Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms, with billions of users worldwide. However, some Android users may wish to take a break from Facebook or deactivate their accounts temporarily. Thankfully, deactivating your Facebook account on an Android device is quick and easy.
What Happens When You Deactivate Facebook on Android?
When you deactivate your Facebook account on an Android device, your profile and information will be hidden until you reactivate your account by logging back in. Here’s what happens when you deactivate:
- Your profile, photos, posts, videos, and everything else you’ve added will be hidden, but not deleted. This content will all return if you reactivate.
- No one will be able to see your Facebook profile or search for you on Facebook.
- You won’t be able to use Facebook to log in to other apps or websites that support Facebook Login.
- Your messages will stop sending and incoming messages will not show up.
- You won’t get notifications from Facebook.
- Facebook won’t use your information for ads.
Essentially, deactivating your account puts your Facebook presence on pause. It’s useful if you need a social media break but think you may return to Facebook again in the future.
Should You Delete or Deactivate Your Facebook Account on Android?
Before deactivating your Facebook account on an Android device, consider whether you want to delete your account permanently instead. Here’s the difference between deactivating and deleting:
- Deactivating – Hides your profile until you reactivate it. Your information remains stored at Facebook.
- Deleting – Permanently erases your Facebook account and all associated information stored by Facebook. This can’t be undone.
Some reasons you may want to delete your Facebook account instead of temporarily deactivating it include:
- You don’t ever plan to use Facebook again.
- You want all your information and data permanently erased from Facebook’s servers.
- You are concerned about privacy and do not want your data stored by Facebook anymore.
However, there are also some reasons you may prefer deactivating over deleting:
- You think you may want to return to Facebook someday in the future.
- You don’t want to lose information and connections you’ve made on Facebook over the years.
- You use Facebook Login for other accounts and don’t want to deal with switching logins.
In general, deactivating makes sense if you’re unsure or think you may use Facebook again after a break. But if you’re certain you want to sever ties completely, account deletion is the way to go.
Step-by-Step Guide to Deactivating Facebook on Android
Ready to deactivate Facebook from your Android device? Just follow these simple steps:
- Open the Facebook app on your Android phone or tablet. You’ll need the latest version installed.
- Tap the three-line menu button in the top right corner of the app.
- Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Tap Account Ownership and Control.
- Tap Deactivation and Deletion.
- Select Deactivate Account then Continue to Account Deactivation.
- Select a reason for deactivating from the dropdown menu.
- Enter your Facebook password to confirm your identity.
- Tap Deactivate.
- Your account will now be deactivated. Confirm by logging out and attempting to log back in.
And that’s all there is to it! These steps will disconnect your profile and information from Facebook on your Android device until you log back in to reactivate your account.
What to Do If You Can’t Access Facebook’s App Settings
In some cases, you may be unable to access the Settings menu in the Facebook app where the deactivation option is located. This can happen if:
- The Facebook app is misbehaving or glitching out.
- Your version of the Facebook app is outdated.
- Your phone lacks storage space for the Facebook app to function properly.
- You are not connected to the internet.
Here are some troubleshooting tips if this occurs on your Android device:
- Force stop the Facebook app – In your Android settings, find the Apps/Application Manager section. Locate the Facebook app and choose Force Stop.
- Clear the Facebook app’s cache and data – In the Apps/Application Manager, clear out the cached data and app data for the Facebook app. This will reset it.
- Update or reinstall the Facebook app – Go to the Play Store and install any available updates for the Facebook app. If that doesn’t work, uninstall and reinstall the app completely.
- Free up storage space – Delete unused apps and files to free up storage space, which may allow the Facebook app to function better.
- Connect to the internet – Make sure your Android device is connected to the internet via WiFi or mobile data.
After trying the above solutions, you should once again be able to access the Facebook app menu and settings to deactivate your account.
How to Reactivate Your Facebook Account on Android
If you take a break from Facebook and decide you want to reactivate your account, it’s a simple process on Android:
- Open the Facebook app.
- Tap Log In. Use your email and password to log in as normal.
- Once logged in, your account will be fully reactivated.
Everything you had in your Facebook account before deactivating should be restored after you log back in on your Android device.
Deactivating Facebook Through Account Settings on Desktop
You can also deactivate Facebook from a desktop computer by going through your account settings:
- Go to www.facebook.com and log in.
- Click the down arrow at the top right and select Settings & Privacy.
- Click Settings.
- Click Your Facebook Information in the left column.
- Click Deactivation and Deletion.
- Choose Deactivate Account and click Continue to Deactivation.
- Enter your password and click Deactivate.
This will also deactivate your linked Facebook account on your Android device, since your accounts are synced. Reactivate the same way by logging back in on either desktop or mobile.
Important Things to Do Before Deactivating Facebook
Here are some important things you may want to do before deactivating your Facebook account on an Android device:
- Download your Facebook data – This allows you to save photos, posts, and other personal information from your account before deactivating.
- Notify friends and family – Let people know you’ll be taking a break from Facebook so they don’t wonder where you went.
- Remove Facebook Login from apps – Go into any apps where you use Facebook Login and disconnect, so they don’t get broken.
