Deactivating your Facebook account is different from deleting it permanently. When you deactivate your account, it is hidden until you reactivate it by logging back in. Deactivating can be a good option if you need a break from Facebook but aren’t ready to delete your account entirely. Here’s an overview of what happens when you deactivate your Facebook account:
Your profile is hidden
Your profile, photos, posts, videos, and everything else you’ve shared on your profile will be hidden from other users on Facebook. Other users will no longer be able to search for you or view any part of your profile.
Essentially, it will appear as if you no longer have an account on Facebook. Your friends will not be notified that you’ve deactivated your account. They will simply no longer see your profile pop up in their newsfeeds or be able to interact with your profile in any way.
Some information remains visible
While most of your profile is hidden when deactivated, some information will still be visible:
- Pages and groups you’ve created or manage will still be visible.
- Messages you’ve sent to friends will remain visible in their inboxes.
- Your name may still appear in Facebook tags/mentions by friends (but these tags will not link to a profile).
So any public content or conversations you’ve been a part of outside your main profile may still show up on Facebook even though your personal account is deactivated.
You cannot post, react, or comment
Since your profile is deactivated, you will not be able to post status updates, share photos, react to or comment on posts, or interact with Facebook in any other way. Essentially, you are “logged out” of your account until you choose to reactivate it.
Your information is saved
Importantly, deactivating does not delete or erase any of your information you’ve saved on Facebook. All your photos, posts, videos, messages, and any other data you’ve shared will all be saved so that it is restored when you login again.
So you don’t need to worry about losing anything by deactivating – your account will be in the exact same state when you restore it.
What stays active with a deactivated account?
While most of your account is hidden when deactivated, some key functions will remain active:
Messenger
You can continue using Messenger to chat with friends while your Facebook account is deactivated. However, keep in mind you cannot access Messenger through your Facebook profile or homepage – you’ll have to use the standalone Messenger app.
Events and birthdays
If you’ve RSVP’d to any upcoming events or added friends’ birthdays to your calendar, you’ll still receive notifications about those even with a deactivated account.
Tagging abilities
Your friends can still tag you in posts, comments, photos, or videos while your account is deactivated. However, the tags will not link to a profile.
Payments and donations
Any payments made to Facebook (such as for ads or donations) will still be processed as usual. You’ll continue seeing receipts and confirmations as normal.
Email notifications
You will still receive occasional email updates from Facebook while deactivated, such as notifications about new features or policy changes.
How long does deactivation last?
When you initially deactivate your Facebook account, you have the option to set a duration for how long you want it to remain deactivated:
- 1 day
- 3 days
- 1 week
- 2 weeks
- 1 month
- 3 months
Once the time period you select has passed, your account will automatically be reactivated.
If you do not choose a duration, your account will remain deactivated until you manually log back in. There is no limit on how long deactivation can last if you do not set a duration. Your account could remain deactivated for years until you choose to access it again.
Reactivating early
You always have the option to reactivate your account earlier than the duration you initially set. Just log back into Facebook anytime before the deactivation period ends, and your account will be fully restored.
What happens when you reactivate your account?
Reactivating your Facebook account after deactivating is simple. All you need to do is log back into Facebook with your email and password. Here’s what happens:
- Your profile and all account data will restored.
- You’ll be able to post content, comment, and interact with Facebook normally again.
- Your friends will once again be able to view your profile and search for your account.
- Notifications, friend requests, and other account activity that occurred while deactivated will be visible.
Essentially, it will be as if you never deactivated your account in the first place. The process is quick and seamless.
Welcome back messages
When you log back in after deactivating, you may see some “Welcome Back” messages from Facebook. This is just to confirm your account has been fully reactivated with all previous data intact.
Why deactivate instead of deleting?
Deactivating your Facebook account gives you more flexibility than fully deleting it. Here are some of the key reasons people deactivate instead of deleting:
- They need a temporary break from Facebook.
- They want the option to restore their account easily in the future.
- They want to keep Messenger access to stay in touch with friends.
- They are concerned about losing photos, messages, or other data.
- They manage business pages and still need access to insights.
- They use Facebook Login to access other apps or sites.
Deactivating lets you take a break while keeping open the option to restore your account whenever you choose to log back in. Deleting is permanent – once your account is deleted, it along with all your data is gone for good.
Should you delete instead?
For some users, deactivating their Facebook may not feel like enough. If you’re concerned about limiting Facebook’s data collection of your information, want to remove access for third-party apps you’ve logged in with Facebook, or no longer want your data on Facebook’s servers at all, deletion may be the better option.
Here are some key differences between deactivating and deleting your account:
| Deactivating | Deleting |
|---|---|
| Reversible – you can restore your account at any time | Permanent – you cannot retrieve your account or data once deleted |
| Some account data remains with Facebook while deactivated | All account data is erased from Facebook servers |
| You can still use Messenger | Loss of access to Messenger |
| Facebook may still collect some data about you | Facebook stops collecting your data |
| You retain access via Facebook Login to other apps/sites | Loss of access to sites logged in with Facebook |
So if privacy and permanently removing your information from Facebook is your top priority, deleting your account may be preferable to deactivating. However, deletion means losing access to Facebook-connected services and erasing all your saved content for good.
How to download your Facebook data
Before deactivating or deleting your Facebook account, many users want to download a copy of their Facebook data for their records. Here are the steps to download your personal data:
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Click “Your Facebook Information” in the left menu
- Select “Download Your Information”
- Choose date range and media types to download
- Click “Create File” to request your archive
- Once ready, Facebook will email a link to download your data
This lets you download a digital copy of everything you’ve posted, pictures you’re tagged in, ads you’ve clicked, and more. It’s a great way to back up your Facebook data before deactivating or deleting.
How to delete your Facebook account permanently
If you ultimately decide deleting your Facebook is the right choice, here are the steps to permanently delete your account:
- Click drop down arrow top right > Settings & Privacy
- Click “Your Facebook Information” in left menu
- Choose “Deactivation and Deletion”
- Select “Permanently Delete Account”
- Click “Continue to Account Deletion”
- Log in and click “Permanently Delete Account”
Once you complete these steps, your account will be scheduled for deletion. Facebook takes up to 90 days to fully delete accounts after they are marked for deletion. Within 30 days your data is removed from view, and after 90 days all data is permanently deleted from Facebook servers.
The deletion cannot be reversed once your account is marked for permanent removal. Be certain before proceeding with deleting your account, as again, you will lose access to your data, photos, messages and everything else on Facebook.
Conclusion
Deactivating your Facebook account provides a temporary break by hiding your profile until you are ready to reactivate it again. It keeps your information intact so you can restore your account whenever you choose to log back in. Before deactivating or deleting, be sure to download a copy of your Facebook data for your own records.
Ultimately whether to deactivate or proceed with full deletion depends on your reasons for leaving Facebook and if it’s a permanent break you want versus a temporary hiatus. Deactivating Facebook gives you more flexibility if you may eventually want to return. However deleting your account fully cuts ties with Facebook and permanently erases your profile and information from their servers.