How long can you temporarily delete Facebook?

What does it mean to temporarily delete Facebook?

Temporarily deleting your Facebook account means deactivating it for a period of time while retaining the option to reactivate it in the future. When you temporarily delete your Facebook account, your profile and all information associated with it is hidden until you reactivate it by logging back in. Some key things to know about temporarily deleting Facebook:

Your profile, photos, posts, videos, and everything else you’ve added to Facebook is hidden but not deleted. This content remains stored on Facebook’s servers.
No one else can view your Facebook profile or search for you on Facebook until you reactivate your account.

You can reactivate your account at any time by simply logging back into Facebook with your username and password.
You can still use Messenger while your Facebook account is deactivated.
Facebook may remove accounts that are inactive for an extended period of time, such as two years.

Temporarily deactivating is different from permanently deleting your Facebook account, which removes all your information from Facebook’s servers and cannot be undone.

How long can I temporarily deactivate my Facebook account?

There is no specific time limit for how long you can temporarily deactivate your Facebook account. You can reactivate your Facebook account at any time by logging back in with your credentials.

However, Facebook does have an inactive account policy where if you do not use your account for a certain period of time, Facebook may delete your account permanently. According to Facebook’s terms, if your account remains deactivated for more than 14 days, Facebook reserves the right to delete your account and all its data.

In practice, this inactive account deletion seems to happen after an account has been deactivated for about 2 years. There are many reports of people successfully reactivating their Facebook account after several months or even more than a year of deactivation.

So in summary:

You can temporarily deactivate your Facebook account for as long as you want.

Facebook reserves the right to delete inactive accounts after 14 days per their policy.
In practice, inactive account deletion appears to happen around the 2 year mark of deactivation.

If you think you may want to reactivate your Facebook account in the future, it’s best not to leave it deactivated much longer than 2 years. But there is flexibility to take a short break from Facebook or keep your account deactivated for many months at a time if you wish.

How do I temporarily deactivate my Facebook account?

Here are step-by-step instructions to temporarily deactivate your Facebook account:

Click on the arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and select “Settings”.
On the General Account Settings page, click “Manage Account” in the left column.

Click on “Deactivate your account” at the bottom of the page.
Select “Temporary” when prompted to choose between Temporary or Permanent deactivation.
Read the information on what deactivating your account means and click “Continue to next step”.

Enter your password to confirm your identity.
Click “Deactivate”.

Once you click “Deactivate”, your Facebook account will be temporarily disabled. When you want to reactivate it, simply log back into Facebook with your username and password as you normally would.

Why would I want to temporarily deactivate my Facebook account?

Here are some common reasons people choose to temporarily deactivate their Facebook accounts:

Take a break from social media for mental health or productivity reasons
Avoid distractions during an important life event or busy period

Reduce social media use for a digital detox or social media fast
Take a break from seeing updates from certain people or groups
Give yourself time to reevaluate your social media habits

Force yourself to disconnect and be more present
Prevent yourself from posting things you may regret during an emotional time
Take time off from outdated connections that no longer serve you

Temporarily deactivating can give you the chance to see what life is like without Facebook for a set period of time without losing your account permanently. This lets you step back and reconsider how you want to use Facebook going forward.

What happens when I temporarily deactivate my Facebook account?

Here’s an overview of key things that happen when you temporarily deactivate your Facebook account:

Your profile and photos will be hidden from other users.

You will stop receiving notifications, friend requests, messages, and other interactions.
You can no longer view profiles of friends or other public accounts.
No one will be able to search for you or view your profile on Facebook.

Your Facebook messages are deactivated but can still be reactivated later.
You can still use Messenger if you have the app.
Your Facebook events, groups, and pages remain intact but hidden.

You lose access to Facebook apps you use through your Facebook login.

Essentially, temporarily deactivating removes your profile and presence from the Facebook platform – but your data remains stored and recoverable when you choose to come back.

What about Messenger?

When you deactivate your Facebook account, you have two options for Messenger:

Deactivate Messenger – This disables your Messenger account along with Facebook. You will not be able to send or receive Messenger messages until you reactivate your Facebook account.
Keep Messenger active – This leaves your Messenger app functional so you can continue using Messenger while your Facebook account is deactivated. You will only be able to use Messenger features and will not be able to access your Facebook account.

You can choose the Messenger option that best suits your needs when going through the Facebook deactivation process. If you want a full break from Facebook’s ecosystem, disable Messenger. But keeping Messenger allows you to still connect with friends.

What happens to my Facebook data when I temporarily deactivate?

