How to Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account
If you feel like you’ve had enough of Facebook and want to permanently delete your account, you’re in the right place. Deleting your Facebook account is a relatively simple process, but it requires a few steps to ensure that your data is gone for good. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of permanently deleting your Facebook account step by step, so you can be confident that your data is gone forever.
However, before you go through with deleting your account, it is important to understand that once you do so, you won’t be able to retrieve any of your data or regain access to your account. Make sure to download all of your Facebook data before deleting your account so that you don’t lose any important information.
Here is a step-by-step guide to permanently delete your Facebook account:
The first step to permanently deleting your Facebook account is to download all of your Facebook data. This step is essential because once you delete your account, you won’t be able to retrieve any of your data. Follow these steps to download your data:
- Click on the small arrow in the top right-hand corner of any Facebook page
- Select “Settings & Privacy,” then “Settings”
- Click on “Your Facebook Information”
- Select “Download Your Information” and choose the categories of data you want to download
- Click “Create File” and wait for your data to be compiled
- Download your data to your device
It’s important to note that this process may take some time, especially if you have a lot of data on Facebook. Once you’ve downloaded your data, you’re ready to move on to step two.
Before deleting your Facebook account, you’ll want to disable it to make sure that no one can access your account or your personal information. Here’s how to deactivate your account:
- Click on the small arrow in the top right-hand corner of any Facebook page
- Select “Settings & Privacy,” then “Settings”
- Click on “Your Facebook Information”
- Select “Deactivation and Deletion”
- Choose “Deactivate Account” and follow the prompts to deactivate your account
Once you’ve deactivated your account, you’re one step closer to permanently deleting it.
Now that your account is deactivated, you can move on to permanently deleting it. Here’s how to do it:
- Click on this link to go to the Facebook account deletion page: https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account
- Follow the prompts to request deletion of your account
It’s important to note that once you make the request, Facebook will give you a 30-day grace period in case you change your mind. If you log back in to your account during this time, your deletion request will be canceled, and you’ll have to start the process over again.
After the 30-day grace period has passed, Facebook will delete your account permanently. However, before doing so, Facebook will ask you to confirm that you want to delete your account. Once you confirm your account deletion, your data will be gone forever.
After you’ve deleted your Facebook account, it’s a good idea to follow up with Facebook to ensure that your data is gone for good and that your account is not recoverable. You can also monitor your email for any updates from Facebook regarding the deletion of your account.
Deleting your Facebook account may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually a relatively simple process if you know what steps to take. Remember to download your Facebook data, deactivate your account, request account deletion, and confirm your deletion. By following these steps, you can be confident that your data is gone for good, and your Facebook account is permanently deleted.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Download Your Facebook Data
Before you delete your Facebook account, it’s important to download all your data from the platform. Facebook allows you to download a copy of your information including photos, videos, messages, and other valuable information that you may want access to later.
To download your data from Facebook, follow these easy steps:
- Log in to your Facebook account and click on the down arrow in the top right corner of the page.
- Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu.
- Scroll down to the “Your Facebook Information” section and click on “Download Your Information.”
- Choose the data that you want to download and select the format in which you want to receive it.
- Click on the “Create File” button to start the download process.
It’s important to note that the download process may take some time depending on how much data you have on Facebook. Once it’s ready, Facebook will send you a notification and you can download your data at any point within a few days. Make sure to keep your downloaded data in a safe and secure place to access it after deleting your account.
By following this step, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you have all your valuable information, and you won’t lose anything important to you.
Step 2: Disable Your Facebook Account
If you’ve decided to delete your Facebook account, it’s essential to disable your account first. This will ensure that nobody can view your profile or access your data while you’re waiting for your account to be completely deleted.
When you disable your Facebook account, everything is put on hold. Your profile will no longer be visible to anyone, and people will not be able to search for you on Facebook. Your data will remain on Facebook’s database, but it will not be accessible to anyone else.
To deactivate your account, go to the top right corner of your screen, click on the arrow, and then click on “Settings.” From there, click on “General” and then “Manage Account” to access the deactivation process. You will be presented with an option to deactivate your account, and you will be asked to enter your password to confirm the deactivation.
Facebook will also ask you why you want to deactivate your account, and you can select one of the options provided. You can also choose to opt-out of receiving any further communications from Facebook.
