How to Permanently Delete Facebook
Are you tired of Facebook and want to permanently delete your account? Deleting your Facebook account is a big step, but it can be done if you follow the right steps. In this article, we will guide you through the process of permanently deleting your Facebook account for good.
Before we get started, it’s important to note that deleting your Facebook account is a permanent action and cannot be undone. Also, if you have any photos, videos, or other posts that you want to keep, make sure to download them before proceeding with the deletion process.
The process of permanently deleting your Facebook account involves two main steps: preparing to delete your account and then actually deleting it.
Before you begin the deletion process, there are a few things you should do to prepare:
First, backup your data in case you want to refer or access it again. Downloading your Facebook data is a simple process. Go to Settings> Your Facebook Information> Download Your Information> Select the data you want to download> Create File> Wait for Facebook to create your file and then download.
Deactivating your account is a good first step because it allows you to take a break from Facebook without permanently deleting your account. Deactivating your account is temporary and can be reversed at any time. Go to Settings> Your Facebook Information> Deactivation and Deletion> Deactivate Account> Enter Password> Select Reason> Confirm.
If you have backed up your data and deactivated your account, you can proceed with the permanent deletion process:
The first step is to submit a request to Facebook to delete your account. To do this, go to https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account and click on Delete Account> Enter Password> Submit> Continue to Account Deletion. Facebook will ask you to confirm your decision and then start the deletion process.
After you submit your request, Facebook will give you a 14-day window to change your mind and cancel the deletion process. If you don’t cancel within 14 days, your account will be permanently deleted. To cancel the process, simply log in during the 14-day window and follow the prompts to cancel the deletion.
After your account is permanently deleted, you won’t be able to access it anymore. Also, any photos, videos, or other content you have posted will be deleted. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Once your account is permanently deleted, you cannot reactivate it. To use Facebook again, you will need to create a new account.
Deleting Facebook doesn’t mean you are completely off the grid. It’s important to clean up your online presence by removing any other accounts or profiles you have connected to your Facebook account. Also, make sure to adjust your privacy settings on other social media platforms to protect your online privacy.
Now that you know how to permanently delete your Facebook account, you can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s the right step for you. Remember to backup your data, and be prepared for the permanent consequences of deleting your account. Good luck!
Table of Contents
Why Delete Facebook?
Facebook has been the most popular social media platform for more than a decade. However, the platform has been under scrutiny and criticism for many reasons. Before you make a decision to permanently delete your Facebook account, it’s important to understand the reasons behind this choice. Here are a few reasons why people delete their Facebook accounts:
- Privacy Concerns: With the recent data leakage of millions of Facebook users and the Cambridge Analytica scandal, many users feel that their personal information is not safe on Facebook.
- Addiction: Facebook is designed to be addictive, and many people find themselves spending hours scrolling through their newsfeed mindlessly. This can negatively impact productivity and mental health.
- Distraction: Facebook can be a major source of distraction, whether it’s checking notifications during work, constant messaging or getting lost in videos and virtual reality products like the Oculus.
- Cyberbullying: Facebook has become a breeding ground for cyber bullying and harassment. Many users feel that the platform has failed to protect them from harassment and abuse.
- Political Reasons: The constant flow of Facebook news and political opinions can be overwhelming and aggravating. Many users feel that Facebook has become a cesspool of negative political discussion, fake news, and propaganda.
- Alternative Options: There are many alternative social media platforms available that offer better security, privacy, and user experience.
Understanding why you want to delete your Facebook account is crucial for making the decision to do so. Once you have made the decision, it’s important to take the necessary steps to ensure that your account is permanently deleted, and your data is safe and secure.
Preparing to Delete Your Account
If you have decided to delete your Facebook account for good, there are a few things you should do before taking the plunge. First and foremost, make sure you have a backup of all your important data from your Facebook account. This includes your photos, videos, messages, and any other personal information you don’t want to lose.
To download your data, go to your Facebook settings and click on “Your Facebook Information.” From there, click “Download Your Information” and choose the data you want to download. You can also choose the format in which you want to receive your data and the date range you want to download.
Another thing you should consider before permanently deleting your Facebook account is deactivating it first. Deactivating your account will make your profile invisible to others, but it won’t delete your data. This gives you a chance to think about your decision and retrieve any important information you may have missed before permanently deleting your account.
It’s also a good idea to check if you have any linked services or apps that use your Facebook account for login or authentication. Make sure to log out and unlink them before you delete your Facebook account to avoid losing access to any other services you may be using.
Once you have completed these steps, and you’re confident in your decision to delete your Facebook account for good, you can proceed with the deletion process as outlined below.