Your Facebook data including posts, photos, videos, interests, and connections remain stored on Facebook’s servers when you temporarily deactivate your account. Here are some key points about what happens to your Facebook data:

Your profile, news feed posts, photos, videos, and all account information stay on Facebook’s system.
You cannot access, edit, or add to this data until you reactivate your account.

Facebook continues using your data for ads and recommendation algorithms while deactivated.
If you exceed the inactive account time limit, Facebook can permanently delete your data.
Temporarily deactivating does not limit Facebook’s data access or usage.

In their terms, Facebook maintains the right to continue using, modifying, and licensing your data even while your account is deactivated. So temporary deactivation does not limit their access to your information.

Can I download my Facebook data before deactivating?

Yes, you can download a copy of your Facebook information before deactivating your account:

Go to Settings > Your Facebook Information

Click “Download Your Information”
Select date range and types of data to download
Click “Create File”

Once ready, click “Download” to get your Facebook data archive

Downloading this data allows you to have a backup copy if you intend to deactivate your Facebook account for an extended time.

What are the pros and cons of temporarily deactivating Facebook?

Pros	Cons
– Take a break from Facebook and social media	– Lose convenient access to Facebook apps and features
– Distance yourself from certain connections	– Miss out on events, updates, invites, and messages
– Avoid wasted time and distraction	– Photos and memories remain tucked away
– Clear your mind and improve focus	– Lose connection with friends who primarily use Facebook
– Reset your social media habits	– Can’t permanently delete your account during hiatus

The main benefits of deactivating have to do with taking a intentional break from aspects of Facebook that feel distracting, draining or harmful. The downsides primarily involve losing touch with friends, events, and nostalgic content.

What are some alternatives to temporarily deactivating my Facebook account?

If you want to keep your account active but cut back on your Facebook use, some alternatives to try include:

Delete the Facebook app from your phone
Restrict your login to once a day or week

Use time limit settings to control when you can access Facebook
Turn off notifications so you choose when to check Facebook
Unlike or snooze content from sources you find negative or distracting

Unsubscribe from email updates to reduce Facebook notifications
Unfollow friends or groups whose posts you don’t want to see
Curate your feed using Lists to highlight content you value

Tweaking your Facebook settings, use habits, and connections can allow you to scale back your usage without deactivating your account.

What happens when I reactivate my Facebook account after temporarily deactivating?

Reactivating your Facebook account after temporary deactivation is quick and simple:

Go to Facebook.com and log in with your username and password as usual.

Facebook will detect your deactivated account and prompt you to reactivate it.
Click “Activate” to confirm.

Once you complete these steps to reactivate your account:

Your Facebook profile, posts, photos and all previous data will be visible again.
You will regain full access to your Facebook account and functionality.
Friends and followers will be able to search for and view your Facebook profile again.

You will start receiving notifications and updates again as normal.

You pick right back up where you left off before deactivating your account. Everything is intact and it’s like you never left, aside from the time gap in your posts and activity.

Can I rejoin Facebook groups and events when I reactivate?

Yes, when you reactivate your Facebook account after temporarily deactivating:

You will automatically be rejoined to any groups you were a member of
You can view and RSVP to any upcoming events you were previously invited to
You can resume managing any pages or public content you administered

You seamlessly pick up where you left off with the communities and connections you had established on Facebook before your temporary hiatus.

What are some best practices for temporarily deactivating Facebook?

Here are some tips for smoothly temporarily deactivating your Facebook account:

Download your Facebook data for safekeeping before deactivating

Export your photos if you want copies of them during your break from Facebook
Let close friends and family know you plan to deactivate so they aren’t worried
Remove Facebook as the login for any accounts before deactivating

Choose a reactivation date in the future if you want a set digital detox period
Use Messenger if you still want to stay in touch with friends
Delete the Facebook app from your phone to avoid temptation

Plan what platforms or activities will fill your extra time

Having an exit plan for what you will do when Facebook is deactivated can help make the transition smoother. Be intentional about how you spend the time you previously spent scrolling through Facebook.

Conclusion

In summary, there is no definitive time limit for how long you can temporarily deactivate your Facebook account. You are able to reactivate your account at any time by simply logging back in. However, Facebook may delete accounts that have been inactive for over 2 years.

Temporarily deactivating can give you a chance to take a healthy break from Facebook and reset your social media habits. While deactivated, your profile and data will be hidden but stored so everything is restored when you choose to return. Be mindful of inactive account deletion policies and consider downloading your data before deactivating for an extended period.