Having multiple Facebook accounts can be useful in some cases, but it can also become confusing and hard to manage over time. If you’ve decided you no longer need one or more of your extra accounts, deleting them can help simplify things. Here’s what to know about deleting a Facebook account when you have more than one.
Can I delete one Facebook account and keep others?
Yes, it’s possible to delete just one of your Facebook accounts while keeping your other account(s) active. Facebook allows you to delete accounts individually. So if you have three Facebook accounts, for example, you can delete one or two of them and continue using the remaining account.
How do I know which Facebook account I want to delete?
If you’re unsure which account you want to delete, here are some things to consider:
- Which account do you use most actively? You’ll probably want to keep your primary account and delete more secondary accounts.
- Which account has the connections and information you care about keeping? Review the friends, photos, and other content on each account.
- Which account do you use for connecting with family? Work? Specific friend groups? Identify the purpose of each account.
- Which account has your preferred username or profile details? You may want to keep the account that best represents your identity.
Should I delete or deactivate my account?
Facebook gives you two options for taking an account offline: deleting or deactivating. Here’s the difference:
| Delete | Deactivate |
|---|---|
| Removes your account and all associated data permanently | Temporarily hides your profile until you reactivate it |
| Process can’t be reversed once account is deleted | You can easily reactivate a deactivated account |
| People will no longer be able to search for you or view your profile | Your information remains stored in Facebook’s systems |
In most cases, fully deleting your account is the best option if you want to permanently remove it. Deactivating just hides your account temporarily.
How do I permanently delete a Facebook account?
Here are the steps to permanently delete one of your Facebook accounts:
- Go to Facebook.com and log into the account you want to delete.
- Click on the down arrow at the top right and select “Settings”.
- On the Settings page, click “Your Facebook Information” in the left sidebar.
- Look for the “Deactivation and Deletion” option and click “View.”
- Choose “Permanently Delete Account” and click “Continue to Account Deletion.”
- Enter your password to confirm your identity.
- Click “Permanently delete account.”
Once you complete these steps, your account and all its data will be erased. This process is permanent and can’t be undone.
Alternative deletion options
If you have trouble accessing the account you want to delete, here are a couple other options:
- Deletion request form – You can submit a request to delete your account through Facebook’s deletion request form. You’ll need to provide details to confirm your identity.
- Account deletion through Oculus – If you have an Oculus VR headset linked to your Facebook account, you can initiate account deletion through Oculus settings.
What happens when I delete my Facebook account?
Here’s what to expect after deleting a Facebook account:
- Your profile, photos, posts, videos, and all other account data are permanently removed.
- You immediately lose access to your Facebook account and information.
- Your Facebook friends will no longer see you listed in their friends list.
- You’ll be signed out of all Facebook-linked sites and apps.
- It can take up to 90 days for Facebook to fully process your deletion request and remove all data from backups.
Data that may remain
In some cases, some of your data may remain visible after account deletion:
- If your friends have shared your posts or photos, those may still be visible on their profiles or in shared albums.
- Messages you sent to friends may remain in their inboxes.
- Your name may appear in Facebook’s data tools for advertisers if you used certain Facebook services.
Tips for managing multiple Facebook accounts
If you decide to keep multiple active Facebook accounts, here are some tips for managing them effectively:
- Use different email addresses and passwords for each account.
- Add your main profile as a friend on your secondary accounts.
- Customize notifications for each account so you don’t miss important updates.
- Use Facebook’s “switch accounts” feature under your profile menu to toggle between accounts.
- Use different profile and cover photos to distinguish accounts.
Recovering deleted Facebook data
If you deleted your Facebook account and then changed your mind, here are a couple options to try recovering some of your old data:
- Contact Facebook support – If you recently deleted your account, contacting Facebook support within 30 days may allow you to recover it.
- Log into Oculus – If you linked your Oculus VR device to your deleted Facebook account, logging into Oculus can potentially restore your Facebook profile.
- Restore from backups – If you have any backups of your Facebook data on an external drive or your computer, you may be able to restore some information.
However, there is no guarantee you’ll be able to recover your old Facebook account or data after deleting. Preventing permanent data loss is why it’s critical to be certain before choosing to delete your account.
Conclusion
Deleting unnecessary Facebook accounts can help simplify your online presence. Facebook allows you to selectively delete accounts while keeping your primary profile active. Be sure to download or backup any important data beforehand. Once your Facebook account is permanently deleted, the process can’t be undone. But deleting your secondary or unused accounts can provide a cleaner social media experience over time.