How to make sure facebook is deleted
How to completely delete Facebook from your life
Delete Facebook from your life forever. Credit: bob al-greene/mashable
> Tech > Apps and Software
Buh-bye, Facebook. It's been real.
So you've had it with endless scrolling through the News Feed, notifications that wake you up in the middle of the night, memories that remind you how little your life has changed over the years, and groups that are just too big and you don't even know why you joined in the first place.
In short, you want to delete Facebook from your life.
It's a big decision, and it can be pretty scary, but we assure you: It can be done.
Before you start, though, think long and hard on whether you want to delete or merely deactivate your Facebook account.
Deactivating Facebook is fairly easy and painless. If you do it, your Timeline and other info will disappear from Facebook -- but only until you reactivate your account. Yes, this means all your data will remain stored somewhere on Facebook's servers.
SEE ALSO: 8 people confess why they finally deleted social media
Deleting Facebook means you can never access your account again or retrieve any of your content or data. That means you need to take additional steps to remove traces of your Facebook data (as well as preserve it for yourself) before you delete your account.
Deactivating your Facebook account
Deactivating your Facebook account. Credit: STAN SCHROEDER/MASHABLE
To deactivate your account, follow these steps:
Click on the down arrow in the upper right corner of Facebook and click on Settings & Privacy, then Settings
Click on General
Click on Your Facebook Information
Click on Deactivation and Deletion
Click on Deactivate Account
Enter your Facebook password and confirm deactivation
Yup, it's that easy. You're now gone from Facebook, but as we said, it's just a temporary measure that doesn't really delete your data on the service.
You've just deactivated your Facebook account. To permanently erase yourself from Facebook, you'll need to delete your account altogether.
But, before you do that, it's prudent to take a few additional steps.
Backing up your Facebook data
Download your information here. Do it *before* you delete your Facebook account. Credit: STAN SCHROEDER/MASHABLE
You may be done with Facebook, but you probably want to keep the data you've amassed on the service. Think about it: Posts, photos, videos, messages, likes, list of friends -- it's all potentially valuable, and it really doesn't hurt to preserve it. To back up your data, do the following:
Open Facebook settings
Click on Your Facebook Information
Click on Download Your Information
Here, you'll be able to choose the date range, what types of data you'd like to backup, and media quality. Our advice: Just keep it all, and leave the media quality on high.
SEE ALSO: I deleted Facebook off my phone and you should too
You can also choose between a HTML format, which will make the file easier to view, and JSON format, which will make it easier to import the data into another service (yes, it's quite possible that there will be another popular social network after Facebook one day). Now, click on "Create File," and store the resulting file safely.
Making sure you've deleted all your Facebook data
Now comes the hard part. Credit: STAN SCHROEDER/MASHABLE
This may sound a little paranoid, but getting rid of any trace of your existence on Facebook is harder than you think and requires more steps than just hitting that delete button. So before you do so, we suggest you do the following three steps, and an optional fourth step:
Remove associations between third party apps and Facebook
Turn off Facebook platform
Check how much of your data is held by third party apps
Clear your Facebook history
Parts 1) and 2) are easy, and consist of the following:
Go to Settings
Click Apps and Websites,
Check all apps and then clicking "Remove.
"
To turn off Facebook's platform, do this:
Go to Settings
Click on "Edit" under "Apps and Websites" as well as "Games"
Scroll down, then click on "Turn Off."
Important: Facebook might be the only way you can log in into some third-party apps (such as Tinder) and websites. Make sure you check those services and switch to a different type of login (email and password, for example) before you cut all ties to Facebook.
Check how much of your data is held by third-party apps
Now comes the tough part. Third-party apps, websites, games, and services might keep your data even if Facebook doesn't have it anymore. Unfortunately, there's no simple way to delete all of this Facebook data at once. You'll have to contact the app maker directly -- here are Facebook's instructions on how to do that -- and ask them to remove the data. Luckily, companies that operate on Facebook's platform are required by Facebook's terms and services to delete your data if you ask them to do so.
To contact the individual apps, games and websites, you should visit their privacy policy pages. It's impossible to list them all, but here they are for some of the most popular ones:
FarmVille
Foursquare
Instagram
Pandora
Pinterest
Spotify
Venmo
Words With Friends
Note that Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, is tightly integrated with Facebook, the social network, and some of your Facebook data might be preserved on Instagram even after you delete your Facebook account. Fully deleting your Instagram account is similar to deleting your Facebook account; for instructions, go here.
