With over 2.3 billion monthly active users, Facebook has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. Many users have not only their Facebook accounts connected to other apps and services but also use Facebook to log in to external sites and apps. This integration and convenience do come at a cost – complexity in separating your Facebook presence from the rest of your digital life if you choose to delete your Facebook account.
Does Deleting Facebook Delete Instagram?
Facebook owns Instagram. Therefore, if you delete your Facebook account, Instagram will be disabled as well. Your Instagram account will remain visible for the time being, but you will not be able to access it. Here are some key points about how Facebook and Instagram accounts are connected:
- When you signed up for Instagram, you likely used your Facebook account to register or connect the two accounts later on. This creates a link between the accounts.
- Your Facebook and Instagram accounts likely use the same email address and phone number for login and account recovery.
- Your profile information, photos, comments, and likes are synced between the platforms.
- You can set up single sign-on to conveniently access both accounts.
So in summary, yes, deleting your Facebook account will delete your Instagram account as well. Your Instagram profile and photos will remain visible to others, but you will no longer be able to access the account.
Does Deleting Facebook Delete Messenger?
Facebook Messenger is another Facebook-owned property closely integrated with Facebook accounts. Here is what happens when you delete Facebook:
- You will be logged out of Messenger automatically.
- Your Messenger account, messages, and contacts will be inaccessible.
- Your Messenger profile information will be deleted.
- You will not receive Messenger notifications.
In effect, yes, deleting your Facebook deletes your Messenger account and data as well. You will no longer have access to Messenger. Your Messenger contacts will no longer see your profile or be able to message you.
Does Deleting Facebook Delete WhatsApp?
Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014 but has kept the branding and accounts separate. Here is the impact of deleting Facebook on WhatsApp:
- Your WhatsApp account will remain intact and fully accessible.
- You can continue using WhatsApp normally without Facebook.
- Your messages, groups, contacts, and profile information remain available.
- You can re-register your WhatsApp account with a new phone number.
In summary, no, deleting your Facebook does not affect your WhatsApp account. WhatsApp functions independently from Facebook and remains usable even without a Facebook account.
Does Deleting Facebook Delete Oculus?
Facebook bought Oculus VR in 2014. Oculus makes virtual reality headsets and operates an online VR app and game store. Here is what happens to your Oculus account when deleting Facebook:
- You will be automatically logged out of Oculus.
- Your Oculus app purchases and account balance will be lost.
- Your game progress will be erased.
- You cannot use Oculus headsets or access Oculus platform without Facebook.
In short, yes, deleting your Facebook account removes access to Oculus and wipes your Oculus account data. You cannot use Oculus VR headsets or software without an active Facebook account.
Does Deleting Facebook Delete Other Linked Accounts?
Beyond Facebook’s family of apps, many third-party apps and services also allow logging in with Facebook or connecting to your Facebook account:
- Your Facebook login will be removed from sites like Spotify, Pinterest, or Tinder.
- App data connected to Facebook like contacts or preferences may be lost.
- You may need to re-register accounts directly with each app or service.
- Some sites may let you transfer or back up data before deleting Facebook.
In general, expect to be logged out of external apps and lose any data tied to your Facebook integration. However, your accounts with third-party services will remain so you can often re-register directly.
Can You Recover Deleted Facebook Data?
Facebook states that it takes up to 90 days to delete an account and associated data from their systems. During this time, your account is deactivated but can still be reactivated if you log back in. Here are your options for recovering deleted Facebook data:
- If within 90 days, simply log back in to reactivate your account.
- Use the Facebook recovery process to request reactivation after 30 days.
- Download your Facebook data archive before deleting your account.
- Some data may remain on Facebook’s servers but won’t be accessible.
In summary, you have a short window of time to recover or download your data if you accidentally deleted your Facebook account. But after approximately 90 days, it will be permanently deleted.
How to Delete Your Facebook Account
If you are certain about leaving Facebook for good and want to delete your account, here are the steps to fully remove your presence:
- Go to your Facebook Settings and select General Account Settings.
- Choose Manage Account from the menu on the left.
- Select Deactivation and Deletion.
- Choose Permanently Delete Account and enter your password.
- Click Continue to Account Deletion. Read the warnings carefully.
- Click Delete Account to confirm.
It can take up to 90 days for the account to be wiped from Facebook systems. You can log back in during the first 30 days to cancel deletion. After that point, your account, data, and linked accounts are scheduled for permanent deletion.
Conclusion
Deleting your Facebook account disconnects many parts of your digital life tied to Facebook properties. Services owned by Facebook like Instagram, Messenger, and Oculus will be deleted or inaccessible. Third-party apps you logged into with Facebook may also require re-registering accounts directly with each service. The process is irreversible after approximately 30 days, so consider downloading your data archive if you may want access later. Overall, deleting Facebook requires disconnecting many linked accounts across the Facebook ecosystem and beyond.