How to Delete Your Facebook Account Permanently

Delete Facebook in Accounts Center: Personal details › Account ownership and control › Deactivation or deletion. You have 30 days to change your mind.

Deactivate or delete?

Before you delete

• Download your information: photos, posts and messages, from Accounts Center › Your information and permissions.
• Check apps and websites where you sign in with Facebook. You may lose access to them, so set a password or another sign-in method there first.
• If you manage Pages or groups, hand them to another admin.
• Messages you sent to others stay in their inbox.

Steps to delete

1. Open Facebook and go to Settings and privacy › Settings.
2. Open Accounts Center › Personal details › Account ownership and control.
3. Choose Deactivation or deletion, pick the account, then Delete account.
4. Follow the prompts and confirm with your password.

The 30-day window

After you request deletion, Facebook waits 30 days. If you sign in during that time, you can cancel. After that, the account cannot be restored. Facebook says it can take up to 90 days from the start of deletion to remove everything from its systems, though the account is not visible during that time.

Can't sign in to delete it?

You need to sign in to delete an account. If you lost the number or email on it, recover the account first. See Facebook recovery without your number. If you only want your number gone, you can remove it instead: change or remove your Facebook number.

Instagram and Messenger

Deleting Facebook does not delete a connected Instagram account. Each account in Accounts Center is deleted separately. Messenger uses your Facebook account, so it stops working when Facebook is deleted.

FAQ

How long does it take to delete a Facebook account?

Deletion starts after a 30-day waiting period. Removing all data can take up to 90 days.

Can I recover a deleted Facebook account?

Only within 30 days of the request, by signing in.

Does deleting Facebook delete Messenger?

Yes, Messenger depends on the Facebook account.

Will my friends know I deleted Facebook?

Facebook does not notify them, but your profile disappears.

Related: change your Facebook number · Facebook account disabled · delete a Gmail account.