Backing Up Your Data
If you’re considering permanently deleting your Facebook account, it’s important to first download and save all your Facebook data. This includes your photos, videos, messages, and any other personal information you’ve shared on the platform. Here’s how to back up your data before deleting your Facebook account:
First, log in to your Facebook account and go to the “Settings & Privacy” section. From there, click on “Settings” and then “Your Facebook Information.”
Next, click on “Download Your Information,” which will take you to a page where you can choose what data you want to download. You can select all your data or specific categories such as photos, videos, messages, and more.
You can also select the date range for the data you want to download, as well as the file format and quality of your photos and videos. Once you’ve made your selections, click “Create File.”
Facebook will then generate a file containing all the data you’ve requested. The download time will depend on the size of your data. Once the file is ready, Facebook will notify you via email or notification.
You can then download the file and save it to your computer or external hard drive. It’s a good idea to keep your Facebook data backed up even after you’ve deleted your account, just in case you need to access it in the future.
Overall, backing up your Facebook data is a crucial step before permanently deleting your account. It gives you peace of mind knowing that you’ve saved all your personal information and can access it if needed. So take the time to download and save your Facebook data before deleting your account for good.
Deactivating Your Account First
If you’re considering deleting your Facebook account, deactivating it first can be a good first step. Deactivating your account will remove your profile, timeline, and activity from Facebook, but your data will still be stored on Facebook’s servers, and your account can be reactivated at any time by logging back in.
This can be a good option if you’re unsure whether you want to permanently delete your Facebook account. Deactivating your account will allow you to take a break from Facebook without losing all of your data, and it will give you the opportunity to reconsider your decision without having to set up a new account from scratch in the future.
To deactivate your account, simply go to your account settings, and click on “Manage Account.” Then, select “Deactivate Your Account” and follow the prompts to complete the process. Once you’ve deactivated your account, your profile will no longer be visible on Facebook, and your friends will no longer be able to see your posts or send you messages.
It’s important to note that deactivating your account is not the same as deleting it. If you want to permanently delete your Facebook account, you’ll need to submit a request to Facebook and wait for them to verify your identity before your account can be deleted.
In summary, deactivating your account can be a good first step if you’re considering deleting Facebook. It allows you to take a break from the platform without losing your data, and gives you the opportunity to reconsider your decision before making it permanent. However, if you’re certain that you want to delete your account, you’ll need to submit a request to Facebook to permanently delete your account.
Deleting Your Account
If you’ve decided that it’s time to say goodbye to Facebook for good, follow these steps to permanently delete your account. It’s important to note that this process is irreversible, meaning all your data, posts, photos, and messages will be deleted forever. So, make sure you’ve backed up all your important information before proceeding with the deletion process.
To permanently delete your Facebook account, the first step is to submit a request to Facebook. To do this, go to the “Delete Your Account and Information” page on Facebook’s help center. Once there, click “Delete Account” and fill in the required information.
After submitting your request, Facebook will give you a 14-day deletion window. During this time, make sure to avoid logging into your account as doing so will cancel the deletion process. If you change your mind, you can cancel the deletion process by logging in and following the prompts.
It’s important to note that it may take up to 90 days for Facebook to delete all your data from their servers. So, even after your account is deleted, some of your information may still be stored on their servers for a period of time.
Deleting your account also means that you will lose access to all Facebook-related services, including Facebook Messenger and Instagram, if they are linked to your Facebook account. So, make sure to switch to alternative services if necessary.
In conclusion, deleting your Facebook account is a permanent decision that will erase all your data from their servers. Make sure to backup your data before proceeding with the deletion process and consider switching to alternative services to fill the void.
Submitting a Request
So, you’ve made the decision to permanently delete your Facebook account. The next step is to submit a request to Facebook to have your account deleted. Follow these steps to request to delete your Facebook account:
- Log in to your Facebook account and go to the Facebook Help Center.
- Click on “Managing Your Account” and then choose “Deleting Your Account.”
- Click on the “Let Us Know” link to begin the deletion process.
- Enter your password and complete the security check.
- Click on “Submit” to initiate the account deletion process.
Once you have submitted your request, Facebook will give you a 14-day window in which you can cancel your request to delete your account. During this time, it’s essential not to log in to your Facebook account and not to interact with any Facebook tools or products.
If you change your mind during the 14-day window and decide to keep your account, all you have to do is log in to your account. This will automatically cancel the deletion process, and your Facebook account will be safe and active once again.
