Deactivating a Facebook Business page is a simple process that can be done directly through the Facebook website. Here are the steps to deactivate a Facebook Business page:
Why Would You Want to Deactivate a Facebook Business Page?
There are a few reasons why a business owner may want to deactivate their Facebook Business page:
- The business is closed or no longer operating.
- The business wants to take a break from Facebook for a while.
- The business owner wants to switch to using a personal Facebook profile instead of a Business page.
- The business is consolidating or merging Facebook pages.
- The business wants to start fresh with a new Facebook Business page.
Deactivating the page pauses all activity on the page and hides it from public view, while still allowing the original page owner to reactivate it in the future. Deleting the page permanently removes it.
How to Deactivate a Facebook Business Page
Follow these steps to deactivate your Facebook Business page:
- Log into your Facebook account and go to your Business page.
- Click on the drop down arrow in the top right corner and select “Settings”.
- On the left sidebar, click on “Page Visibility”.
- Under the “Do you want to hide this page?” section, click on “Hide Page”.
- A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm deactivating your page. Click “Confirm”.
Your Facebook Business page is now deactivated. Your page won’t show up in searches and is hidden from public view. You can reactivate it at any time by following the same steps and clicking “Show Page” instead.
Things to Know About Deactivated Pages
- You will still own and have access to your deactivated page. You can reactivate it at any time.
- No one else will be able to see or access your deactivated page.
- Your page’s username/handle will not be available to anyone else.
- You won’t lose your Likes or followers. They will be waiting for you when you reactivate.
- You can still run ads linked to your page as long as they were created before deactivating.
- Insights data will be preserved but won’t continue collecting while deactivated.
How to Permanently Delete a Facebook Business Page
If you want to permanently remove your Facebook Business page instead of just deactivating it, follow these steps:
- Go to your page and click “Settings” in the top right drop down menu.
- Click on “Templates and Tabs” in the left sidebar.
- Scroll down and click on “Delete Page”.
- Click “Permanently delete [page name]” to confirm.
Once deleted, the page and all its content will be permanently gone. Be sure before deleting it, as this can’t be undone!
What Happens When You Delete a Page
- The page and all content including photos, posts, and videos will be permanently deleted.
- The page username/handle will become available for anyone else to claim.
- All Likes and followers will be removed and can’t be recovered.
- Ads and ad campaigns associated with the page will stop running.
- Insights data will be deleted and lost.
Best Practices For Deactivating or Deleting a Page
Follow these tips when deactivating or deleting your business Facebook page:
- Download any important data, photos or videos you want to save from your page first.
- Make a public post or send private messages letting people know you are deactivating the page.
- Consider redirecting your URL to a new page if possible.
- Remove the Facebook link/badge from your website.
- Delete any associated ad campaigns and Facebook pixels.
- Carefully consider if permanently deleting is the right choice over deactivation.
Options for Your Deactivated or Deleted Page
Once your Facebook Business page is deactivated or deleted, here are some options to consider:
Transfer Your Page to a New Owner
If you want to pass your page onto someone else, add them as an Admin before deactivating. They can then take over the page and reactivate it under their ownership.
Merge Your Page With Another
You can move your Likes and followers over to a secondary page you want to keep active before deactivating your main page.
Start Fresh With a New Page
There’s nothing stopping you from creating a brand new Business page from scratch if you want a fresh start.
Switch to a Personal Profile
Alternatively, turn your personal Facebook profile into a public figure page for your business instead.
Take a Break
You can always reactivate your page in the future after a break from Facebook if you simply deactivate instead of deleting.
Conclusion
Deactivating a Facebook Business page is simple to do through the page Settings menu, and allows you to take a break while retaining ownership. Permanently deleting a page is also an option but can’t be reversed. Consider your options carefully when discontinuing use of a Facebook Business page.