Can I delete an old Facebook account I no longer have access to?

If you no longer have access to an old Facebook account and want to delete it, there are a few options you can try. However, deleting an account you can’t access directly can be challenging.

Try resetting your password

The first step is to try resetting your password for the account. Go to Facebook.com and click “Forgot password?” on the login page. Enter the email or phone number associated with the account. Facebook will send you an email or text with instructions to create a new password. Once you reset the password, you can log in and delete the account.

Here are some tips for resetting your Facebook password:

• Use the email or phone number you originally used to create the account.
• If your email or phone number has changed, update it first before trying to reset your password.
• Check your spam folder for the password reset email in case it gets filtered.
• Try alternate emails/phone numbers if you used multiple to create the account.

Submit ID verification

If you can’t reset the password because you no longer have access to the email or phone number on file, you can submit ID verification to prove you are the account owner. On the Facebook login page click “Need help?” and then “I can’t access my account.” Follow the steps to upload an image of your official ID (driver’s license, passport, etc).

Facebook will review your ID submission and hopefully grant you access to the account so you can delete it. This process can take up to a few days for Facebook to complete the review.

Use the Facebook contact form

Another option is to use Facebook’s official contact form to request account deletion. This form allows you to explain your situation and provide identifying details about the account.

To use the contact form:

1. Go to Facebook.com and click “Help” in the footer.
2. Click “Contact Us” and then select “My Account Was Compromised.”
3. Click “My account is permanently disabled” and then “No, I do not have access to my email or phone number.”
4. Fill out the form providing details on the account and why you can’t access it.

This contacts Facebook’s support team who can review your request and hopefully delete the inaccessible account for you.

File a report through Oversight Board

Facebook has an independent Oversight Board you can file a report with requesting account deletion. To use this option:

1. Go to OversightBoard.com and click “File a Report.”
2. Under “What issue are you facing?” select “My Facebook/Instagram account was removed.”
3. Choose “I want to request the removal of my Facebook/Instagram account” and explain your situation.
4. Provide as many details about the account as possible – name, email, pages associated with it, etc.
5. Click submit.

The Oversight Board will review your report and may be able to get your inaccessible account removed permanently.

Report the account as compromised

If you believe the account may have been compromised or hacked by someone else, you can report it to Facebook as such:

1. Go to Facebook.com and click “Report compromised account” under the password field.
2. Enter the email or phone number for the account.
3. Click “My account was compromised” and follow the steps.
4. Provide details on why you think the account was compromised.

Facebook will investigate and may delete the account if it appears hacked or compromised by someone else.

Use a legal request as last resort

If all else fails, you can make a legal request to have the account deleted. This involves sending Facebook a letter from a lawyer requesting account deletion. Here are the steps:

1. Hire a lawyer to draft a formal legal letter addressed to Facebook.
2. In the letter explain you are the rightful account owner and want it permanently deleted.
3. Provide all identifying details – name, email, address, etc.
4. Have the lawyer send the letter to Facebook’s registered agent via certified mail.
5. Facebook will review the legal request and can delete the account if you sufficiently prove ownership.

Going through legal channels is often the last resort to get an inaccessible Facebook account removed. But it comes at the expense of hiring lawyer assistance.

Key Points

Here are some key points on deleting an old Facebook account you no longer have access to:

• Try resetting the password first using email/phone recovery options.
• Submit ID verification to prove you are the account owner.
• Use Facebook’s official contact form and provide account details.
• File a removal request report through Oversight Board.
• Report the account as compromised if you think it was hacked.
• Hiring a lawyer to send a legal deletion request letter is a last option.

How Facebook deletes accounts

It’s important to understand how Facebook deletes accounts when trying to remove your old one:

• Disabled first: Facebook will typically first disable the account for 30 days before full deletion.
• Still active during disabled period: The account still exists in disabled mode for 30 days before being deleted.
• Account can be restored: You can reverse the deletion process and reactivate the account within the 30 day disabled window.
• Permanently deleted after 30 days: After 30 days disabled, Facebook permanently deletes all account data.
• Full deletion timeline: The full account deletion process takes up to 90 days after permanent deletion.

So after submitting a deletion request, expect the account to go through a disabled phase first before being permanently removed after 90 days total.

How to maximize chances of account deletion

Getting Facebook to remove an account you can’t access directly can be difficult and take persistence. Here are tips to maximize your chances of successfully deleting the account:

• Provide as many verifiable details about the account as possible – full name, email, phone number, etc.
• Clearly state you are the sole account owner and want permanent deletion.
• Explain clearly why you can’t access the account through normal means.
• Try multiple contact points – password reset, contact form, Oversight Board, etc.
• Craft professional, polite requests to Facebook support teams.
• Allow time for Facebook’s account deletion process to complete.

With persistence and by providing solid account ownership verification details, you hopefully can have your old inaccessible Facebook account permanently deleted.

Mistakes to avoid

When trying to remove an old Facebook account you’ve lost access to, there are some mistakes to avoid:

• Don’t try guessing old passwords and get the account locked down.
• Don’t try creating a new account pretending to be the old one.
• Don’t attempt logging in from random devices or locations.
• Don’t provide fake or inaccurate account ownership information.
• Don’t send angry or threatening messages to Facebook support.

Attempting account access incorrectly can make the deletion process harder. Focus instead on providing accurate verifiable details through proper channels.

Confirming account deletion

Once you’ve completed the account deletion steps, here are ways to confirm the Facebook account was permanently removed:

• Log out then try searching for the account by name – it should not appear.
• Check pages and accounts connected to it – they should show as deleted.
• Look for account removal confirmation email from Facebook after 30 days.
• The account should disappear from Facebook search results and People You May Know.
• Friends should not see the account active on their friends lists anymore.

Giving it about 90 days after submitting deletion request and then verifying these signs will confirm if the account was successfully removed by Facebook.

Recovering data before deletion

Before deleting your old Facebook account, you may want to recover data from it like photos, posts, and videos. Here are some options to save your data:

• If you can gain account access, use Facebook’s tools to download your information.
• Use your account activity log to view and save posted content.
• Friends may be able to share photos and videos you were tagged in.
• Photos may still exist on your device or backups if uploaded from it.

Recovering all your old account data requires regaining account access. But some content may exist in other places you can retrieve parts of it.

Alternatives to account deletion

Some alternatives to completely deleting your old Facebook account include:

• Deactivating it – makes it hidden but still recoverable.
• Canceling and reclaiming it – preserves the username.
• Memorializing it – freezes the profile if deceased.

These options may be preferable if you still want to regain access someday or wish to respect a deceased person’s account.

Conclusion

Deleting an old Facebook account you no longer have access to can be challenging, but is possible. The most direct methods involve resetting the password or submitting ID verification. Filing reports through Facebook’s official channels can also lead to successful deletion. Persistence and providing accurate account details is key. But ultimately Facebook reserves the right to determine if an account can be permanently removed on a case-by-case basis.