Facebook has become an integral part of many people’s lives since it launched in 2004. The social media platform allows users to stay connected with friends and family, share life updates, photos, videos, and more. However, some users decide they want to leave Facebook permanently for various reasons like privacy concerns, desire to reduce social media use, too much wasted time scrolling, and more. Shutting down a Facebook account completely deletes all of the content associated with it. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to delete your Facebook account permanently.
Why Would You Want to Delete Facebook?
There are several reasons why someone may want to delete their Facebook account entirely:
- Privacy and security concerns – Facebook has faced criticism over its data privacy practices and security breaches. Deleting Facebook eliminates concerns over the company misusing private data.
- Reduce social media usage – Facebook can be addictive and time-consuming. Removing it can help reduce social media distraction and compulsive checking.
- Avoid unproductive comparisons – Seeing curated highlights from other people’s lives can lead to unhelpful social comparison.
- Increase productivity – The time previously spent scrolling Facebook can be redirected towards more meaningful activities.
- Political reasons – Some people wish to boycott Facebook over concerns about spreading misinformation or privacy issues.
- Mental health break – Facebook use has been associated with increased depression and anxiety for some users. Taking a break can help clear your mind.
- Start fresh – Deleting your existing profile allows you to take a clean break and sign up again later with more intention.
Think carefully about your reasons for deleting Facebook to determine if permanently shutting it down is the right choice for you.
How to Download Your Facebook Data
Before deleting your Facebook account, it can be helpful to download a copy of your Facebook data for your records. Here are the steps to download your information:
- Go to your Facebook Settings and select “Your Facebook Information” in the left column.
- Under “Download Your Information,” click “View.”
- Deselect any data types you don’t want to include, or keep everything selected for a comprehensive record.
- Choose your desired date range for the data collection.
- Click “Create File” to start your data download request.
- Facebook will prepare your downloadable archive and notify you via email when it is ready to access and download. This usually takes a few minutes up to a few hours depending on the size of your data file.
Facebook allows you to download your posts, photos, videos, comments, past searches, and more. Saving this data lets you look back on your Facebook history even after you delete your account.
How to Temporarily Deactivate Your Facebook Account
If you are unsure about permanent deletion, consider temporarily deactivating your Facebook account first:
- Go to your Facebook Settings and find the “Manage Account” option in the left column.
- Click on “Deactivation and Deletion.”
- Choose “Deactivate Account” and follow the on-screen instructions.
When deactivating your account:
- Your profile is hidden until you reactive it by logging back in.
- Some data may still be visible to others, like messages you sent.
- You can reactivate your account by logging back in at any time.
Deactivation gives you the flexibility to take a break from Facebook without losing your account permanently.
How to Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account
If you are certain you want to permanently delete your Facebook account, here are the steps:
- Click on the downward arrow in the top right and select “Settings.”
- In the left column, go to “Your Facebook Information” and click “Deactivation and Deletion.”
- Choose “Permanently Delete Account” and click “Continue to Account Deletion.”
- Select “Delete Account” to confirm.
- Enter your password and click “Continue” and then “OK” to finalize the permanent deletion.
Once you permanently delete your account:
- Your profile, photos, posts, videos, and everything else associated with your account will be removed.
- You will no longer be able to retrieve anything you have shared on Facebook.
- It may take up to 90 days for Facebook to complete the deletion process.
- You can sign up for a new Facebook account at any time with the same email address.
What Exactly Gets Deleted from Facebook
Deleting your Facebook account permanently removes the following information:
- Your profile info (bio, photos, wall posts, interests, etc.)
- Your friends list and any friend requests sent or received
- Group affiliations
- Messages, posts, photos, videos, and other content you have shared
- Reaction history and accounts you follow
- Chat and Messenger history
- Transaction history from purchases on Facebook
- Search history data
However, some information may still be accessible by others, including:
- Messages you sent to friends – Recipients can still access these
- Comments made by others on your posts or photos
- Info about you that friends have shared on their own profiles
Essentially, deleting your account gets rid of info you have posted yourself, but not content others have shared about you or sent directly to you.
