How to cancel my facebook profile

How to deactivate or delete your Facebook account

People worldwide use Facebook to connect with friends and family, and to engage in pointless debates with strangers over moderately amusing cat videos. But while some feel that the social media platform is an essential part of life, others find the data scandals and privacy issues disconcerting. For those who wish to take a break from Facebook either temporarily or permanently, instructions for deleting or deactivating your account are below.

Deleting your Facebook account

How to delete your Facebook account from a browser

Removing Facebook for good is easier than you think. Follow this link to the page that allows you to end your account permanently. Click Delete Account, enter your password, and your account is gone forever. But before you do, consider downloading a copy of the information you have stored on Facebook, including photos, videos, and more. Here is an official guide from Facebook that can help.

How to delete your Facebook account from the iPhone app

Start the Facebook app on your iPhone.
Tap the three-lined icon (hamburger menu).
Tap Settings & Privacy.
Tap Settings.
Tap Account Ownership and Control.
Tap Deactivation and Deletion.
Tap Delete Account.
Delete your Facebook app for good measure.

How to delete 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 Account Ownership and Control.
Tap Deactivation and Deletion.
Tap Delete Account.
Delete your Facebook app for good measure.

The cons of deleting your Facebook account

Deleting your Facebook account can certainly feel liberating. You don’t have to worry about managing your privacy or consuming seemingly endless social media content. But rather than a permanent deletion, some people prefer to take a break from Facebook by deactivating their account for the following reasons:

You won't be able to access Facebook again unless you create a new account.
It’s impossible to use Messenger without a Facebook account.
Some accounts that you entered through 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.
You’ll lose your app purchases, achievements, and more related to your Facebook login on Oculus.

Can you undelete Facebook if you change your mind?

Facebook says that it needs up to 90 days from the start of the deletion request to remove everything you've posted permanently. It may even keep some data in backup storage for legal issues as part of its data policy. It also offers a 30-day grace period after you erase your account. Here is how to cancel your account deletion 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 send you friend requests either. However, your messages are still visible to their recipients. Here are some advantages of deactivating your Facebook instead of deleting it:

Your photos, videos, and posts are hidden but not permanently deleted.
Facebook Messenger is still fully accessible.
You can still access accounts through Facebook Login.
You can reactivate Facebook whenever you please by logging in.

How to deactivate your Facebook account from a browser

The same link that allows you to erase your account also allows you to deactivate your account. Hit Deactivate Account and then enter your password to lose access to Facebook temporarily. Alternatively, you can use the following steps:

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

How to deactivate your Facebook account from the iPhone app

Start the Facebook app on your iPhone.
Tap the three-lined icon (hamburger menu).
Tap Settings & Privacy.
Tap Settings.
Tap Account Ownership and Control.
Tap Deactivation and 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 Account Ownership and Control.
Tap Deactivation and Deletion.
Tap Deactivate Account.

Tips for using Facebook safely

We understand that some users don’t want to deactivate or delete Facebook, but still have safety concerns. There are steps you can take 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 manager to make the task easier.
Avoid oversharing information on Facebook. Threat actors can use it for social engineering.
Be careful when accepting friend requests. Limit posts to trusted friends and not the public.
Limit the audience of old posts on your Timeline by clicking General > Privacy > Your Activity > Limit Past Posts.
Stop Facebook from using your data to show you tailored ads by clicking General > Ads > Ad Settings.
Manage third-party apps that have access to your data by clicking General > Apps and Websites.
Beware of social media scams and be careful which links you click on Facebook or in Messenger.

How to Delete Your Facebook Account

Recent events, or just the general state of social media, might have you contemplating a break from Facebook. That's not an option for everyone; in that case, tighten up your account settings.

But if the social network skeeves you out, if you've finally had enough and can't take it anymore, there are ways to extricate yourself. Here's how to delete Facebook.

Deactivating Facebook

Facebook gives you two options: deactivate or delete.

The first couldn't be easier. On the desktop, click the menu at the top-right of your screen with your profile picture on it to select Settings & Privacy > Settings. Click Your Facebook Information on the left. Scroll down and you'll see Deactivation and Deletion at the bottom. (Here's the direct link(Opens in a new window) to use while logged in.)

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If you're on your iPhone or Android device, tap the three-line hamburger menu , then navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal and Account Information > Account ownership and Control > Deactivation and deletion on iOS or Android.

(Credit: PCMag)

Facebook doesn't take this lightly—it'll do whatever it can to keep you around, including emotional blackmail about how much your friends will miss you.

"Deactivation" is not the same as leaving Facebook. Yes, your timeline will disappear, you won't have access to the site or your account via mobile apps, friends can't post or contact you, and you'll lose access to all those third-party services that use (or require) Facebook for login. But Facebook does not delete the account. Why? So you can reactivate(Opens in a new window) it later. It says it right there as you deactivate: "This can be temporary."

Just in case that expected re-activation isn't in your future, download a copy of all your data(Opens in a new window) on Facebook—posts, photos, videos, chats, etc.—from menu for Settings & Privacy > Settings > Your Facebook Information > Download Your Information > View. What you find might surprise you.

