How to Delete Your Facebook Account Permanently (2026 Guide)

Maybe you're cutting back on screen time, tightening up your privacy, or you're simply done with the platform. Whatever the reason, leaving Facebook is straightforward once you know the difference between temporarily stepping away and permanently erasing your account. This guide walks through both options, what to save before you go, the exact steps on desktop and mobile, and how long a permanent deletion actually takes.

Deactivate or delete? Know the difference

Facebook offers two very different exits, and mixing them up is the most common mistake. Deactivating is a pause: your profile, photos, and timeline disappear from view, but everything is kept on Facebook's servers, and logging back in restores it instantly. Friends can still see your name in old messages, and you can keep using Messenger. Deleting is permanent: after a grace period, your profile, posts, photos, and videos are removed for good and cannot be recovered. If you only need a break, deactivate. If you truly want to leave, delete.

What happens when you delete your account

When you request deletion, Facebook doesn't wipe everything immediately. It starts a grace period — typically 30 days — during which you can cancel simply by logging back in. Once that window passes, deletion begins in earnest, and it can take up to 90 days to remove everything from active systems and backups. During that time your account is invisible to others. A few things linger by design: messages you sent will still appear in your friends' inboxes, since those copies belong to them, and content others shared that happens to include you stays under their control.

Before you delete: back up and untangle

Deletion is irreversible, so spend a few minutes on these steps first:

• Download your information. In Settings, open "Download your information" (under Your Facebook Information / Accounts Center) and export your photos, videos, posts, and messages.
• Save the videos you care about. Grab any clips or Reels you want to keep before they vanish — a browser tool makes this quick.
• Note your Facebook logins. If you use "Log in with Facebook" for other apps or sites, set up a separate email/password on those first, or you may get locked out.
• Hand off any Pages. If you're the sole admin of a Page you want to keep alive, add another admin before deleting.
• Cancel subscriptions and unlink services tied to your account, and check anything you pay for through Facebook.

How to permanently delete Facebook on desktop

1. Log in at facebook.com and click your profile picture, then Settings & privacy → Settings.
2. Open Accounts Center near the top, then go to Personal details.
3. Select Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion.
4. Choose the account you want to remove, then pick Delete account.
5. Follow the prompts, enter your password to confirm, and submit the request.

Menu wording shifts occasionally, but the reliable path is always Settings, then Accounts Center, then the deactivation-or-deletion option.

How to delete from the mobile app (Android and iPhone)

1. Open the Facebook app and tap the menu (the three lines).
2. Tap Settings & privacy → Settings.
3. Open Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control.
4. Tap Deactivation or deletion, choose your account, and select Delete account.
5. Confirm with your password to submit the deletion request.

How to deactivate instead (the temporary option)

If you're not ready to commit, choose Deactivate account in that same "Deactivation or deletion" menu. Your profile goes dark to everyone else, but your data is untouched and returns the moment you log back in. Deactivation is the sensible choice for a digital detox, a break during a busy season, or simply testing life without the feed before deciding for good.

What about Messenger, Meta Quest, and linked logins

Deleting your Facebook account also closes Messenger, since the two are tied together. If your Meta Quest headset or other Meta services are linked to the same account, you'll lose access to purchases and data associated with it, so review those before deleting. And remember the login issue: any third-party app you signed into using Facebook needs an alternative login set up first, or you'll be locked out once the account is gone.

The deletion timeline at a glance

Expect two phases. First is the cancellation window — around 30 days — where logging in stops the process entirely. After that, Facebook permanently removes your content, which can take up to 90 days to clear from all systems, including backups. Your account stays hidden the whole time, so from everyone else's perspective you're already gone the moment you submit the request.

Frequently asked questions

Can I recover my account after deleting it?

Only during the roughly 30-day grace period — logging back in cancels the deletion. Once that window closes, recovery is no longer possible.

Does deleting Facebook also delete Messenger?

Yes. Messenger relies on your Facebook account, so deleting the account closes Messenger too. If you only want to leave Facebook but keep chatting, deactivating is the better fit.

Will my photos and messages really be gone?

Your copies are removed, but messages you sent remain visible in your friends' inboxes because those copies belong to them. Content other people posted that includes you also stays under their control.

How long does permanent deletion take?

Up to 90 days after the grace period for everything to be cleared from active systems and backups, though your account is hidden from others immediately.

Final thoughts

Leaving Facebook is a simple process, but a permanent deletion is exactly that — permanent. Decide honestly whether you need a temporary break (deactivate) or a clean exit (delete), download anything you want to keep, sort out your linked logins, and then follow the steps above. A little preparation now means no regrets 90 days from now.