If you delete the email account associated with your Facebook profile, it can lead to complications accessing and managing your Facebook account. Your Facebook profile relies on a valid email address in order to function properly. Without access to that email inbox, you may lose important account security features, notifications, and the ability to reset your password. However, deleting your email does not automatically delete your Facebook profile. There are steps you can take to avoid losing access to your account if you need to delete the connected email.
Why Does Facebook Need an Email Address?
When you first create a Facebook account, you are required to provide a valid email address. This allows Facebook to send you important notifications related to your account’s security and activity. It also provides a way for you to reset your password if you get locked out of your account.
Some of the key reasons Facebook requires an email address include:
- Password resets – If you forget your Facebook password, the only way to reset it is through a password reset email sent to your connected email address.
- Login notifications – Facebook will email you when your account is accessed from a new device to confirm it was you.
- Security alerts – Facebook emails you if suspicious activity is detected, like logins from unfamiliar locations.
- Email notifications – Updates on comments, messages, friend requests, and other Facebook notifications are sent via email.
- Account verification – When you create a new Facebook account, you must verify your email to complete the signup process.
Without access to your email inbox, these important account security features will no longer work. However, there are steps you can take to update your email on file with Facebook before closing your email account.
What Happens When You Delete the Connected Email
When you delete the email account associated with your Facebook profile, your account will remain active but you may lose access to some key features:
- You will no longer receive email notifications from Facebook about comments, messages, friend requests, or other updates.
- You cannot reset your password. If you forget your password, you will be completely locked out of your account.
- You may not receive alerts about suspicious login activity detected on your account.
- Two-factor authentication via email confirmation codes will no longer work.
- You cannot make changes that require email verification, like updating your connected email or phone number.
Essentially, any Facebook feature that relies on sending an email notification or confirmation email will stop working. You can still log into your account if you remember your password, but permanently losing password access becomes a huge risk.
However, your profile, friends, photos, posts, and all other data will remain intact. Deleting the email does not automatically delete your Facebook account or any of your information stored in it. But without email access, you could get locked out of your account and lose access permanently.
How to Change Your Connected Email
To avoid getting locked out when you delete your email account, you need to change your connected email first. Here are the steps to update your email before closing your account:
- Log into Facebook and click on the triangle drop-down menu at the top right.
- Select “Settings & Privacy” then click “Settings”.
- Click “Email” in the left sidebar.
- Enter your new email address and click “Save Changes”.
- Check your new email inbox for a confirmation code sent by Facebook.
- Enter the confirmation code on Facebook and click “Confirm”.
Once you receive confirmation that your new email was verified, it is now safe to delete your old email account. Facebook has your updated email on file to use for notifications and password resets moving forward.
How to Recover Your Account if You Already Deleted Email
If you already deleted your connected email without updating it in Facebook first, recovery is more difficult but still possible in some cases:
- SMS password reset – If you added a mobile number as a backup for password reset, you can reset via SMS text message.
- Trusted contacts – You can have a trusted friend or family member with your password reset to help you regain access.
- Login approvals – If you have login approvals enabled through SMS or an authentication app, you can use these verification codes to log in.
- Backup email – Check if you have a secondary email attached for account recovery.
- ID verification – Facebook may prompt you to verify your identity with a government ID to regain access.
If none of those options allow you back into your account, unfortunately your only recourse is to contact Facebook support. Explain that you can no longer access the email for your account and need assistance recovering it. However, since you violated Facebook’s terms around maintaining a valid connected email, they may be unable to help restore your access.
Does Facebook Delete Inactive Accounts?
Facebook does not automatically delete accounts just because the connected email is no longer active. As long as you continue logging into your Facebook account with your password, it will remain open.
However, if you go an extended period without logging in, Facebook may eventually classify your account as “inactive.” At that point, it may get permanently deleted. Here are Facebook’s policies around inactive accounts:
- After 2 years of inactivity, your account may be temporarily “memorialized.” Your profile remains but no one can log in.
- After 5 years of inactivity, pending a successful memorialization period, your account may be permanently deleted.
- “Inactivity” means you have not logged in and have not used Facebook features like likes or posts.
So while removing your email will not instantly delete your account, you do need to log in periodically to keep it active. If you go years without logging in, Facebook may eventually delete your inactive profile.
Should You Delete Your Email Before Deleting Facebook?
If you intend to delete your Facebook account entirely, you do not necessarily need to update your connected email before deleting your profile. When you delete your Facebook account, your email address on file will be removed as well.
However, it’s still a safer approach to change your Facebook email first. Here’s why:
- If the account deletion fails, you may find yourself locked out of your still-active profile.
- You’ll maintain full account access until the moment you delete your profile.
- You can download your Facebook data for your records before account deletion.
- It avoids the risk of Facebook’s automated systems deleting your account before you intend to.
By changing your email first, you remain in control of your account until you are fully ready to delete it. It also ensures you do not lose access unintentionally before you have downloaded your profile data.
Key Points
To summarize the key points on how deleting your Facebook connected email impacts your account:
- Without access to your connected email, you may get locked out by losing your password.
- Update your Facebook email before closing your email account to maintain access.
- If your account becomes inactive over an extended period, Facebook may delete it.
- Change your Facebook email first before deleting your profile for a smoother account closure process.
Conclusion
While deleting your Facebook email does not directly lead to your account being deleted, it does put your account at serious risk. The safest approach is to update your connected email before closing your email account. If you intend to delete Facebook entirely, change your email address on file first before deleting your profile. This ensures you maintain full access up until the deletion process is complete while minimizing the risk of your account being prematurely closed or memorialized. With some planning ahead, you can delete your email account without losing access to your Facebook profile and data.