How to Permanently Delete Facebook

To fully delete your Facebook account forever, go to facebook.com/help/delete_account(Opens in a new window). Just be aware that, per the Facebook data use policy(Opens in a new window), "after you remove information from your profile or delete your account, copies of that information may remain viewable elsewhere to the extent it has been shared with others, it was otherwise distributed pursuant to your privacy settings, or it was copied or stored by other users."

(Credit: PCMag)

Translation: if you wrote a comment on a friend's status update or photo, it will remain even after you delete your own profile. Some of your posts and pictures may hang around for as long as 90 days after deletion, as well, though only on Facebook servers, not live on the site.

There is a deletion grace period of 30 days. That means there is a month before Facebook really gets rid of your account, just in case you change your mind. It's just one more way Facebook cares.

Delete or Memorialize for Others

You can't delete someone else's account without being able to sign on as them. But, you can get others kicked off. Underage kids in particular, since Facebook bans kids under 13 to comply with federal law(Opens in a new window).

To notify Facebook about a user under 13, report the account(Opens in a new window), you narc. If Facebook can "reasonably verify" the account is used by someone underage it will delete the account instantly, without informing anyone.

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(Credit: PCMag)

There's a separate form to request removal of accounts for people who are medically incapacitated(Opens in a new window) and thus unable to use Facebook. For this to work, the requester must prove they are the guardian of the person in question (such as via power of attorney) as well as offer an official note from a doctor or medical facility that spells out the incapacitation. Redact any info necessary to keep some privacy, such as medical account numbers, addresses, etc.

(Credit: PCMag)

If a user has passed away, a legacy contact(Opens in a new window)—a Facebook friend or relative designated by the account owner before they died—can get access to that person's timeline, once approved by Facebook. The legacy contact may need to provide a link to an obituary or other documentation such as a death certificate. Facebook will "memorialize" the page(Opens in a new window) so the deceased's timeline lives on under control of the legacy contact. That person can't post as the deceased, but will be able to manage the profile pic and cover photo, manage any tribute posts made by other friends, and handle new friend requests made of the deceased. The page will says "Remembering" above the person's name.

(Credit: PCMag)

If the legacy contact prefers, they can have the page removed permanently(Opens in a new window).

Designate a specific legacy contact person right now to handle your account after your passing by going to Settings & Privacy > Settings > General >Memorialization Settings. Type in a friends name so it finds their Facebook profile, then click Add; then click Send so the person gets a notification. (You can also go here to remove or change the legacy contact.)

(Credit: PCMag)

Once you pick a legacy contact (and you can only have one), you'll get a notification every year from Facebook to double check that the contact should stay the same.

You have the option to ensure that after you die, if the legacy contact does report you as deceased to Facebook, your account gets deleted—even if the legacy contact wants the account to be memorialized. That's a good way to take control from the great beyond.

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Account deactivation and deletion | Facebook Help Center

Help Center

Account deactivation and deletion

We are updating the mobile version of Facebook.com. More

If you delete or deactivate your account, all of its profiles will be deleted or deactivated along with it. Learn more about how to delete or deactivate an individual profile.

If you deactivate your account:

You can reactivate it at any time. nine0003

People won't see your timeline and won't be able to find you.

Some information may remain visible to other people (for example, messages you send).

You will not be able to use your Facebook account to access Oculus Products and view information related to the Oculus platform.

If you delete your account:

You will not be able to regain access to it.

We will delete your account a few days after you submit your request. If you log into your Facebook account during this time, the deletion request will be cancelled. nine0003

Certain information, such as chat history, is not stored in your account. This means that your friends will still have access to the messages you send even after you delete your account.

Copies of some materials (such as journal entries) may remain in our database, but all personal identifiers will be removed from them.

If you use a Facebook account to sign in to your Oculus device, deleting your Oculus device will also delete information related to the Oculus platform, including your in-app purchases and achievements. In addition, you will no longer be able to return apps and will lose all Oculus store coupons. nine0003

If you delete or deactivate your account, all of its profiles will be deleted or deactivated along with it. Learn more about how to delete or deactivate an individual profile.

You can temporarily deactivate your account and restore it at any time.

Account deactivation

Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the Facebook window.

Select Settings & Privacy and then Settings. nine0003

Click Privacy and then Your Facebook Information.

Click Deactivate and delete.

Select Deactivate account, click Proceed to deactivate account and follow the instructions to confirm the deactivation.

You can temporarily deactivate your account and restore it at any time.

Account deactivation

Click the icon in the upper right corner of the Facebook window.

Scroll down and select Settings & Privacy and then Settings. nine0003

Select Personal and account information.

Click Account Management.

Click Deactivate and delete.

Select Deactivate account, click Proceed to deactivate account and follow the instructions to confirm the deactivation.

When your account is deactivated:

Your profile is hidden from other people.

Some information, such as messages you have sent to your friends, may still be available. nine0003

Friends can still see your name in their friends list (only your friends and only in the friends list).

Group admins can still see your posts and comments along with your name.

You will not be able to use your Facebook account to access Oculus Products and view information related to the Oculus platform.