- Change account info anywhere you use Facebook – If you use Facebook to log in to websites, games, etc., update your login info before deactivating.
Taking these steps helps ensure a smooth transition away from Facebook for a while on your Android device.
What Happens if You Lose Access to Your Android Phone Number?
Many people register their mobile numbers with Facebook for login purposes or account security. But what if you no longer have access to your phone number linked to Facebook, perhaps because:
- You lost your Android phone.
- Your phone was stolen.
- Your number was ported to a new carrier.
- You just got a new phone number.
Without access to your original phone number, you can get locked out of Facebook if you ever need to reset your password or set up two-factor authentication again. To avoid this, make sure to:
- Add a secondary email – Have a backup email attached to your Facebook account that you can access if your number is lost.
- Set up backup codes – Enable backup codes for an alternate 2FA method beyond your phone number.
- Update your number – If you get a new number, log into Facebook and update your account with your new phone number.
As long as you take preventative measures, losing access to your old Android number won’t prevent you from accessing your Facebook account.
Can You Recover a Deactivated or Deleted Facebook Account?
If your Facebook account was accidentally deactivated or deleted, is it possible to get it back? Here’s what you should know:
- Deactivated accounts – These are completely recoverable simply by logging back in with your credentials, as long as it hasn’t been more than 28 days.
- Deleted accounts – Within the first 90 days, you may be able to recover the account through your contacts importing your info back in. But there is no guarantee.
The best way to restore a deactivated account is via your archived Facebook data that contains your user ID. To increase your chances of recovering a deleted account:
- Do not do anything that may reassign your old username, like creating a new account.
- Contact Facebook support as soon as possible for help recovering your account.
- Have info on hand like your old emails or phone numbers used for the account.
Is Deactivating or Deleting Facebook Better for Battery Life?
Some Android users deactivate or delete Facebook because they believe it will improve their phone’s battery life. But how much of a difference does it really make?
Deleting Facebook entirely means the app is no longer installed or running at all on your device. This will provide slightly better battery life and performance compared to just deactivating your account.
However, the Facebook app uses very minimal resources when idle in the background on Android. You’re unlikely to notice significant battery life savings from either deactivation or deletion.
Here are some tips that can more effectively improve Facebook’s battery drain:
- Enable Background App Refresh
- Optimize Facebook’s Performance
- Turn Off Auto-Play Video
- Disable Location Services
- Use Facebook Lite instead
Overall, while deactivating or deleting Facebook may provide minor battery benefits, adjusting in-app settings is a simpler way to reduce power consumption.
Should You Deactivate Facebook Before Selling Your Android Phone?
When selling or trading in your Android smartphone, you should absolutely deactivate and log out of the Facebook app beforehand as a security precaution. This prevents the next user from accessing your account.
Make sure to sign out of the Facebook app, clear cached data, and remove your Facebook Login from anywhere else on the device. Do not just uninstall the app, as your session could still remain open.
Also change your Facebook password to something secure and random that the next user will not be able to guess. Enable two-factor authentication as well if you haven’t already.
You may even want to deactivate your Facebook account temporarily before a sale and reactivate later on your new device. This provides an extra layer of protection until you get your new phone set up.
Is the Facebook App Draining Your Android’s Battery?
It’s a common concern that the Facebook app is draining your Android battery life. While the Facebook app does use battery in the background, it’s likely not a major cause on its own unless you are actively using it a lot.
Here are some ways to determine if Facebook is draining your battery:
- Check battery usage – Go to Settings > Battery to see the breakdown of battery usage by app.
- Watch for overheating – The phone getting hot while using Facebook can indicate battery drain.
- Look for background usage – Facebook shouldn’t use much battery in the background if inactive.
- Compare usage times – Compare usage times between charges with Facebook installed vs. uninstalled.
If Facebook is using excessive battery in the background, try steps like disabling Background App Refresh, restricting permissions, closing inactive tabs, or adjusting other in-app settings. But overall, don’t assume Facebook is a battery hog without solid evidence.
Should You Uninstall Facebook Entirely?
Is it better to just delete and uninstall the Facebook app from your Android device altogether rather than deactivating your account? Here are some pros and cons:
Pros of uninstalling Facebook:
- Fully eliminates background battery and data usage
- Frees up storage space on your phone
- Prevents mindless scrolling during free moments
- Encourages spending less time on social media
Cons of uninstalling Facebook:
- Lose convenient access to messages, events, and updates
- Miss out on invites, notices, and information shared via Facebook
- Lose access to linked accounts and sites that use Facebook Login
- Need to find alternative ways to connect with certain friends and family
Try keeping the Messenger app if you uninstall Facebook, so you can still message contacts. But reinstalling the main app is easy if you change your mind later.
Conclusion
Deactivating your Facebook account on Android is simple and easy to reverse if you choose to return to the platform. Just dive into the app’s settings menu to disable your profile and associated information.
Be thoughtful about whether deactivation or permanent deletion better suits your needs. Also take care to download your data, notify contacts, remove Facebook Login, and take other preparatory steps before deactivating your account.
With billions of users, Facebook can feel inescapable. But Android gives you the power to step away on your own terms. Deactivating your account allows you to take a refreshing break from the social network whenever you need it.