Settings > Accounts Center > Personal details > Account ownership and control > Deactivation or deletion. Choose your profile, select Delete account, and confirm with your password. Facebook keeps the account for 30 days in case you change your mind; after that it is permanently deleted.

Before you delete

  • Download your data: Accounts Center > Your information and permissions > Download your information. Choose photos, posts and messages.
  • Check apps that use Facebook Login: switch them to email login, or you may lose access.
  • Pages and groups: add another admin to pages you manage, or they may be deleted with you.
  • Meta accounts: Instagram, Threads and Quest headsets linked via Accounts Center are separate and aren’t deleted automatically.

How to delete your Facebook account

On desktop

  1. Click your profile picture > Settings & privacy > Settings.
  2. Open Accounts Center > Personal details > Account ownership and control.
  3. Choose Deactivation or deletion, pick your Facebook profile, then select Delete account.
  4. Follow the prompts and enter your password.

On the Facebook app

  1. Tap the menu (your profile icon) > Settings & privacy > Settings.
  2. Tap See more in Accounts Center > Personal details > Account ownership and control > Deactivation or deletion.
  3. Select your profile, choose Delete account and confirm.

Menu names can shift slightly; Facebook’s help page on permanent deletion (external site) has the latest wording.

Deactivate vs delete

  • Deactivate: hides your profile, but you can come back any time by logging in. Messenger can stay active.
  • Delete: permanent after 30 days. Your profile, photos and posts are removed, and you can’t reactivate.
  • Messages you sent to friends may still be visible in their inboxes after deletion.

Changed your mind?

Log back in within 30 days and choose Cancel deletion. After the grace period, Facebook says it can take up to 90 days to erase everything from its systems.

Want to clear more of your online footprint? See how to delete your online persona and protect your privacy on X (Twitter).

FAQ

How long does it take to delete a Facebook account?

Deletion starts after a 30-day grace period. Full removal of data can take up to 90 days.

Can I delete Facebook but keep Messenger?

No. Deleting Facebook deletes Messenger too. Deactivating lets you keep using Messenger.

Does deleting Facebook delete Instagram?

No. Instagram is a separate account even if linked in Accounts Center.

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I am a geek, blogger and tech lover. Learning from my experiences in tech and running websites, I share tech tips, solve tech problems and help webmasters succeed. I have been writing QuickOnlineTips since 2004.

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11 Comments

  6. This is just…FUN!!!

    Check out my friend David Ippolito’s hilarious new Facebook Song on YouTube

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDHb4wewAIQ

    Spread the LAUGHTER…

    Reply

  7. Facebook is no where wrong. We online users should watch out our steps while walking in this wide open world (internet).

    I am not interested in deleting my facebook account as i maintain the level of information i wish to share with my community and people.

    Robin
    DailyTUT

    Reply

    1. Hi Robin,

      Here they are not saying FB doesn’t have Privacy issue within their network or among our FB users.

      We can control our Privacy in the Settings. but the issue is our data stored in there is not safe.

      Hope you understand… :)

  8. Hope Those guys understand point.

    In Social Networking no one is big monopoly. Now FB can not claim that values. Need better transparency.

    Try another Social Network site that makes you the Facebook feelings:

    – Made in India.

    Reply