It’s essential to note that even after the deletion is complete, some data from your account may continue to exist on Facebook’s servers for a short period. However, this data will not be visible to other users of the site and will be deleted permanently within 90 days.
| Pros of Deleting Your Account | Cons of Deleting Your Account |
|---|---|
| Protects your online privacy | You may miss out on social connections and updates from friends and family who primarily use Facebook to communicate. |
| May improve your mental health and reduce anxiety related to social media use | You may need to find alternative ways to stay connected with friends and family. |
| Helps you break free from addiction to social media | You may miss out on important news and information about events or topics that matter to you. |
| May free up time and allow you to focus on other things in your life | You may need to find new ways to keep up with your favorite brands, businesses, or organizations. |
In the end, the decision to delete your Facebook account is a personal one that should be made based on your values, priorities, and needs. If you do decide to go ahead with the deletion process, be sure to follow the steps carefully and take steps to protect your online privacy and security.
Confirming Your Decision
Once you submit your request to delete your Facebook account, you should know that there is a 14-day deletion window. During this time, your account will be deactivated, but not yet deleted. Within 14 days, you can cancel the deletion process if you change your mind.
If you want to keep your account active, simply log in to your Facebook account within this 14-day period. If you don’t log in and still want to cancel the deletion, you can click the Cancel Deletion button that appears when you try to log in after the 14-day period.
It’s important to note that after these 14 days, your account and all its data will be permanently deleted, and there is no way to restore it. That’s why it’s essential to give yourself enough time to think through your decision and confirm that deleting your Facebook account is what you want.
If you’re not quite sure about deleting your Facebook account, deactivating it might be a better option. Deactivating your account will give you a break from using Facebook, but your data will still be saved. You can reactivate it later by logging back in and your profile will be restored just as it was before deactivation.
If you’ve decided to delete your Facebook account, we recommend taking a moment to think it over again before confirming your decision. Deleting your Facebook account is a permanent decision, and you won’t be able to access anything related to your account after the 14-day deletion window, including photos, posts, and messages.
After You Delete Your Account
So you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and delete your Facebook account for good. But what happens next? Here are some things to keep in mind after you permanently delete your Facebook account:
Once you delete your Facebook account, it cannot be restored. All of your data will be permanently deleted, including your messages, posts, and photos. If you change your mind and want to use Facebook again, you will need to create a new account from scratch.
Deleting your Facebook account is a great first step in protecting your online privacy, but it’s not the only step. To truly safeguard your personal information, you should consider scrubbing your online presence from other social media platforms, search engines, and online directories.
- Search for yourself on Google and Bing to see what information is publicly available about you online
- Clean up your online profiles on other social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn
- Request that any outdated or inaccurate information about you is removed from online directories like Whitepages
By taking these additional steps, you can protect your privacy and prevent your personal information from being easily accessible online.
Reactivating Your Account
If you have made the decision to permanently delete your Facebook account, it’s important to note that once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. There is no way to retrieve your account or the data associated with it.
That being said, if you have had a change of heart and wish to reactivate your account, unfortunately, it’s not an option. Once the 14-day deletion window has passed, your account and data are completely removed from Facebook’s servers.
- There is no way to recover your deleted account
- You cannot reactivate a deleted Facebook account
- The data associated with your account is permanently deleted
It’s important to weigh the pros and cons before deciding to delete your Facebook account. If you think you may regret the decision, deactivating your account temporarily may be a better option. This way, your data and profile will be saved and can be easily reactivated once you’re ready to use the platform again.
However, if you are sure that you wish to permanently delete your Facebook account, make sure to back up any important data before beginning the deletion process. And remember to protect your online privacy by cleaning up your digital footprint.
Clean Up Your Online Presence
Deleting your Facebook account is an important step in protecting your online privacy. But simply deleting your Facebook account may not be enough. There are still ways that your online presence could be compromised even after you’ve deleted Facebook. That’s why it’s important to take additional steps to clean up your online presence.
One important step is to delete any other social media accounts that you no longer use or that contain outdated or inaccurate information. These accounts could still be accessed by others, potentially compromising your privacy. Take the time to go through each account and delete any information that you no longer want out there.
Another important step is to check your online presence for any personal information that may still be available. This can include things like old blog posts, forum comments, or profiles on other websites. Search for your name and any variations of it and see what comes up. If you find anything that you don’t want out there, try to delete it if possible or at least request that the website owner removes it.
In addition to deleting old accounts and personal information, it’s also important to be mindful of what you share online going forward. Avoid sharing sensitive personal information like your address or phone number. Be careful what you post on social media – even if you delete your Facebook account, your friends may still be able to see what you post on other platforms.
Finally, consider using a VPN or other online privacy tools to protect your internet activity. This can help prevent your online activity from being tracked and can help keep your information private.
Deleting your Facebook account can be a great first step in protecting your online privacy, but it’s not enough on its own. By taking additional steps to clean up your online presence and be mindful of your privacy going forward, you can help ensure that your personal information stays private.