Messenger is a popular messaging app owned by Facebook that allows you to send messages, photos, videos and more to friends and contacts. While Messenger can be a useful communication tool, you may eventually decide you want to delete your Messenger account and all related data permanently.
Can I delete my Messenger account?
Yes, it is possible to permanently delete your Messenger account. However, the process is not straightforward and involves completely removing your Facebook account that is linked to Messenger.
How to permanently delete Messenger
Follow these steps to completely erase your Messenger account and data:
- Open the Facebook app or website and access your account settings
- Go to the “Your Facebook Information” section and click on “Deactivation and Deletion”
- Select “Permanently Delete Account” and then “Continue to Account Deletion”
- Enter your password to confirm your identity
- Click “Permanently Delete Account”
Once you permanently delete your Facebook account, your Messenger account and all associated data will also be erased. This includes:
- Your message history and archives
- Contacts list
- Group conversations
- Media exchanged through Messenger
- Payment information
- Call and video chat logs
Limits of deleting Messenger
While the above steps will completely remove your Messenger account and information from Facebook’s systems, there are some limitations:
- Message history will still exist in other users’ inboxes – you can only delete your own copy
- Group conversations will still be accessible by other participants
- Any media or files you shared may continue to be available if saved by other users
- Records of your messaging interactions may persist internally if required for legal reasons
Permanently deleting Facebook
As mentioned above, the only way to fully delete your Messenger account is to permanently delete your Facebook account. Here are some key things to know about permanent Facebook account deletion:
- It can take up to 90 days for Facebook to complete the deletion after it’s requested
- Your account is deactivated during this period and cannot be reactivated
- Facebook state they begin deleting data immediately but the full process can take the 90 day period
- Some data may remain in backup systems for longer but will eventually be deleted
How to delete Facebook temporarily
If you don’t want to fully close your Facebook account, you have the option to temporarily deactivate it:
- Go to your Facebook account Settings
- Click on “Account Ownership and Control”
- Select “Deactivation and Deletion”
- Choose “Deactivate Account” and confirm
This will disable your profile and remove your name and photos from most Facebook services until you choose to reactivate it.
Key things that happen when you delete Facebook
Permanently deleting your Facebook account is a big decision. Here are some key things that will occur:
- You’ll lose access to Oculus devices linked to your Facebook account
- You won’t be able to use Facebook Login for other accounts and services
- Family members may no longer be able to memorialize your account if deceased
- You’ll lose access to your purchase history and active subscriptions
- Ads may still show your name/profile photo for a short time until cached data is cleared
How to download your Facebook data
Before deleting your Facebook account permanently, you have the option to download a copy of the data associated with your account. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the Facebook Settings menu
- Select “Your Facebook Information”
- Click on “Download Your Information”
- Choose your desired data types (photos, posts, profile info etc)
- Enter your password and click “Request Download”
Facebook will assemble all your selected data types into a downloadable file available via a link sent to your email. This can act as a backup of your Facebook history before permanent deletion.
Other Messenger account management options
If you don’t want to fully delete Messenger yet, there are some other account management options available:
- Deactivate your account – This hides your profile but doesn’t delete data
- Remove an account from Messenger – Disconnect a linked Facebook account
- Turn off chat history – Stops saving new messages (but doesn’t delete old ones)
- Block users – Prevents specific users messaging or contacting you
What happens if I reactivate my Facebook account?
If within the 90 day deletion period you change your mind and reactivate your Facebook account, here’s what will happen:
- Your profile, photos, posts, videos and other data will be restored
- Friends/followers will need to refollow you to see updates
- You may need to resubmit ID verification if required
- Your Messenger account and message history will be restored
- You will regain access to Oculus and other linked services
However, any data deleted up until the point of reactivation will not be restored.
Should I download my Messenger data first?
Before permanently deleting your Messenger account via Facebook deletion, it can be wise to download an archive of your Messenger data for records or nostalgia. Here’s how:
- Go to your Facebook Settings
- Click on “Your Facebook Information”
- Select “Download Your Information”
- Choose “Messages” under the Messenger data options
- Enter password and click “Create File”
This will allow you to download a JSON file containing your message history, photos, videos, audio files and more shared through Messenger.
What gets included in my Messenger data download?
Your Messenger data download can include:
- Your message history and text
- Media like photos, audio and videos
- Messages with businesses
- Group conversations
- Call and video chat logs
Analyzing this download can provide insight into your Messenger usage over time.
What are pros and cons of deleting Messenger?
If you’re deciding whether to delete Messenger, weighing the pros and cons can help:
Pros
- Increased privacy and control over your data
- No risk of compromising messages being accessed
- Less potential for distraction or wasted time in the app
- Not supporting Facebook ecosystem if ethical concerns
Cons
- Lose access to Messenger convenient communication tools
- No more messaging Facebook friends and contacts in app
- Can’t rejoin certain Messenger groups and conversations
- Permanently losing your message history and archives
What are alternatives to Messenger?
If you decide to delete Messenger but still want messaging capabilities, some alternatives include:
| App | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Encrypted messaging, group chats, cross-platform | |
| Telegram | Cloud-based, supports large media files |
| Signal | Strong encryption, minimal collected data |
| Viber | Video calls, messaging, group chats |
Each Messenger alternative has its own pros and cons to weigh up. Identifying your key needs can help choose the right replacement.
Can I retrieve accidentally deleted Messenger messages?
If you accidentally deleted important Messenger messages and still have your account intact, it may be possible to retrieve them:
- Open the Messenger app and go to your messages
- Long press on the message thread the deleted message was in
- Tap “More” then “Find Message”
- Scroll through the thread to try and locate the deleted message
However, this will only work if the message was relatively recently deleted. Permanently erased messages cannot be recovered with this method.
Can I tell if someone has deleted messages on Messenger?
There is no definitive way to confirm if someone has selectively deleted messages on Messenger from your chat history. However, some signs that may indicate message deletion include:
- Sudden changes in topic or disconnected conversations
- References to information that is now missing
- Choppy transitions between messages
- Missing images, videos or other media
- Abrupt ending to long-running conversations
While not proof, these can raise suspicions of selective message deletion. But accidental deletion or app glitches could also cause similar effects.
Recovering deleted Facebook messages
If you delete messages on Facebook Messenger itself, they may still be recoverable from your full Facebook data for a limited time. You can download your Facebook data, then search for relevant JSON files containing your message history, including deleted content.
However, this will only include messages deleted up to the date of your last data download. Anything erased after that point is likely unrecoverable.
Can I download my Messenger data after deleting account?
No, it is not possible to download your Messenger data after deleting your Facebook account and Messenger. The data download option becomes permanently disabled after starting the deletion process.
This means it’s important to backup anything you may want to keep from Messenger before initiating permanent account deletion. Once fully deleted, your Messenger data is gone for good.
Recovering Messenger account after deletion
If you permanently deleted your Facebook account linked to Messenger but then changed your mind, it is not possible to recover it. The deletion process cannot be reversed.
Your only option is to start a brand new Facebook and Messenger account from scratch. None of your old data or friends will carry over to the new profile.
Conclusion
Deleting your Messenger account is a serious decision requiring erasing your entire Facebook presence. Be sure to download any data you may want to keep for personal records before initiating permanent deletion. Also be aware of the consequences such as losing access to Oculus, Facebook Login, and more.
Consider alternatives to satisfy your messaging needs as well. While it takes effort, deleting Messenger can provide major benefits around privacy and data control if you are committed to leaving Facebook behind.