Facebook Dating is a feature within Facebook that allows you to match and connect with other Facebook users for dating purposes. It operates independently from your main Facebook profile, so your dating activity is kept separate. If you decide to delete your Facebook Dating profile, it can be challenging to get it back. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps on how to recover your Facebook Dating profile after deletion.
Why Did You Delete Facebook Dating?
Before trying to restore your Facebook Dating profile, it’s helpful to understand why you deleted it in the first place. Here are some common reasons people delete their Facebook Dating accounts:
- You found a relationship and no longer need the dating feature
- You decided to take a break from online dating
- You were receiving too many unwanted messages
- You didn’t like the functionality or user experience
- You wanted to delete your Facebook account entirely
If you only temporarily disabled Facebook Dating, it’s easy to reactivate it. But if you fully deleted the dating profile, recovering it takes a few more steps.
How Facebook Dating Deletion Works
When you delete your Facebook Dating profile, here’s what happens behind the scenes:
- Your dating profile is immediately removed and no longer visible to other users
- Any pending matches or conversations are deleted
- Your profile information and photos are held by Facebook for 30 days
- After 30 days, your dating profile and data are permanently deleted by Facebook
So you have a 30 day window after deleting where you can still recover your dating profile relatively easily. After 30 days, it’s much more difficult (but not necessarily impossible) to get it back.
Reactivating Facebook Dating Within 30 Days
If it’s been less than 30 days since you deleted Facebook Dating, follow these steps to reactivate it:
- Log into your Facebook account as normal if you aren’t already
- Go to your account Settings
- Click on the “Dating” tab in the left sidebar
- You should see an option to “Set Up Dating Profile”
- Go through the steps to recreate your dating profile
- Be sure to upload your photos and re-enter your profile info
- Your Facebook Dating profile will now be restored
The process is quick and your previous profile details will still be saved, allowing you to essentially pick up where you left off.
Recovering Facebook Dating After 30 Days
Once the 30 day window has passed, recovering your dating profile takes more effort:
- Go to Facebook Dating and select “Create New Profile”
- Recreate your profile from scratch, adding photos and info
- Use your best judgement to try to match your old profile as closely as possible
- You can contact Facebook support and request recovery of your old dating profile
- Explain that you accidentally deleted the profile but now wish to recover it
- Facebook may be able to restore your original dating profile, but cannot guarantee it
- If recovered, your previous matches and conversations will not be retained
So there is still a possibility of getting your old dating profile back even after 30 days, but Facebook does not make any guarantees. The more time that has passed, the less likely profile recovery becomes.
How to Prevent Accidental Deletion
To avoid going through this recovery hassle in the future, be cautious when deleting your Facebook Dating profile:
- Double check that you definitely want to delete the profile before confirming
- Consider disabling the profile first to take a break rather than fully deleting
- Know that the 30 day window makes dating profile recovery easier
- Back up your profile photos before deleting in case you need them later
It’s always wise to think carefully before proceeding with permanent deletion actions online.
Using a New Facebook Dating Profile
If you find yourself unable to recover your old Facebook Dating profile, your only option is to create an entirely new one:
- Follow the normal profile creation process in Facebook Dating
- Use fresh photos and write new profile details from scratch
- You will have to restart any conversations or matches you had previously
- Look at it as a chance to reinvent yourself and improve your dating approach
Though inconvenient, a new profile allows you to apply lessons learned and start over fresh. Be careful not to repeat any major mistakes from your last dating attempt.
In Summary
Here are the key takeaways for recovering your Facebook Dating profile:
- Reactivation is easy if done within 30 days of deleting
- After 30 days, profile recovery is challenging but possible
- Work with Facebook support for account restoration requests
- Back up your data beforehand to simplify reinstatement
- Creating a wholly new profile is an option if you can’t recover the old
By understanding the Facebook Dating deletion and recovery process, you can get your old dating profile back or start afresh. Always consider carefully before permanently deleting any online profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a deleted Facebook Dating profile to disappear?
A deleted Facebook Dating profile will be permanently removed after 30 days. During those 30 days, the profile can still be recovered relatively easily.
Can I retrieve my old Facebook Dating matches if I recover my profile?
Unfortunately, any previous matches or conversations will not be retained if you recover your Facebook Dating profile after deletion. You have to start over fresh.
What info do I need to provide Facebook to recover my dating profile?
To potentially restore a deleted dating profile, Facebook will need your name, email or phone number on the account, date of birth, and details about when you created the profile.
Does Facebook keep a backup of my dating profile after I delete it?
Facebook retains limited dating profile data for 30 days after deletion solely for account recovery purposes. After 30 days, all your dating profile information is permanently deleted.
Can I tell if someone deleted their Facebook Dating profile and recreated a new one?
Unless you have the link to their specific profile, there’s no easy way to distinguish a recreated dating profile from the original one. It will look entirely new to you.
Conclusion
Accidentally deleting your Facebook Dating profile can be frustrating, but it is possible to regain access in many cases. Act quickly within 30 days to reactivate your old profile with ease. Or if too much time has passed, work with Facebook support or build a new dating profile. With the proper steps, you can restore your Facebook Dating presence and get back out there.