How to Delete Your Facebook Account in the US

Deleting your Facebook account is permanent, so it is worth doing in the right order. Download your photos and posts first, untangle the logins and Pages that depend on the account, and only then hit delete. This guide walks through each step for US users, including what happens to Messenger and your data afterward.

Delete or deactivate: know the difference

Facebook offers two ways to step away. Deactivating hides your profile and most of your content, but Facebook keeps your data and you can come back by logging in again. Your name may still show up in your friends' friend lists, and messages you sent stay visible to the people you sent them to.

Deleting removes the account for good. After the grace period ends, your profile, photos, posts, and videos are gone, and you cannot get them back. That is why the first step below matters: once the account is deleted, anything you did not download is lost.

If you only need a break, deactivate. If you are sure you want out, delete. You can also try deactivation for a month and delete later if you do not miss it.

Step 1: Download your data before you delete anything

Before you touch the delete button, save a copy of what you want to keep. In the Facebook app, tap the menu icon, then Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Center. Tap Your information and permissions, then Download your information. On a computer, the same path starts at the top-right profile menu.

Pick what to include: your posts, photos and videos, comments, messages, friends list, and more, or choose Select all. Set the date range and the file format. HTML is easy to browse on your computer, while JSON is better if you plan to move the data somewhere else. Choose a media quality, then tap Create files.

Facebook will email you when the download is ready, and the link stays available for a few days. Download it to your computer, not just your phone, and check that your oldest photos are in there. Start this step a day before you plan to delete, since a large file can take a while.

Step 2: Untangle logins, Pages, and payments

Many people forget how many things are tied to a Facebook account. Go through this list before deleting, because fixing these afterward is hard.

First, check where you use "Log in with Facebook." Open Settings, then Apps and websites, and look at the active logins. For each one you still use, switch it to an email and password login. Spotify, Pinterest, and many news sites and games offer Facebook login, and losing access to Facebook can lock you out of those too.

Second, check any Facebook Pages you manage. A Page needs at least one admin, so transfer admin rights to someone else before you delete yours. If you run a business Page and you are the only admin, deleting your account can leave the Page stranded.

Third, look at payments and subscriptions. Cancel any subscriptions billed through Facebook, and check Facebook Pay or Meta Pay for saved cards. Facebook keeps some records for its own purposes even after deletion.

Step 3: Delete the account through Accounts Center

When you are ready, the delete option lives in Accounts Center. In the app, tap the menu icon, then Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Center. Tap Personal details, then Account ownership and control, then Deactivation or deletion. Pick your account, choose Delete account, and tap Continue.

On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right, then Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Center, then Personal details, then Account ownership and control, then Deactivation or deletion. The steps are the same from there.

Facebook will show you a few screens trying to change your mind: friends you will lose touch with, Pages you manage, and a reminder to download your data. Read them, because they sometimes catch something you missed. Then confirm with your password, and the account enters a 30-day grace period.

Step 4: What happens during the 30-day grace period

For 30 days after you confirm, your account is scheduled for deletion but not yet gone. Your profile is hidden, and you will not get notifications. If you log in during this period, Facebook will ask if you want to cancel the deletion, and choosing to keep the account restores it.

If you do nothing for 30 days, deletion begins. Facebook says it can take up to 90 days to erase your data, and copies may remain in backup storage for a while after that. Messages you sent to friends stay in their inboxes, because they belong to them too. Some records may be kept for legal or security reasons.

Do not log in at all during the grace period if you want the deletion to go through. Some apps that use Facebook login can trigger a login without you noticing, so remove Facebook login from those apps first.

Step 5: What happens to Messenger

Deleting your Facebook account also deletes your Messenger account, because the two are linked. Your message history and contacts go with it. Keeping Messenger without Facebook is no longer possible for new users in the US once the account is deleted.

Tell the people who matter before you delete. Send them your phone number or another way to reach you, and move important conversations to another app.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to delete a Facebook account?

The account enters a 30-day grace period as soon as you confirm deletion. If you do not log in during those 30 days, deletion begins, and Facebook says it can take up to 90 days to erase your data. Messages you sent to friends stay in their inboxes.

Can I delete my Facebook account from the app?

Yes. In the Facebook app, go to the menu, then Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Center, then Personal details, then Account ownership and control, then Deactivation or deletion. Pick your account, choose Delete account, and confirm with your password.

What is the difference between deleting and deactivating Facebook?

Deactivating hides your profile and lets you come back by logging in again, with your data kept. Deleting removes the account permanently after a 30-day grace period, and your profile, photos, and posts cannot be recovered. Download your data first, because you cannot get it back afterward.