Once you’ve selected deactivation, Facebook will ask you if you’re sure. It’s crucial to note that deactivating your account is not the same as deleting it, and it’s still possible to reactivate your account if you decide to return to Facebook. To proceed with deactivation, click on “Deactivate Now.”
After that, you’ll be logged out of Facebook, and your profile will be disabled. You will no longer be able to access your account until you reactivate it again. Keep in mind that deactivation is a temporary solution and only disables your profile rather than deleting it entirely. That’s why it’s essential to complete the second part of the process and delete your account permanently.
Step 2.1: How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account
If you’re ready to take a break from Facebook but don’t want to permanently delete your account, deactivating your account is a simple solution. Deactivating your account puts it in a state of suspended animation, meaning your profile won’t be visible on Facebook anymore and your content will no longer show up in search results on the site. However, your data will still be stored on Facebook’s servers in case you decide to reactivate your account in the future. Here’s how to deactivate your Facebook account:
| Step 1: | Click on the down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and select “Settings & Privacy.” |
| Step 2: | Click on “Settings.” |
| Step 3: | Click on “Your Facebook Information.” |
| Step 4: | Click on “Deactivation and Deletion.” |
| Step 5: | Select “Deactivate Account” and follow the prompts to confirm your decision. |
It’s important to note that deactivating your Facebook account doesn’t delete it permanently. If you want to delete your account permanently, you’ll need to follow the steps outlined in the previous section. Deactivating your account is a great option if you’re not sure whether you want to be on Facebook in the future but don’t want to lose access to your account entirely.
If you change your mind at any point and want to reactivate your account, simply log back in to Facebook using your email address and password. Your account will be restored to its previous state, and your content will once again be visible on Facebook.
Step 3: Complete Account Deletion
Now that you have successfully disabled your account, you can move on to the final step of deleting your Facebook account permanently. Keep in mind that once you delete your account, you will not be able to retrieve any of your data or information.
In order to complete the account deletion process, you will need to request it from Facebook. Follow the steps below to learn how:
- Go to the Facebook “Delete Your Account” page, which can be found by clicking here.
- Click on the “Delete Account” button to begin the account deletion process.
Once you have made the request, it may take up to 90 days for Facebook to fully delete all of your data from their servers. During this time, your account will be deactivated and nobody will be able to access your profile or see your posts.
After 90 days have passed, you will need to confirm that you want your account permanently deleted. Follow the steps below to confirm the deletion:
- Log in to your Facebook account within 30 days of making the deletion request.
- Click on the “Cancel Deletion” button if you have changed your mind and want to keep your account.
- If you’re sure you want to delete your account, don’t log in to it for the next 30 days. This will confirm your account deletion request and all of your data will be permanently removed from Facebook’s servers.
It’s important to note that once you confirm the deletion of your account, it cannot be undone. Be sure that you are ready to permanently delete your Facebook account before completing this step.
Now that you have followed all of these steps, your Facebook account has been permanently deleted. Congratulations, you have successfully removed your personal information from Facebook’s servers!
Step 3.1: Request Account Deletion
After deactivating your account, the next step is to request the deletion of your account with Facebook. This process can take up to 90 days as Facebook gives users a grace period to change their minds and reactivate their account.
To request the deletion of your account, go to the Facebook Help Center page and search for “Delete My Account.” Once you find the appropriate page, click on “Delete My Account” and follow the instructions provided by Facebook.
Facebook will ask you to submit a request to delete your account and provide a reason for the deletion. They also warn that some information may still be visible on their servers, but it will not be accessible to other users once your account is deleted.
Once you submit your request, Facebook will begin the process of permanently deleting your account. You will not be able to access your account during this time, and any pending friend requests, messages, or photos will also be deleted.
It’s important to note that once you submit a request to delete your account, you cannot cancel the deletion process. If you change your mind and want to keep your account, you will need to create a new Facebook account and start over.
In summary, requesting the deletion of your Facebook account is a straightforward process, but it’s important to understand that it may take up to 90 days to complete. Make sure to backup all your data beforehand, and remember that this process cannot be undone.
Step 3.2: Confirm Account Deletion
After you’ve made the request to delete your account, the confirmation process is the final step in permanently deleting your account. Once this step is complete, there is no going back – your account and all of your data will be gone forever. Facebook makes it clear that account deletion is permanent and irretrievable.
