How to Close Facebook Account
Facebook has been an essential social media platform in our daily lives. However, you may want to delete your account for several reasons. Deleting your Facebook account is easy but involves a few steps. Follow these simple steps to delete it for good!
Before deleting your Facebook account permanently, it’s necessary to download your data. To download your Facebook data:
- Log in to your Facebook account.
- Click on the menu icon at the top right corner of the screen and scroll down to click on “Settings & Privacy.”
- Select “Settings.”
- Click on “Your Facebook Information” from the left sidebar menu.
- Select “Download Your Information.”
- Select the data range, format, and media quality you want to download and then click on “Create File.”
Facebook will then send an email when your data is ready to download. It may take up to a few hours or even days to download all your data.
You can temporarily deactivate your Facebook account by following these steps:
- Log in to your Facebook account.
- Click on the menu icon at the top right corner of the screen and scroll down to click on “Settings & Privacy.”
- Select “Settings.”
- Click on “Your Facebook Information” from the left sidebar menu.
- Select “Deactivation and Deletion.”
- Choose “Deactivate Account.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to deactivate your account.
Deactivating your account will hide your profile, photos, and posts, but your data and account history will still be stored on Facebook’s servers.
To permanently delete your Facebook account, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Facebook account.
- Click on this link or go to “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings” > “Your Facebook Information” > “Deactivation and Deletion” > “Permanently Delete Account.”
- Select “Delete Account.”
- Enter your password and click on “Continue.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to delete your account permanently.
Keep in mind that once you delete your account, you won’t be able to reactivate it or retrieve your data.
After deleting your account permanently, it’s crucial to avoid accidentally reactivating it. To prevent accidental reactivation:
- Avoid logging back into your account.
- Don’t use any third-party apps or services that require Facebook to authenticate.
Be patient and wait for at least 30 days before deleting your account permanently. Facebook may take up to 90 days to delete all your data from its servers.
Before making the decision to delete your Facebook account permanently, ask yourself:
- Will I miss being on Facebook, or can I do without it?
- Why am I deleting my account?
- Is there any way to resolve the issue without deleting my account?
Consider deactivating your account for a while instead of deleting it permanently.
By following these steps, it’s easy to delete your Facebook account. Remember to download your data, deactivate your account, and then delete it permanently. If you decide to delete your account, be sure to avoid reactivating it accidentally.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Backup Your Data
If you have decided to delete your Facebook account permanently, it is important to first backup all of your data before proceeding with the deletion process. This will allow you to keep a record of all your Facebook activity and data that you have accumulated over the years. In order to backup your data, follow these simple steps:
- Login to your Facebook account from a desktop computer or laptop.
- Go to the “Settings” option located on the upper right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the “Your Facebook Information” option from the left-hand menu.
- Click on the “Download Your Information” option located in the “Download Your Information” section.
- You can select the specific information that you want to download, such as posts, photos, videos, comments, and more. You can also select the date range for the data to be downloaded.
- Click on the “Create File” button at the bottom of the page.
- Facebook will then begin creating a file of your data which you can download in a few hours or days depending on the amount of data you have on your account.
It is important to note that you will need to backup your data before deactivating or deleting your account. If you first deactivate your account, you will no longer be able to backup your data. Once your data is downloaded, you can then proceed with the next step of the deletion process.
Step 2: Deactivate Your Account
If you’re not ready to permanently delete your Facebook account, you can choose to deactivate it temporarily. This allows you to take a break from Facebook and come back to it later if you change your mind.
To deactivate your account, first log in to Facebook and click on the down arrow in the top right corner of the screen. From the drop-down menu, select “Settings & Privacy”, then “Settings”. In the left-hand menu, click on “Your Facebook Information”.
Next, click on “Deactivation and Deletion” and select “Deactivate Account”. Follow the prompts to confirm your decision. Keep in mind that deactivating your account will hide your profile from other users, but it won’t delete your data from Facebook’s servers.