Clear your Facebook history (optional)
Now for the last bit, which is only for the extra, extra cautious among us. Deleting your Facebook account should remove all traces you from the social network, but you can actually scroll back through your Facebook history and undo it, one like at a time.
(This is different from the Clear History tool, that's available in Settings - Your Facebook Information - Off-Facebook Activity)
To do so, do this:
Click on down arrow in the upper right corner of Facebook
Click on Activity log
Click on the pencil icon next to any item you want to remove and click Delete/Unlike.
If you've been using Facebook for more than a week, and you probably have, you will soon realize the futility of this -- there will literally be thousands of items in your Activity Log and erasing them all will take forever. But, the option is there, so if you have an eon or two of extra time at your disposal, knock yourself out.
Deleting your Facebook account
Breathe in. It's time. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
Have you thought this through? Have you gone through the steps above? Alright, then it's time to delete your Facebook account. You can find the option in Facebook's Settings under "General" and then "Your Facebook Activation" and then "Deactivation and deletion," or you can use this handy link and click on "Delete My Account.
"
Note that Facebook claims it may take up to 90 days from that point to all your stuff actually getting deleted from the network.
That's it: You've thoroughly deleted your Facebook account. There might be some residual data here and there -- for example, messages you've sent to someone might still be in that user's Messenger -- but you should be as far removed from Facebook as possible.
Enjoy your new, Facebook-free life.
With contributions from Kyli Singh.
Related Video: How to permanently delete your social media
More in Facebook, Social Media
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Stan is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. He's got more battery-powered gadgets and band t-shirts than you. He writes about the next groundbreaking thing. Typically, this is a phone, a coin, or a car. His ultimate goal is to know something about everything.
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How do I permanently delete my Facebook account?
If you have additional Facebook profiles and delete or deactivate your Facebook account, you also delete or deactivate all profiles under your account. Learn how to delete or deactivate individual profiles.
What happens if I permanently delete my Facebook account?
You won't be able to reactivate your account
Your profile, photos, posts, videos, and everything else you've added will be permanently deleted. You won't be able to retrieve anything you've added.
You'll no longer be able to use Facebook Messenger.
You won't be able to use Facebook Login for other apps you may have signed up for with your Facebook account, like Spotify or Pinterest. You may need to contact the apps and websites to recover those accounts.
Some information, like messages you sent to friends, may still be visible to them after you delete your account. Copies of messages you have sent are stored in your friends' inboxes.
If you use your Facebook account to log in to Oculus, deleting your Facebook account will also delete your Oculus information. This includes your app purchases and your achievements. You will no longer be able to return any apps and will lose any existing store credits.
What if I don't want all my content deleted, but I want to take a break from Facebook?
You can take a break from Facebook and temporarily deactivate your account. When you temporarily deactivate your account:
People won't be able to see or go to your Facebook profile.
Your photos, posts and videos won't be deleted.
You can still use Facebook Messenger. Your profile picture will still be visible in your conversations and people will still be able to search for you by name to send you a message. You will continue to appear to friends on Facebook in places where they can message you.
You can still use Facebook Login for your other apps, like Spotify, Pinterest or Games.
You will not be able to use your Facebook account to access Oculus Products or your Oculus information.
You can choose to come back whenever you want.
Learn how to temporarily deactivate your account.
To permanently delete your account:
Tap in the top right of Facebook.
Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.
Tap Profile Access and Control.
Tap Deactivation and Deletion.
Choose Delete Account and tap Continue to Account Deletion.
Follow the instructions on the screen to continue to account deletion.
Can I cancel my account deletion?
If it's been less than 30 days since you initiated the deletion, you can cancel your account deletion. After 30 days, your account and all your information will be permanently deleted, and you won't be able to retrieve your information.
It may take up to 90 days from the beginning of the deletion process to delete all the things you've posted. While we're deleting this information, it's not accessible to other people using Facebook.
Copies of your information may remain after the 90 days in backup storage that we use to recover in the event of a disaster, software error, or other data loss event.
We may also keep your information for things like legal issues, terms violations, or harm prevention efforts. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
To cancel your account deletion:
Log into your Facebook account within 30 days of deleting your account.
Click Cancel Deletion.
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.
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 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.
To deactivate your account:
Log in to Facebook from a computer.
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.
To deactivate your account:
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.
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.
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
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:
Log in to Facebook from a computer. nine0003
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:
Log in to your Facebook account within 30 days of 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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permanentlyIf 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? 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 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.
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:
Log in to Facebook from a computer.
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.
