Tired of endless notifications and privacy concerns keeping you glued to Facebook? With Meta’s recent policy changes, millions are searching for ways to leave the platform permanently. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions for completely removing your Facebook presence.
Quick Answer: How to Delete Facebook Account
To permanently delete your Facebook account, use these steps:
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings → Accounts Center
- Select Personal Details → Account Ownership and Control
- Choose “Deactivation or deletion” → Delete Account
- Follow prompts and confirm with your password
- 30-day grace period allows account recovery if you change your mind
- Complete deletion takes up to 90 days from Facebook’s servers
How to Delete Facebook Account on Desktop
Deleting your Facebook account from a desktop browser is the most straightforward method. Facebook provides a direct deletion link that takes you straight to the account removal page.
Quick Desktop Method:
- Log into Facebook and visit the Delete Account page directly
- Click “Delete Account” at the bottom right
- Re-enter your password to confirm deletion
Alternative Desktop Steps:
- Click your profile picture in the top-right corner
- Select “Settings & Privacy” then “Settings”
- Choose “Accounts Centre” from the left menu
- Navigate to “Personal details” → “Account Ownership and Control”
- Select “Deactivation or Deletion”
- Choose the account to delete and click “Delete account”
- Follow on-screen prompts to confirm.
| Method | Time Required | Difficulty |
| Direct deletion link | 2 minutes | Easy |
| Settings navigation | 5 minutes | Easy |
How to Delete Facebook Account on iPhone
The iPhone Facebook app deletion process follows Meta’s standardized approach across mobile platforms.
iPhone Deletion Steps:
- Open the Facebook app
- Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom-right corner
- Scroll down and select “Settings & Privacy” → “Settings”
- Tap “See more in Accounts Center”
- Select “Personal details” → “Account ownership and control”
- Choose “Deactivation or deletion”
- Select your account and tap “Delete account”
- Tap “Continue” and follow confirmation prompts
- The process is identical whether you’re using iOS 16 or the latest iOS 18 version.
How to Delete Facebook Account on Android
Android users follow nearly identical steps to iPhone users, with minor interface differences. Use the Accounts Center under Settings to deactivate or delete your account.
- Open Facebook app
- Tap menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner
- Navigate to “Settings & Privacy” → “Settings”
- Select “Accounts Center”
- Go to “Personal details” → “Account ownership and control”
- Choose “Deactivation or deletion”
- Select account to delete → “Delete account” → “Continue”
- Complete verification steps
Both Android and iPhone users must enter their password before final deletion confirmation.
Deactivation vs. Permanent Deletion
Deactivating a Facebook account is often regarded the same as deleting it. If you don’t know the difference between them, you won’t be able to make the right choice and would regret your decision. Here’s a quick glance at the major differences between them.
| Feature | Deactivation | Permanent Deletion |
| Reversibility | Fully reversible by logging in | 30-day grace period only |
| Profile Visibility | Hidden from searches and friends | Completely removed after 90 days |
| Data Storage | All data preserved on servers | Gradually deleted over 90 days |
| Messenger Access | Remains functional | Lost permanently |
| Reactivation | Instant upon login | Impossible after 30 days |
Choose to deactivate Facebook account in the following cases:
- You need a temporary social media break
- You want to keep Messenger functionality
- You’re unsure about permanently leaving
You can delete Facebook if one of the following is true:
- You’re committed to leaving Facebook permanently
- Privacy concerns are your primary motivation
- You want your data removed from Meta’s servers
Essential Steps Before You Delete Facebook Account
You don’t want to lose important data or connections when deleting your Facebook account. So, take note of the following:
1. Backup your data.
- Go to “Settings & Privacy” → “Settings”
- Select “Your Facebook Information”
- Click “Download Your Information”
- Choose HTML format for easy viewing or JSON for technical use
- Set media quality to “High” and date range to “All time”
- Select data types to include (posts, photos, messages, etc.)
- Click “Request a download.’’
- Data processing takes up to 24 hours.
2. Additional steps to prepare yourself
Here are some more steps that will set you up for an easy journey after you delete your Facebook account.
- Inform close friends of your departure and provide alternative contact methods
- Unlink any apps or services using Facebook Login
- Cancel Facebook-related subscriptions or payments
- Save important photos and posts manually if needed
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I delete my Facebook account permanently?
Navigate to Settings & Privacy → Settings → Accounts Center → Personal Details → Account Ownership and Control → Deactivation or deletion. Select “Delete account” and follow the confirmation prompts. Your account enters a 30-day grace period before permanent deletion begins.
2. How do you delete an account on Facebook on your phone?
Open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon, go to Settings & Privacy → Settings → Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion. Choose your account, select “Delete account,” and complete the verification process.
3. How do I deactivate Facebook on mobile?
Follow the same path as deletion but select “Deactivate account” instead of “Delete account.” Deactivation hides your profile immediately but preserves all data for future reactivation.
4. How do I 100% delete my Facebook account?
Complete the deletion process and avoid logging in for 30+ days. Facebook takes up to 90 days to fully remove your data from their servers. Some activity logs may be retained longer for legal purposes, but your profile and personal content will be completely removed.
Conclusion
Deleting your Facebook account today requires understanding the distinction between temporary deactivation and permanent deletion. The process itself is an easy one across all platforms – desktop, iPhone, and Android, and follows Meta’s standardized account management system. Remember that deletion includes a 30-day grace period during which you can recover your account by simply logging in, but after this window closes, the deletion becomes irreversible and your data gradually disappears from Facebook’s servers over the following 90 days.