How to Delete Your Facebook Account (or Deactivate It)
Go to Accounts Center, Personal details, Account ownership and control, then Deactivation or deletion. Deleting is final after 30 days. Steps and what to save.
To delete your Facebook account, open Settings, go to Accounts Center, then Personal details, then Account ownership and control, and pick Deactivation or deletion. Choose Delete and confirm. You've got 30 days to change your mind. "After 30 days, your account and all your information will be permanently deleted," Facebook's help center says. If you only want a break, deactivate instead. It hides your profile and keeps everything.
We read Facebook's help center as Google showed it, and the Australian eSafety Commissioner's Be Connected guide, on October 23, 2026. Facebook's own pages refuse our reader, so the steps are quoted from Google's view of them.
How do you delete your Facebook account?
Facebook's help center starts the path from your profile:
- "From your main profile, tap Menu at the top right of Facebook."
- "Scroll down and tap Settings & privacy, then tap Settings."
- Open Accounts Center, then Personal details.
- Tap Account ownership and control, then Deactivation or deletion.
- Choose your Facebook profile, pick Delete account and follow the steps.
On a computer, PCMag's February 2026 guide gives the same route: "Meta Accounts Center to find Personal details > Account Ownership and Control > Deactivation or deletion." You'll be asked for your password at the end.
"How to delete facebook account" gets about 450,000 searches a month, up 15% in recent months.
What's the difference between deactivating and deleting?
| What happens | Deactivate | Delete |
|---|---|---|
| Your profile | Hidden from everyone | Gone after 30 days |
| Photos, posts and videos | Kept | Deleted, finishing within 90 days |
| Messenger | Still works | Goes with the account |
| Coming back | Reactivate anytime | Log back in within 30 days to cancel |
Facebook's help center as Google showed it, and eSafety's Be Connected guide, read October 23, 2026.
When you deactivate, "People won't be able to see or go to your Facebook profile," and "Your photos, posts and videos won't be deleted," Facebook says. "You can still use Facebook Messenger," it adds. eSafety's guide says it's "a temporary measure that gives you the option to reactivate your account whenever you're ready." Some things stay visible while you're away, though. Messages you sent to friends "may still be visible," Facebook's help center says.
Deleting goes further. After the 30 days, Facebook says "you won't be able to retrieve your information," and that it "may take up to 90 days" to finish. eSafety's guide adds that "Messenger and all your messages will also be deleted," and that you can't use Facebook to sign in to other apps anymore.
Can you cancel a Facebook account deletion?
Yes, if you're quick. Facebook says "A deletion request is cancelled if you log back into your Facebook profile" during the waiting period. Log in before the 30 days run out, and cancel the deletion.
What should you do before you delete Facebook?
- Download your information. Facebook lets you export your data first, eSafety says, so save your photos before they're gone.
- Check apps you sign in to with Facebook. That sign-in stops working once the account's deleted.
- Keep Messenger in mind. If you still need it, deactivating is the safer choice.
- Your Instagram stays. eSafety's guide says you "will still be able to access" an Instagram account, since it's separate.
- Going private may be enough. If you only want strangers out, our guide to making Facebook private covers your posts, your friends list and the profile lock.
Watch out for fake help numbers
Searching for this brings up Facebook group posts that copy the real steps and add phone numbers to call. We saw several in September and October 2026. Facebook's own deletion steps don't include a phone number, so don't call one, and never give anyone your password or a login code.
Deleting Instagram too?
It's a separate account with its own steps. Our guide to deactivating or deleting Instagram covers them. If you're keeping Facebook for a Page or a business instead, our guides to Facebook monetization and the best time to post on Facebook cover what helps a Page grow.
Frequently asked questions
How do I permanently delete my Facebook account?
Go to Settings, Accounts Center, Personal details, Account ownership and control, then Deactivation or deletion, and choose Delete. It becomes permanent after 30 days.
How long does Facebook take to delete an account?
The account is deleted after 30 days, and Facebook says finishing the deletion may take up to 90 days.
What's the difference between deactivating and deleting Facebook?
Deactivating hides your profile and keeps your data, and you can come back anytime. Deleting removes it for good after 30 days.
Can I still use Messenger if I deactivate Facebook?
Yes. Facebook says you can still use Messenger while your account is deactivated.
Does deleting Facebook delete Instagram?
No. eSafety's guide says you'll still be able to access your Instagram account.
Sources
- Facebook Help Center, "Delete your Facebook profile," "Deactivate your Facebook profile" and its page on deactivated accounts, as Google showed them on October 23, 2026
- eSafety Commissioner, Be Connected, "How to deactivate or delete Facebook," read through our server on October 23, 2026
- PCMag, "How to Delete Your Facebook Account," February 6, 2026, as Google showed it on October 23, 2026
- Google Ads Keyword Planner, worldwide, read October 23, 2026
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