If you want to reactivate your account later, simply log in using your email address and password. Your account will be restored in its previous state.
It’s important to note that deactivating your account is not the same as deleting it permanently. If you want to completely remove all of your data from Facebook’s servers, you’ll need to follow the steps outlined in the next section.
Step 3: Permanently Delete Your Account
If you’ve made the decision to permanently delete your Facebook account, it’s important to understand the steps involved in the process. It’s worth noting that once your account is permanently deleted, you won’t be able to reactivate it or retrieve any of your data. Therefore, it’s crucial to backup any important data before proceeding with deletion.
To permanently delete your Facebook account, you must first login to the account you wish to delete. Click on the dropdown arrow in the top right corner of the screen, then click on “Settings.” From there, select “Your Facebook Information” from the left-hand menu, followed by “Delete Your Account and Information.”
You’ll be taken to a new screen where you’ll have the option to select “Delete Account” and confirm the action. Before doing so, Facebook will ask you to enter your password and complete a captcha to verify your identity and prevent accidental account deletion.
It’s worth noting that the permanent deletion process can take up to 90 days to complete. During this time, your account will be deactivated and inaccessible to others on the platform. However, some information, such as your name and messages sent to other users, may still be visible to others. It’s important to review your Facebook privacy settings and adjust them accordingly before deleting your account to prevent any unintended data exposure.
Once the deletion process is complete, your account and all associated data will be permanently deleted from Facebook’s servers. This includes your profile information, photos, videos, posts, comments, and any other data associated with your account.
If you’ve changed your mind about permanent deletion during the 90-day waiting period, it’s possible to cancel the deletion process by logging back into your account. However, once the process is complete and your account is permanently deleted, there’s no way to retrieve any of your data or reactivate your account.
Step 4: Avoid Reactivating Your Account
Deleting your Facebook account is a big decision, and once you make it, you want to make sure you don’t accidentally reactivate it. Here are some steps you can take to avoid reactivating your account:
- Clear your browser history and cache.
- Delete any Facebook-related bookmarks or shortcuts from your browser.
- Avoid logging in to any websites or apps using your Facebook account.
- Notify any friends or family members who may try to reactivate your account on your behalf.
Keep in mind that once you permanently delete your account, there is no going back. So, take the necessary precautions to avoid accidentally reactivating it. If you do accidentally reactivate your account, you will have to start the deletion process again.
It’s important to note that deletion is not immediate, it can take up to 30 days for Facebook to fully delete your account. During this time, your account will be deactivated, but it can still be reactivated if you log in within those 30 days. Make sure to stay away from Facebook during this time to ensure that your account is permanently deleted.
Now that you have learned all the steps to delete your Facebook account and avoid accidentally reactivating it, you can make your decision with confidence. Remember to backup your data, deactivate your account first, and then permanently delete it. Consider all the factors before making your decision, and take the necessary precautions to avoid accidentally reactivating your account.
Things to Consider Before Deleting Your Account
If you are considering permanently deleting your Facebook account, there are a few factors you should consider before making the decision.
- Reasons for deleting: Ask yourself why you want to delete your account. Is it because of privacy concerns, addiction, or simply wanting to take a break from social media? Understanding your motivations can help you make an informed decision.
- Alternative solutions: Are there alternative solutions to address your concerns without deleting your account? For example, if you’re worried about privacy, you can adjust your privacy settings or limit the amount of information you share on Facebook.
- Loss of connections: Consider the impact of deleting your account on your social connections. Will you lose touch with important people or miss out on events and updates?
- Loss of data: Deleting your account means losing all your data, including photos, posts, messages, and contacts. Make sure you have backed up important data before deleting your account.
- Business implications: If you use Facebook for business purposes, deleting your account can have significant implications. Consider alternative solutions before making the decision.
Ultimately, the decision to delete your Facebook account should align with your personal values and goals. By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision and take the necessary steps to protect your privacy and well-being.