Usually, it takes up to 90 days for Facebook to completely remove your data from their servers. During this time, your account will remain deactivated allowing you a grace period to reconsider your decision. In case you change your mind and try to log in again, you’ll have reactivated your account and all of your data will still be there. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you stay away from Facebook during these 90 days.
Once your account deletion request has been processed, Facebook will send you a notification confirming that your account and all of your information will be permanently deleted. If you had created an app or were a part of groups, it’s important to remember that the data will be permanently deleted.
Finally, it’s important to note that once your account deletion has been confirmed, you won’t be able to retrieve any of the data you’ve shared on Facebook. All of the posts you’ve made, comments you’ve written, pictures you’ve shared, or any other activity on Facebook will be lost forever.
Therefore, before clicking on that delete button, make sure that you have taken all the necessary steps to ensure that any important data is downloaded, saved or removed. Once you confirm your deletion request and it has been processed, all of your data will be gone permanently.
In conclusion, deleting your Facebook account might seem like a daunting task, but with these steps, it is quite simple. Just follow the outlined procedures for deactivating and deleting your account, request for deletion, confirm it, and follow up with Facebook to ensure that your account and data have been deleted completely. Remember that all of your data will be permanently lost and cannot be retrieved once this process is complete, so make sure that you are ready to go through with it before proceeding.
Step 4: Follow Up/Monitor
After deleting your Facebook account, it’s important to follow up with the platform and monitor your account to ensure that it has been deleted permanently. Facebook states that the account deletion process can take up to 90 days, so it’s important to track the progress of your account’s removal.
One way to monitor your account deletion is to go back to Facebook’s website a few days after the account deletion request has been submitted. If you can no longer log in or access your account, it’s a good sign that the deletion process has started. You can also try searching for your account on Facebook’s search bar or asking your friends to do so to check if your account still shows up.
It’s important to note that if you log in or use your account in any way during the deletion process, your account deletion request will be canceled, and you’ll have to start all over.
You can also reach out to Facebook’s customer support to inquire about the status of your account deletion. If you provided an email address to Facebook during the deletion process, the platform will send you an email confirming your account has been deleted. If you don’t receive an email from Facebook or receive a notification that your account has been reactivated, it’s a good sign that your account has been permanently deleted.
It’s crucial to follow up and monitor your account deletion process to ensure that your data has been completely wiped from Facebook’s servers. Without monitoring, you risk your data being recovered or potentially exposed.
Overall, account deletion from Facebook is a simple process, but it’s essential to monitor your account’s removal to ensure it’s gone for good. Remember to follow up and check back to confirm that your account has been successfully deleted and that your data is removed from Facebook’s servers.
Conclusion
Deleting your Facebook account may be a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. By following the steps outlined above, you can permanently delete your account and move on. However, before you delete your account, make sure you download all the data that you want to keep. This includes pictures, posts, or any other information that you have uploaded. Once you have downloaded your data, you can disable your account by going to the “Settings” menu and clicking on “Manage Account.” From there, select “Deactivate Account” and follow the prompted steps.
If you’re sure you’re ready to permanently delete your account, you can go ahead and request that Facebook delete your account. However, keep in mind that this process is irreversible. Once your account is deleted, all your information will be permanently lost. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that you have downloaded and saved all the data that you wanted to keep before requesting account deletion.
After you have requested account deletion, Facebook will send you an email confirming your request. Make sure to check your inbox and verify the deletion request. Once you click on the confirmation link, your account deletion process will begin. This process may take up to 90 days to complete, and during this time, your account will remain deactivated.
It’s essential to follow up with Facebook after account deletion to ensure that your data is gone for good and not recoverable. You should also double-check that all apps and websites that were connected to your Facebook account are no longer accessing your data. If you find any issues, contact Facebook support to resolve them.
Finally, remember that there’s no going back once you’ve permanently deleted your Facebook account. However, if you decide to rejoin Facebook in the future, you can always create a new account.
In conclusion, deleting your Facebook account can be a relatively simple process, as long as you take the time to ensure you have all your data and follow up after account deletion. By following the steps outlined above, you can permanently delete your Facebook account and move on to other social media platforms.