So, you have decided to close your Facebook account and are looking for a legitimate step-by-step guide. We got your frustration! Users often wish to take a short break or decide to say goodbye to this famous social media tool, Facebook. If you, too, have a feeling of leaving the platform, you must have searched ‘how do I delete a Facebook account.’ Today, we help you with that. Not just deleting, but also deactivating and other things you need to know when going for a break.
Why To Delete Facebook Account?
But hold on! Why would you want to delete your FB profile? May be because you think it doesn’t suit you, or there is a big promising reason behind that. Well, who knows your cause? Some of the given reasons might be matching with you, check to know:
Some reasons why you decide to delete your Facebook account are:
- The account is compromised
- Faced scams, unauthorized access, etc.
- No longer wish to continue with Facebook
- Faced a potential threat
- Found a better option.
- Doing on behlaf of minor (below 13) or physically challenged.
Download Data Before Deleting – Backup Your Data!
Your data is everything you have on the platform, and it’s so important and private to you. Thus, if you have decided to delete your account, you should know how to keep your data protected and safe.
Thankfully, the data download option is available. You can decide the time, format, and quality of your data you want to download. While doing the process, you need to provide passwords to ensure it’s a legitimate attempt.
- Here is how you download FB data on your mobile:
- Visit your account.
- Click three horizontal line ☰ icon or hamburger
- Tap settings and privacy, and settings.
- Visit account center and click ‘Your Information and Permissions.’
- Click ‘Download your Information’ and then ‘Download or transfer information.’
- After selecting profile from which you want to download data, tap next.
- Select ‘how much information you want to download.’
- And then, decide the destination where you want to download your data – device or transfer it to somewhere else.
As you complete this steps guide in regards to sending a request to Facebook, you will receive an email from Facebook confirming the same. You can download your data within 3 to 4 days. To get a direct pathway to download, tap the link.
How Do I Delete Facebook Account
If you want to delete Facebook profile, it’s possible right from any device – you don’t necessarily have to have your logged-in device for that. Be it iPhone or Android, or may be you opt for a browser for this purpose, deleting account on Facebook just requires your access to the account with your username and password.
Once device is chosen, you have two ways to choose from in order to delete your account permanently; both of them are quite easy or somehow have a similar steps.
You can either choose Account centre or Account Settings to remove your profile permanently.
How To Delete Facebook Account On Mobile App:
Facebook is mostly installed on mobile devices, around 81.8% users across the world access it through Mobile device, as of 2022. Thus, if you want to remove the app or delete your profile from Facebook, knowing how to do it on your phone is necessary. Deleting an account on iPhone and Android has similar steps, but two different methods to do it: Either Account Settings or Account Center. Check below:
Through Account Center:
- Sign into your account in Facebook application.
- Tap the profile icon from top right corner and click three horizontal lines ☰.
- Now, tap the settings and privacy option, followed by settings option.
- Click Accounts Center.
- Here you need to select Personal details option.
- After that, account ownership and control.
- Then you see ‘deactivation or deletion’ option.
- Select the profile which you wish to delete.
- As you tap ‘delete account’ and ‘continue’ button, follow the remaining instructions and complete the process.
Through Accounts Settings:
- Sign In to your Facebook account with your details.
- Next, tap ‘settings and privacy’ option.
- Then, click settings.
- Tap profile access and control.
- And pick deactivation and deletion.
- Select delete account and tap ‘continue’ icon.
- Finally, you need to follow some instructions to complete the process.
How To Delete Facebook Account On Computer
Some users who use Facebook on computer may want to delete their account from the platform. In such a case, they can follow our in-depth guide, especially designed for PC users.
Likewise mobile app, deleting Facebook on computer has also two ways: Account Center and Account Settings. Below is a detailed guide.
Delete through Account Center:
- Select your profile from the top right of the Facebook screen.
- Next, choose settings and privacy.
- Tap ‘settings’
- Then, select accounts center from top.
- Under the account settings, click personal details.
- Tap ‘Account Ownership and Control’
- Tap deactivation or deletion.
- Select the profile, and tap delete account option.
- Finally, tap continue option and follow the instructions.
Delete through Facebook Settings
- Open Facebook on PC and tap your profile.
- After that, click settings and privacy option. And then tap settings.
- Tap Your Facebook information.
- Click Deactivate and deletion.
- Select delete account and tap continue.
- Finally, tap delete account and enter your password to continue.
Note: Users can reverse the account deletion by visiting their account and tapping the ‘cancel’ option within 30 days of initiation.
What Happens If I Permanently Delete My Facebook Account?
Once you are done with the account deletion on Facebook, you will see the following changes or limitations associated with your FB profile.
- If not acted quickly (within 30 days), you may not be able to reactivate your account.
- All the data associated with your account, such as photos, videos, posts, groups (if you owned), will be deleted permanently.
- Although you may see messages you previously sent to your friends on Messenger, the use of Messenger is not possible.
- App purchases, achievements, and other details of Meta Quest will be deleted once you delete your account.
- Your account, if linked with other services as a sign-up information, will not be active anymore. You need to connect with the service’s support and seek help.
How To Deactivate Facebook Account: (An Alternative To Deleting!)
Choosing to deactivate Facebook is a matter of temporarily holding on to your account. If you want to take a temporary break from Facebook but not to delete, choose to deactivate profile. Deactivating your FB profile always gives you a chance to reactivate it anytime. You can do it from your device (phone or computer). Learn the steps for each:
Deactivate through Computer:
- Select your profile after you finish up signing in to your profile.
- Select ‘settings and privacy’ icon followed by settings.
- Tap ‘Accounts Center’ below the ‘Account settings’
- Tap account ownership and control option
- Tap deactivation or deletion.
- Finally, select profile to deactivate.
- Tap continue, and follow instructions.
Deactivate through Mobile:
- Select profile and tap three-line icon.
- Scroll and click settings and privacy.
- Click settings icon.
- Click account center and then personal details.
- You will see now ‘account ownership and control’
- Tap deactivation or deletion.
- Finally, select a profile and tap deactivate account next to it.
- Click the ‘continue’ icon.
Difference Between Deletion and Deactivation Facebook Account
The difference is clear between deactivating and deleting a Facebook profile. One has control over their FB profile if they choose to deactivate, while the other one is a non-reversible method (deleting the account). Here is the complete discussion: