How can you deactivate or delete your Facebook account?

Still among the most often used social networking sites worldwide is Facebook. While some view social media as a necessary component of life, others find its data scandals and privacy concerns disturbing.

These detailed guides for canceling or deactivating your account will help you whether your break from Facebook is temporary or permanent.

Deleting your Facebook account

You may relatively quickly and easily delete your Facebook account. Before you remove it, you might want to save a duplicate of all the data you have kept on Facebook—including pictures, videos, and more. Here is an official Facebook guide that can help.

How to cancel your Facebook account using the iPhone app

Start the Facebook app on an iPhone.
Tap the three-lined icon (hamburger menu).
Tap Settings & Privacy.
Tap See more in the Accounts Center
Tap Personal Details
Tap Account Ownership and Control.
Tap Deactivation or Deletion.
Tap Delete Account.
You can now delete your Facebook app from your phone.

How to cancel your Facebook account from the Android app

Start the Facebook app on your Android device.
Tap the three-lined icon (hamburger menu).
Tap Settings & Privacy.
Tap Settings.
Tap  Accounts Centre
Tap  Personal details, under Account settings.
Tap Account ownership and control.
Tap  Deactivation or deletion.
Choose the account or profile that you want to deactivate.
Select  Deactivate account or delete account.

The downsides of deleting your Facebook account

Deleting your Facebook account can undoubtedly feel free. You don’t have to worry about managing your privacy or consuming apparently limitless social media information. But once it’s gone it’s gone and there’s no turning back:

You won’t be able to use Facebook again unless you create a new account.
You won’t be able to use Facebook Messenger.
Some accounts that you entered with Facebook Login may malfunction. You may need to contact those apps and websites or create new accounts.
You’ll permanently lose your data unless you download a copy.

Can you reactivate Facebook if you change your mind?

Facebook states that it needs up to 90 days from the commencement of the deletion request to permanently erase everything you’ve shared. It may even preserve certain data in backup storage for legal problems as part of its data policy. It also offers a 30-day grace period once you remove your account. Here is how to cancel your account termination within 30 days:

Log in to your Facebook account.
Hit Cancel Deletion.

Deactivating your Facebook account

Deactivating your Facebook is a temporary measure. After you deactivate your account, your Facebook page, including your intro, photos, friends, and posts, is hidden. No one can give you friend invitations either. However, your messages are still visible to their recipients.

Here are some advantages of deactivating your Facebook instead of deleting it:

Your photographs, videos, and posts are hidden but not permanently removed.
Facebook Messenger is still fully available.
You can still access accounts with Facebook Login.
You can reactivate Facebook whenever you please by logging in.

How to delete your Facebook account from a browser

The same URL that allows you to wipe your account also allows you to deactivate your account. Hit Deactivate Account and then input your password to lose access to Facebook momentarily. Alternatively, you can utilize the following steps:

Select Settings & Privacy from the drop-down menu on the upper right.
Click Settings.
Click Your Facebook Information.
Click Deactivation and Deletion.
Select Deactivate Account and click Continue to Account Deactivation.
Enter your password and deactivate your account.

How to delete your Facebook account via the iPhone app

Start the Facebook app on your iPhone.
Tap the three-lined icon (hamburger menu).
Tap Settings & Privacy.
Tap See more in the Accounts Center.
Tap Account Ownership and Control.
Tap Deactivation or Deletion.
Tap Deactivate account.

How to deactivate your Facebook account from the Android app

Start the Facebook app on your Android device.
Tap the three-lined icon (hamburger menu).
Tap Settings & Privacy.
Tap Settings.
Tap  Accounts Center.
Tap  Personal details, under Account settings.
Tap Account ownership and control.
Tap Deactivation or deletion.
Choose the account or profile that you want to deactivate.
Select  Deactivate account or delete account.

We recognize that some users don’t want to deactivate or delete Facebook, yet still have safety concerns. You may take action to better manage your privacy and security on Facebook. Here are some tips that may help:

Set a long, unique password for your Facebook account. You can use a trusted password generator to make the work easier.
Avoid oversharing on Facebook. Any information you disclose about yourself can be utilized for social engineering.
Be careful when accepting friend invitations. Do you know that person?
Limit posts to trustworthy friends and not the public.
Limit the audience of old posts on your Timeline by heading to the hamburger menu (three lines), clicking Settings > Posts > Limit who may see prior posts > Limit past posts.
Consider a digital footprint scan  to determine what of your personal information has been exposed and where.
Beware of phishing scams and be careful whatever links you click on in Facebook or Messenger. If you’re not expecting a communication from someone, contact them another method to determine if it is truly them who sent it.