Pages that only you manage will also be deactivated. Other people will not be able to see or find deactivated Pages. If you want to keep the Page, give someone else full control over it. This will only deactivate your account. nine0003

If you do not choose to deactivate your Messenger account or are not logged into Messenger during the deactivation of your Facebook account, your Messenger account will remain active. Learn more about how to deactivate your Messenger account.

When your Facebook account is deactivated but you are still using Messenger:

You can still chat with your friends on Messenger.

Your Facebook profile photo will still be visible in Messenger conversations.

Other people may be looking for you to send a message. nine0003

Reactivating your account

You can restore a deactivated Facebook account at any time. To do this, sign in to Facebook or another site with your Facebook account. To complete the reactivation, you will need access to the email address or mobile phone number you use to sign in.

If you alone have full control of a deactivated Page, you can restore the Page after you reactivate your Facebook account. nine0003

Learn how to permanently delete an account.

You can reactivate your account at any time by logging in to Facebook or another site with your Facebook account.

You will need access to the email or mobile number you use to sign in. If you cannot remember your password, request a new one. If you don't have access to the email associated with your account, learn how to recover your account.

If you delete or deactivate your account, all of its profiles will be deleted or deactivated along with it. Learn more about how to delete or deactivate individual profiles. nine0003

What happens if you delete your Facebook account permanently?

You will not be able to reactivate your account.

Your profile, photos, posts, videos and other content will be permanently deleted.

You will no longer be able to use Facebook Messenger.

You won't be able to use Facebook Login with other apps and websites, such as Spotify and Pinterest. To recover your accounts, you may need to contact support for those apps and websites. nine0003

Some information, such as messages you send to your friends, may still be available even after you delete your account. Copies of the messages you send are stored in your friends' inbox.

What if I want to stop using Facebook for a while without deleting all my content?

If you want to take a break from Facebook, you can temporarily deactivate your account. However:

People will not be able to see or open your Facebook profile.

Your photos, posts and videos will not be deleted.

You will not lose your ability to use Facebook Messenger. In conversations, your profile photo will be visible, and people who want to start a conversation with you will be able to find you by name. Your Facebook friends will still be able to send you messages. nine0003

You can use the Facebook Login feature in other apps such as Spotify, Pinterest and Facebook Games.

You will not be able to use your Facebook account to access Oculus Products and view information related to the Oculus platform.

You can return to Facebook at any time.

Learn more about how to temporarily deactivate an account.

To permanently delete an account:

Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the Facebook window.

Select Settings & Privacy and then Settings.

Click Your information on Facebook.

Click Deactivate and delete.

Select Delete Account and click Continue with Delete Account.

Click Remove account, enter your password, and select Continue.

Can I cancel the account deletion?

You can restore your account within 30 days after deletion. After that, it and all information associated with it will be deleted without the possibility of recovery. nine0003

It may take up to 90 days for your content to be completely removed. While we delete this information, it will not be available to anyone on Facebook.

After this period, a copy of your information may be stored in backup storage, which we use to recover data lost in the event of a natural disaster, software error, etc. We may also retain your information to resolve legal issues, in case of violation of the terms use or for purposes intended to prevent harm. Learn more about the Privacy Policy. nine0003

To undo account deletion:

Click Cancel Delete.

Android

To uninstall the Facebook app from an Android phone:

Go to your phone's settings and open the app manager.

Touch Facebook.

Touch Delete.

To reinstall the Facebook app for Android phone, download it again from the Google Play Store. nine00003

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If you delete or deactivate your account, all of its profiles will be deleted or deactivated along with it. Learn more about how to delete or deactivate individual profiles.

What happens if you delete your Facebook account permanently? nine0003

You will not be able to reactivate your account.

Your profile, photos, posts, videos and other content will be permanently deleted.

You will no longer be able to use Facebook Messenger.

You won't be able to use Facebook Login with other apps and websites, such as Spotify and Pinterest. To recover your accounts, you may need to contact support for those apps and websites.

Some information, such as messages you send to your friends, may still be available even after you delete your account. Copies of the messages you send are stored in your friends' inbox. nine0003

If you use a Facebook account to sign in to your Oculus device, deleting it will also delete information related to the Oculus platform, including your in-app purchases and achievements. In addition, you will no longer be able to return apps and will lose all Oculus store coupons.

What if I want to stop using Facebook for a while without deleting all my content?

If you want to take a break from Facebook, you can temporarily deactivate your account. At the same time:

People will not be able to see or access your Facebook profile.

Your photos, posts and videos will not be deleted.

You can use the Facebook Login feature in other apps such as Spotify, Pinterest and Facebook Games. nine0003

You will not be able to use your Facebook account to access Oculus Products and view information related to the Oculus platform.

You can return to Facebook at any time.

Learn more about how to temporarily deactivate an account.

To permanently delete an account:

Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the Facebook window.

Select Settings & Privacy and then Settings. nine0003

Click Your information on Facebook.

Click Deactivate and delete.

Select Delete Account and click Continue with Delete Account.

Click Remove account, enter your password, and select Continue.

Can I cancel the account deletion?

You can restore your account within 30 days after deletion.