How to close my facebook temporarily

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 in 2022

To delete your Facebook account, go to account settings on the website or app.
Before you close your Facebook account permanently, you'll have a chance to download your personal data.
You can also deactivate your Facebook account temporarily if you'd like to take a break.

Facebook is a massive force in the social media world. But if you're looking to distance yourself from Facebook, deleting your account is a quick and permanent way to cut ties.

If you've been using Facebook for a while, you'll probably want to keep all of your photos, videos, and messages. Luckily, Facebook lets you download all this before you delete your account.

Once you're ready, here's how to delete your Facebook account using the mobile app on your phone or the website on your computer.

Quick tip: If all you want to do is take a short break instead of leaving Facebook permanently, consider deactivating your account instead of deleting it.

How to delete your Facebook account on a phone

1. Open the Facebook app.

2. Tap the three vertical lines – this is known as the hamburger menu – in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Click the hamburger menu in the bottom right corner of the screen. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

3. Scroll down to Settings & Privacy and open the section by tapping the down carrot. Then, tap Settings.

Expand the "Settings & Privacy" section, and then tap "Settings." Stefan Ionescu/Insider

4. Tap Access and control.

Tap "Access and control." Stefan Ionescu/Insider

5. Tap Deactivation and Deletion.

6. Select Delete account and then tap Continue to Account Deletion.

Select the "Delete account" radial button, and then tap on the "Continue to Account Deletion" button. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

7. Tap Continue to permanently delete your Facebook account and information.

On the next screen, you can choose to download your Facebook information, including your posts, photos, and videos, before deleting your account.

8. Tap Delete account to permanently delete your Facebook account and information.

Once you delete your account, it'll take up to 90 days for Facebook to fully erase your data. And if you log in within 30 days, you can restore your account.

How to delete your Facebook account from a computer

1. Log into your Facebook account.

2. Click the profile picture in the top right corner.

3. In the dropdown menu, click Settings & Privacy, and then Settings.

Go to your Facebook account settings. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

4. Click Privacy on the left sidebar.

Click "Privacy.

" Stefan Ionescu/Insider

5. Click Your Facebook Information on the left sidebar.

Click "Your Facebook Information." Stefan Ionescu/Insider

6. Click View next to the Deactivation and Deletion section.

Click the "View" link that's next to "Deactivation and Deletion.

" Stefan Ionescu/Insider

On the next screen, you'll be given two options. You can either choose Deactivate account, which will hide your profile from everyone except for you, but allow you to keep using Facebook Messenger; or you can choose Delete account, which deletes everything permanently.

You can choose to either deactivate your account temporarily or delete it permanently. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

7. Select Delete account and then click Continue to account deletion.

8. Click Continue.

On the next page, you'll be asked if you want to keep using Messenger (if so, you can't delete your account — you'll have to deactivate it instead), and if you want to download your Facebook information, which includes all of your photos, videos, and posts.

9. Click Delete account to permanently delete your Facebook account and information.

Again, the full deletion of your account can take up 90 days, and you have 30 days from initiating it to cancel the deletion.

Devon Delfino

Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino.

How do I temporarily deactivate my Facebook account?

Help Center

Manage your account

Deactivate or delete your account

We're 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.

You can temporarily deactivate your account and restore it at any time. nine0003

Account deactivation

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

Select Settings & Privacy and then Settings.

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.

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. nine0003

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.

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. nine0003

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.

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. nine0003

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.

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. nine0003

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

Learn more about how to permanently delete an account.

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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. nine0003

If you deactivate your account:

You can reactivate it at any time.

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.

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. nine0003

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.

Pages that only you manage will also be deleted. If you want to keep the Page, give someone else full control over it. This will only delete your account. nine0003

If you deactivate your account:

You can reactivate it at any time.

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. nine0003

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.

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. 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.

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. nine0003

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.

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. nine0003

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.

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. nine0003

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.

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. nine0003

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.

Reactivating your account

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

Learn more about 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. 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.

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. nine0003

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.

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.