If you have an old Facebook account that you no longer use or have access to, you may want to delete it for privacy reasons. However, deleting an account you can’t log into can be tricky. Here are some tips on how to delete a Facebook account you can’t access anymore.
Try Logging In First
The easiest way to delete a Facebook account is to log into it and use Facebook’s account deletion tool. So before taking any other steps, try logging into the account you want to delete.
Go to Facebook.com and click “Log In.” Try entering the email and password for the account. If you’ve forgotten the password, click “Forgot Password” and try going through the password reset process.
If you’re able to log in, go to your Facebook Settings. Under “General Account Settings” click “Manage Account.” Then click “Delete Account” and follow the instructions to permanently delete it.
Retrieve Login Info
If you can’t log into the account, the next step is trying to retrieve the login information.
If you’ve forgotten the email address used for the account, think back to when you created it and make a list of possible emails you may have used. Try entering them on the Facebook login page to see if any work.
If you remember the email but have forgotten the password, go through Facebook’s password reset process. This involves entering the email on the “Forgot Password” page and then following the reset instructions emailed to you.
If you no longer have access to the email on the account, keep reading for other options.
Use Your Other Facebook Accounts
If you have other Facebook accounts, you may be able to use them to help access the account you want to delete:
- Check if the account you want to delete is listed under “Accounts Center” in your Facebook Settings. This shows connected accounts.
- Use the “Find Friends” tool to search for the old account name and see if it comes up. This searches Facebook profiles.
- Check your friend list on your current account to see if the old account is listed there as a friend.
If you find the old account through your other accounts, you may be able to reset the password via the “Forgot Password” flow or by using the “Accounts Center.”
Search Public Records
Since anyone can view a Facebook profile if the privacy settings allow it, you can try searching public records for the account:
- Search Facebook for the name on the account or any usernames you may have used.
- Plug the name, email, and usernames into Google search to see if any public information comes up.
- Check Google archives and caches for snapshots of the profile.
If you find a public presence tied to the account, there may be enough information to trigger a password reset and get into the account.
Use Account Recovery Options
Facebook offers account recovery options that may work if you cannot reset the password:
- Trusted Contacts – If you set up trusted contacts, they can help you regain access to the account.
- Facebook Recovery – Through this process, you can have a temporary code sent to a mobile number or other email.
- Upload ID – Facebook may prompt you to upload a copy of your photo ID to verify your identity.
If none of those options are available, as a last resort, you can try having someone report the account as hacked. Facebook will then investigate to see if the account can be recovered.
Submit Account Deletion Request
If you’ve exhausted all self-serve options for getting into the account, you can submit a request for Facebook to delete the account on your behalf:
- Fill out the Facebook account deletion request form.
- Provide details on why you can’t access the account yourself.
- Include any documentation you have showing you are the account owner.
- Wait for Facebook to investigate and respond to your request.
According to Facebook, “If you can’t access your account but believe you may still be able to in the future, disabling it temporarily is a better option. That way, you can come back and reactivate it if you’re able to regain access.” So only submit a deletion request if you’re absolutely certain you have no way to ever log back into the account.
Create a New Account
If nothing works and Facebook is unable to delete the inaccessible account for you, another option is simply starting fresh with a brand new account:
- Go through Facebook’s account creation flow with a new email.
- Build your profile and friend connections from scratch.
- Make your new account fully private via the privacy settings.
This prevents your old account from having any active presence if you’re unable to delete it for good.
Conclusion
Here are some final tips for deleting an old, inaccessible Facebook account:
- Try every password and email combination you can think of to get back into the account.
- Use account recovery and trusted contact options if available.
- Submit an official account deletion request to Facebook if all else fails.
- Make a new account if you need to continue using Facebook.
With enough patience and persistence, you should be able to permanently delete the old Facebook account one way or another and move on.
| Method | How to Do It | Likelihood of Success |
|---|---|---|
| Log In | Enter email and password on Facebook login page | High if you have access |
| Reset Password | Use “Forgot password” link on Facebook | Medium if you have the email |
| Trusted Contacts | Have them help you get into account | High if contacts are set up |
| Account Recovery | Get Facebook to send temp code to number/email | Medium success rate |
| Upload ID | Send Facebook a copy of your photo ID | Medium-high chance of success |
| Deletion Request | Ask Facebook to delete on your behalf | Low-medium success |
| New Account | Create a brand new Facebook account | Guaranteed but doesn’t delete old |
As you can see, the easiest options with the highest success rate involve getting back into the account yourself. But if that fails, you still have several options to get the account deleted or abandoned.
It can be a frustrating process, but with some persistence you should be able to remove that old account from Facebook eventually. Having an online presence you don’t control can be concerning, so it’s worth the effort to reclaim control and privacy.