How to delete your Facebook account
Want out of Facebook without the guesswork? I’ll walk you through the exact steps to back up what you need, hand off anything you manage, and permanently delete your account.
Quick note: deactivate vs delete
- Deactivate hides your profile but keeps your data — you can turn it back on anytime and still use Messenger.
- Delete Account schedules permanent deletion. You have about 30 days to change your mind; after that the account is gone and Facebook may take up to 90 days to remove some backups.
Step 1 — Back up your data (do this first)
- Go to Settings & privacy → Settings → Your Facebook Information.
- Choose Download Your Information, pick the date range, format (HTML is easiest to view), and the data categories you want (posts, photos, messages, etc.).
- Click Request Download. Wait until Facebook prepares the file and then download it from the Available Files area or your Notifications.
Step 2 — Transfer or remove admin roles
- If you own Pages: go to each Page → Settings → Page Roles and add another person as Admin. If you’re the only admin, the Page may be unpublished if you delete your account.
- If you run Groups, assign new moderators/admins before leaving.
- For business assets (Business Manager) move ownership or add other admins so services don’t break.
Step 3 — Disconnect apps and cancel subscriptions
- In Settings, open Apps and Websites and remove any sites that use Facebook Login.
- Cancel any active payments or subscriptions tied to Facebook (game credits, promoted posts, etc.).
- Switch other accounts (Instagram, Spotify, etc.) to email/password login if they use Facebook Login.
Step 4 — Delete from a browser (desktop)
- Click the account menu (top-right) → Settings & privacy → Settings.
- Go to Your Facebook Information → Deactivation and Deletion.
- Select Delete Account → Continue to Account Deletion.
- Optionally confirm you downloaded your data and handled pages/apps, then click Delete Account, enter your password, and confirm.
Step 5 — Delete from the mobile app (iOS/Android)
- Open the Facebook app, tap the menu (three lines) → Settings & privacy → Settings.
- Tap Your Facebook Information → Deactivation and Deletion.
- Choose Delete Account, tap Continue, follow the prompts, enter your password, and confirm.
Step 6 — After you hit delete
- You have ~30 days to log back in and cancel deletion. Logging in during that time cancels the process.
- Facebook will start removing your profile; some things (messages you sent to others) may still be visible to them.
- Full removal of backups can take up to 90 days, but your profile won’t be accessible during that period.
Common mistake
A lot of people delete their account without transferring Page or Group ownership or without unlinking third-party services that use Facebook Login — then lose control of business pages or can’t access other apps. Don’t skip Step 2 and Step 3.
Pro Tip
If you’re not 100% sure, try Deactivate first. It gives you a break without breaking linked services. Also, set up separate email logins for any sites that used Facebook Login before you delete.
Warning
Once the 30-day grace period expires, deletion is irreversible. If you’re the only admin of a Page or own business assets, they may be deleted and impossible to recover. Double-check backups and admin transfers first.