Many Facebook users eventually consider leaving the platform. However, most are unsure about the differences between deactivating and deleting a Facebook account. While both options allow you to take a break from the social network, they have some key differences.
Deactivating Your Facebook Account
Deactivating your Facebook account is the easiest way to temporarily disable your profile. When you deactivate:
- Your profile is hidden from other users
- You can reactivate your account at any time by logging back in
- You can still be tagged in posts and photos
- Messages sent to you will not go through
- Your info and data remain stored on Facebook
To deactivate your account:
- Click on the arrow in the top right corner
- Select “Settings & Privacy”
- Click “Settings”
- Click “Your Facebook Information” in the left column
- Select “Deactivation and Deletion”
- Choose “Deactivate Account”
You will be given the option to temporarily deactivate your account for 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, or customize your own deactivate period. After the time period ends, your profile will automatically reactivate.
Pros of Deactivating
- Easy to do
- All data remains intact
- Can reactivate at any time
- Take a temporary break from Facebook
Cons of Deactivating
- Profile is still partially visible
- Data is still being collected
- Does not solve issues like distraction or privacy
Deleting Your Facebook Account
Deleting your Facebook account is the only way to fully close your profile and remove it from the platform. When you delete:
- Your profile is permanently deleted
- You lose access to your account
- You can no longer be tagged in posts
- Your messages are deleted
- Some data remains in Facebook systems
To delete your account:
- Click on the arrow in the top right corner
- Select “Settings & Privacy”
- Click “Settings”
- Click “Your Facebook Information” in the left column
- Select “Deactivation and Deletion”
- Choose “Delete Account”
You will be given 30 days to change your mind before the account is permanently deleted. During this time your profile is deactivated but can still be reactivated.
Pros of Deleting
- Fully close your account
- Stop data collection
- More private
- Reduce distractions
Cons of Deleting
- Permanent decision
- Lose access to all data
- Can no longer use Facebook products and services
- Difficult to reconnect with friends later on
Key Differences
Here is a comparison of some key differences between deactivating and deleting your Facebook account:
| Deactivate | Delete | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile Visibility | Hidden but can be tagged | Permanently deleted |
| Reactivation | Can reactivate at any time | Permanent decision |
| Data Collection | Facebook still collects data | Data collection stops |
| Access to Info | Can retrieve info if reactivated | Lose access to info forever |
| Time Frame | Can deactivate temporarily | Permanent unless reactivated in 30 days |
As you can see, deactivating is temporary while deleting is permanent. Deactivating keeps your profile in a disabled state but all information remains intact should you change your mind. Deleting begins the process of removing your account from Facebook and takes your profile offline.
What happens when you delete Facebook?
When you decide to delete your Facebook account, here is a general overview of what happens:
- You select the account deletion option in your settings. Facebook gives you 30 days to change your mind.
- During those 30 days your profile is deactivated but still recoverable. People can’t search for you.
- FB sends an email reminder a few days before the 30-day window closes.
- On day 30 your account is permanently deleted if not reactivated.
- It takes up to 90 days for Facebook to fully delete all data from backups.
- Your profile, posts, photos, messages, and other data are removed.
- You lose access to FB-connected apps and sites using your Facebook login.
- FB saves some data for security purposes, like investigating suspicious activity.
So in summary, selecting the delete option starts a 30-day countdown timer. Within those 30 days your account is deactivated but can be reactivated. After that, your profile and data begin getting purged from Facebook’s systems and become permanently inaccessible. The entire deletion process can take up to 90 days.
What happens to your Facebook messages if you delete your account?
When you delete your Facebook account, all of your Facebook messages are also deleted as part of the process. During the 30-day deactivation period before permanent deletion, you can still read existing messages in your inbox but cannot send or receive new ones.
After the 30 days, your messages and message history are permanently erased along with your account. People who messaged you will no longer see the conversation on their side either. Your messages are wiped from Facebook’s servers and cannot be recovered. Backing up your Facebook data before deleting your account is the only way to save your messages.
Can you reactivate a deleted Facebook account?
If you change your mind after deleting your Facebook account, you have a 30-day window to reactivate it before it is permanently disabled. Simply log back in during that time and your profile will be restored.
However, after 30 days from initiating the deletion, your account cannot be retrieved. Facebook’s help pages state that accounts cannot be reactivated after being permanently deleted. The only option is to create a brand new account.
What happens to your Facebook photos when you delete your account?
When you delete your Facebook account, all the photos you uploaded will also be deleted as part of the process. Any photos that you were tagged in by friends may remain visible unless the owner also deletes them.
During the 30-day deactivation window before permanent deletion, you can still access and view all of your uploaded photos on Facebook. Once the 30 days are up, the photos are removed from Facebook’s servers and photo storage systems.
Backing up your Facebook photos before deleting your account is the only way to preserve them. You can download an archive of your Facebook data that includes your photos. Otherwise, they are permanently erased.
Should You Deactivate or Delete Your Facebook Account?
Deciding whether to deactivate or delete your Facebook account depends on your specific reasons and intentions:
- If you need a temporary break, deactivating is better.
- If you want to permanently leave, deleting is better.
- If you might return someday, stick with deactivation.
- If you want a fresh start, deletion is the way to go.
Deactivating gives you more flexibility if you are unsure. Deleting is final but gives you the most privacy. Consider how heavily you use Facebook to decide which option makes sense for your situation.
Reasons to Deactivate Instead of Deleting
Here are some reasons you may want to deactivate your account instead of deleting it entirely:
- You want to take a short social media break.
- You need to focus on work or exams and want less distraction.
- You’re going on vacation and won’t use Facebook anyway.
- You want to reduce social media use temporarily.
- You may return to using Facebook again someday.
Deactivating allows you to easily reactivate your account whenever you choose to start using Facebook again. All of your information remains intact.
Reasons to Delete Your Facebook Account
Here are some reasons you may want to permanently delete your Facebook account:
- You have privacy concerns about how Facebook uses data.
- The news feed is causing you stress or anxiety.
- You spend too much time on Facebook and want to break the habit.
- Too many ads are cluttering up your news feed.
- You had a falling out with friends and family members on Facebook.
- You want a fresh start on social media.
Deleting your account gives you a clean slate and completely removes you and your data from the platform. It is the only option for a permanent Facebook exit.
How to Download Your Facebook Data
Before deleting your Facebook account, you may want to download a copy of your Facebook data for your records. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings
- Click “Your Facebook Information”
- Select “Download Your Information”
- Choose format: HTML or JSON
- Select date range for info you want
- Click “Request Download”
- Enter password to confirm identity
- Wait for Facebook email when file is ready
- Click link in email to download info
This archive contains your posts, photos, messages, profile info, and more. You can also choose to only download specific data if you don’t want your full account info. Back up this data before deleting Facebook.
Conclusion
While deactivating and deleting a Facebook account both allow you to take a break from the platform, they have different effects. Deactivating temporarily hides your profile whereas deleting begins permanently removing all of your data.
Consider how long you need a break from Facebook and whether you see yourself potentially returning someday. Deactivating makes it easy to reactivate your account whenever you choose. Deleting is final but gives you the most privacy. Evaluate your reasons for leaving before choosing the right option.