Deleting your Facebook account without logging in can be tricky, but it is possible. Facebook does not make it easy to delete your account, but with some persistence you can get it done. Here are the steps to delete your Facebook account without logging in:
Why You May Want To Delete Facebook Without Logging In
There are a few reasons why you may want to delete your Facebook account without logging in:
- You forgot your password and cannot reset it because you no longer have access to the email on the account
- You want to delete the account but do not want to log in and see old content/messages
- Your account has been hacked and you want to delete it but cannot log in
- You do not remember the email address used to create the account
Whatever the reason, it is possible to get your account deleted without accessing it. It just takes a few extra steps.
Step 1: Try Resetting Your Password
The first step is to attempt resetting your Facebook password via the Facebook password reset page. Even if you don’t remember your password or email, try entering any emails you have had in the past. Facebook may be able to identify your account and send a password reset email if it has your email on file. This is the easiest way to recover access to your account so that you can then log in and delete it.
To reset your Facebook password:
- Go to Facebook’s password reset page.
- Enter the email address or phone number associated with your account.
- Select whether Facebook should send you an email or text message to reset your password.
- Follow the instructions in the email/text to create a new password.
Once your password has been reset, you can log into your account and delete it.
Step 2: Use the Facebook Help Center
If resetting your password does not work, the next step is to use Facebook’s Help Center to try to recover or delete your account. Here are some things to try:
- Identify your account. Use the “Find Your Account” tool and enter any information you have related to the account such as your name, email, phone number, etc. Facebook will try to identify your account based on the info entered.
- Request account deletion. If Facebook can identify your account, use the “Request Account Deletion” form to request that your account be deleted by Facebook. They will email you at any verified email addresses associated with the account.
- Report compromised account. If you cannot access your account because it has been hacked or compromised, use the compromised account form. Facebook should delete compromised accounts after review.
The key is providing as many details as possible so Facebook support can identify your account. With enough verifiable information, they can delete your account without you logging in.
Step 3: Submit Government ID
If you cannot reset your password and Facebook support is unable to help you gain access or delete your account, you can submit a copy of your government ID to have your account deleted.
To do this:
- Go to the Facebook ID submission form.
- Enter the name and email address on your Facebook account.
- Select the option for “I can’t access my account.”
- Follow the instructions to upload a copy of your government ID.
Once Facebook verifies your identity using your ID, they will delete your account. Just be aware this process can take up to 30 days.
Step 4: Send a Delete Request by Mail
If all else fails, you can mail a delete request to Facebook. This is the slowest option but should result in your account being deleted if you can verify your identity.
To do this:
- Write a delete request letter including your full name and any email addresses, phone numbers, or other details related to the account.
- Get the letter notarized to verify your identity.
- Mail the notarized letter to:
ATTN: Account Delete Request
1601 Willow Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Facebook says it can take up to 90 days to process mailed delete requests, so be prepared to wait. But this should work eventually if you have no other options.
How Facebook Deletes Accounts
When you or Facebook deletes your account, here is what happens behind the scenes:
| Timeframe | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Immediately | Your profile, photos, posts, videos, and other account information are no longer viewable by other users. |
| Within 90 days | All your information is permanently deleted from Facebook servers. |
So your account is deactivated right away when a delete request is processed. But it takes up to 90 days for your data to be permanently scrubbed from Facebook’s systems. During this time your data is still recoverable if your account were to be reactivated.
Other Options if You Can’t Delete Your Account
If for some reason you cannot get your Facebook account deleted without logging in, here are a few other options:
- Deactivate account. You can deactivate your Facebook account for an indefinite period. Your profile won’t show up, but you can always reactivate. Just re-enter your login details.
- Memorialize account. For deceased users, Facebook can memorialize an account so it becomes a static memorial page.
- Abandon account. Just walk away from your account if you can’t delete it. But beware content could still be visible.
While not as complete as deletion, deactivating your account accomplishes much of the same. Memorializing is also an option if the account holder has passed away.
Conclusion
Deleting your Facebook account without logging in takes persistence, but is possible. Your best options are to reset your password, use Facebook support tools, submit your ID, or mail a notarized letter. Once deleted, your account will be deactivated then permanently scrubbed from Facebook’s servers within 90 days.
While Facebook makes account deletion difficult, they do provide pathways to eventually delete your account even without access. Be patient and provide as much verifiable information as you can. And if all else fails, fall back to deactivating or memorializing your account.