What Happens When You Delete Facebook
Here’s an overview of what happens after you permanently delete your Facebook account:
- Your profile and all account information are marked for deletion.
- For the next 30 days your account goes into a “disabled” state where you can still reverse the deletion if desired.
- After 30 days, your account including posts, photos, messages, etc. is permanently erased from Facebook’s servers.
- Within 90 days, all data associated with your account through Facebook apps and services will also be deleted.
- Your former friends may still see some of your info in their messages, photos, posts, etc. that you were tagged in.
- You can sign up for a brand new account with the same email address after deletion.
What Happens to Your Oculus Profile
Facebook owns Oculus VR, maker of virtual reality headsets. If you have an Oculus account linked to your Facebook profile, it will be disabled when you delete Facebook. However, your Oculus purchase history remains for the purpose of fulfilling warranties, tracking entitlements, and allowing reactivation if you create a new Facebook account.
What Happens to Your Messenger Account
When you delete your Facebook account, your Messenger account and chats are also deleted. Your Messenger friends will no longer be able to contact you. If you reactivate Facebook with your previous email, your Messenger contacts will automatically be restored as well.
What Happens to Your Instagram Account
Since Facebook owns Instagram, deleting your Facebook account also deletes and disables any associated Instagram account. You cannot regain access even if you reactivate Facebook later with the same email address. Your Instagram photos and data will be permanently removed.
What Happens to Your WhatsApp Account
WhatsApp accounts are tied to your phone number rather than your Facebook profile. Therefore, deleting your Facebook account does not affect your WhatsApp account or data. You can continue using WhatsApp normally without Facebook.
How to Delete Specific Facebook Data
If you don’t want to fully delete your account, you can delete select parts of your Facebook data:
- Delete your timeline/posts: Go to your profile, click on “View As,” select “Activity Log,” use filters to view timeline posts, and delete items.
- Unlike pages: Go to your page likes list under “Interests” in your profile and unlike pages.
- Leave Facebook groups: Access your groups list from the left menu and leave any groups.
- Delete friends: Click “Friends” on your profile and remove connections.
- Untag photos: From your profile, click “Photos,” use the filters to find untagged photos, and remove yourself from posts.
Deleting specific content allows you to curate your Facebook presence while still keeping your account active.
How to Reactivate Your Facebook Account
If you regret deleting your Facebook account, reactivation is possible, but only for a limited time:
- Within 30 days after starting deletion – simply log back in with your email and password.
- Between 30-90 days after deletion – account cannot be restored but you can create a new account.
- After 90 days – the account is permanently deleted and cannot be retrieved. You can sign up for a brand new account.
So if you change your mind shortly after deletion, get in touch with Facebook immediately to restore your account.
Pros and Cons of Deleting Facebook
Before making your decision, weigh the potential advantages and disadvantages of leaving Facebook for good:
Potential Pros
- Increased privacy and security over personal data
- More control over how you portray yourself online
- Avoid wasted time from endless scrolling and distraction
- Prevent unfavorable social comparisons about others’ lives
- Improve mental health and self-esteem for some
- Encourage more face-to-face interaction with people
Potential Cons
- Lose connection with certain friends or relatives
- Miss out on event invites, group activities, and announcements
- photos, memories, messages, and other data is erased
- Difficulty accessing other connected apps or sites that use Facebook login
Tips for Adjusting to Life After Facebook
Quitting Facebook cold turkey can take adjustment. Here are some tips:
- Let close contacts know you are deleting Facebook and prefer to be reached by phone/email.
- Consider alternative social media accounts like Twitter or LinkedIn to stay loosely in touch.
- Replace Facebook time with more meaningful activities like reading, exercising, socializing in-person.
- Remove Facebook apps and logins so you are not tempted to reactivate your account.
- Try socializing more in-person to get quality time with friends and family.
- Identify when you are most tempted to use Facebook (boredom, FOMO, procrastination) and proactively avoid those situations.
Conclusion
Deleting your Facebook account permanently is a significant decision. Download your data, carefully consider the pros and cons, and follow the steps to permanently erase your account. Adjust by filling your time with other activities and people. Overall, leaving Facebook can provide more privacy, security, control and quality time away from screens for many users.