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Looking to take a break from Facebook? You can either delete or deactivate your account.
If you’re unsure what you should do, deactivation offers a less drastic option that allows you to take a break without losing everything. Deletion, on the other hand, is a final step for those looking to completely sever ties with the platform.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation is temporary. Deletion is permanent.
- Download your Facebook data before deactivating or deleting it to avoid losing posts, photos, and messages.
- Adjust privacy settings and make sure your account is secure with a strong password and two-factor authentication.
- Deactivating Facebook doesn’t affect Messenger. You can still use it.
- Deactivating may disrupt access to apps and websites that use Facebook for login. Set up alternate login methods.
- Show Full Guide
5 Things to Consider Before Deactivating Facebook Account
Keep these things in mind before deciding whether to deactivate your Facebook account or not:
Deactivating may disrupt access to apps and websites that use Facebook for login. Make sure you have alternate login methods.
Deactivating cuts off access to your friends, groups, and pages. Your profile won’t be visible.
Deactivating Facebook doesn’t affect Messenger. You can still use it, and friends can contact you. To fully disconnect, deactivate Messenger separately or delete your account.
Even after deactivation, you may still receive notifications and emails from Facebook unless you adjust your settings.
What is the Difference Between Deactivating and Deleting a Facebook Account?
Some people may use deactivate and delete interchangeably, but there are some major differences between the two when it comes to your Facebook account.
| Feature | Deactivation | Deletion |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Profile hidden | Profile permanently removed |
| Data Storage | Data retained | Data permanently deleted |
| Messenger | Still usable | No access |
| Account Recovery | Can reactivate anytime | Can’t recover |
| Impact on Linked Apps | Apps remain accessible if logged in | Access lost |
How to Download Your Facebook Account Information
If you’re going to delete (or even just deactivate) your Facebook, you may want to download a copy of your Facebook data.
Here’s what comes with it:
- Posts and photos: All the posts, photos, and videos you’ve shared.
- Messages: Your entire message history.
- Profile information: Details from your profile, including contact information and personal details.
- Friends and followers: A list of your friends, followers, and pages you follow.
- Activity log: A record of your interactions on Facebook.
To download your Facebook data:
Open Facebook.
Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner, and then Settings & privacy > Settings.
Tap Accounts Center.
In the Account settings group, tap Your information and permissions.
Tap Download your information.
On the next screen, tap Download or transfer information
Select the account you want to download the information from and then tap Next.
Next, you can choose All available information, which downloads everything, or Some of your information, where you can select exactly what you want to download.
Next, choose where you want to download the information. You can download it to your device or transfer it to somewhere like Google Drive or Dropbox. Tap Next.
Next, choose the date range, who to notify, the file format, and the media quality. Tap Create files.
Depending on the amount of data, the download can take some time. You’ll receive a notification once the download is complete.
After the download is finished, you may want to make another backup, so save it to the cloud or a local storage device such as a network attached storage (NAS).
How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account
If you want to take a break from Facebook, but not permanently delete your account, you can deactivate it. Here’s how.
How to Deactivate Facebook Account on Android or iOS
To disable your Facebook account on your iOS or Android device, follow these steps.
Open the Facebook app.
Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner, and then Settings & privacy > Settings.
Tap Accounts Center.
In the Account settings group, tap Personal details.
On the next screen, tap Account ownership and control.
Next, tap Deactivation or deletion.
Select the account you would like to deactivate.
Select the Deactivate account option and then tap Continue.
The next page will display any pages and additional Facebook profiles that will also be deactivated since they’re connected to the selected account. From here, tap Continue and then enter your email to confirm the deactivation of the account.
How to Deactivate Facebook Account via Web Browser (Computer or Mobile Browser)
To pause your Facebook account via web browser on your computer or mobile device:
Log in to your Facebook account.
Click your Profile Picture in the top-right corner of the screen, and then click Settings & privacy.
Next, click Settings at the top of the menu.
Click Accounts Center at the top of the left-hand pane.
Click Personal details in the Account settings group, and then click Account ownership and control.
A pop-up window will appear. Click Deactivation or deletion.
Select the profile you want to deactivate, select Deactivate account, and then click Continue.
The next page will display any pages and additional Facebook profiles that will also be deactivated since they’re connected to the selected account. From here, click Continue and then enter your email to confirm the deactivation of the account.
Managing Privacy and Security Post-Deactivation
Even after deactivating your account, you can still access your settings to adjust privacy controls. While your profile is hidden, you can change who can find you or send friend requests once your account is reactivated. It’s a good idea to review these settings to ensure they align with your preferences for when or if you return to Facebook.
Also, your account may be inactive, but it’s still vulnerable to unauthorized access.
To keep your account secure:
How to Reactivate Facebook Account
To reactivate your Facebook account, just log in using your username and password on the app or website. Your account and all content will be restored immediately upon logging in.
You may encounter issues like a forgotten password, which can be reset using the “Forgot Password?” link. Make sure you’re using the correct login credentials.
If Facebook suspends your account due to policy violations, you’ll need to appeal directly with them and wait for their decision.
How to Delete Facebook Account (on a PC, Mac, iPhone or Android)
Facebook keeps the option to delete your Facebook account in the same location as to deactivate the account.
To recap:
Log in to your account, click Profile Picture > Settings & privacy > Settings.
Click Accounts Center.
Click Personal Details > Account ownership and control.
Click Deactivation or deletion.
Click Delete account > Continue.
Here, re-enter your password, select why you are deleting your account, and confirm. Your account will then be scheduled for deletion.
You can change your mind and log into the account again, but only within 30 days. After 30 days, your account is permanently deleted from Facebook’s servers.
Also, note that these steps are very similar to deactivating or deleting Instagram since Meta owns both companies.
The Bottom Line
Deactivating and deleting your Facebook account are two different options, each with its own implications. Deactivation is temporary and allows you to return to Facebook with all your data intact, while deletion is permanent and removes your data from Facebook’s servers.
Before making a decision, consider your privacy concerns, the impact on connected apps and services, and how it might affect your social connections.
