Facebook is one of the world's most popular social media platforms. But if you're wary of sharing too much personal data publicly, or don’t like the idea of Facebook tracking you, there’s a way out. Learn how to temporarily deactivate or permanently delete your Facebook account. Then, get AVG AntiTrack to help stop Facebook and other tracking apps from following you online.
If you want to kill your profile for good, you can delete your Facebook account via the app or from the Facebook website in your browser. Just open your Facebook settings and find the deactivation and delete options. Your account will be permanently deleted after 30 days.
You’re not alone in wanting to get rid of your Facebook account. The capabilities of online tracking and the risk of being caught up in a data breach make limiting your digital footprint more important than ever. If you change your mind and decide to keep your account, make sure you update your privacy settings to keep your profile as private as possible.
If you still want to go ahead with your account removal, follow the steps below:
You can easily delete your Facebook account in any compatible browser by logging in, going to your privacy settings, and selecting the deactivate or delete option.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for deleting your Facebook profile in a web browser:
Go to Facebook.com and log in.
Click your profile picture in the top-right corner > Select Settings & privacy.
Go to Settings > Privacy Center > Manage your accounts.
Choose Personal details from the left panel, click Account ownership and control, and select Deactivation or deletion.
Choose your Facebook account (you can also delete your Instagram account or other linked Meta accounts from here), then select Delete account and re-enter your password to confirm.
You can delete your Facebook profile using the iPhone or Android app by going to the Account Center, which is in your profile settings. From there, you can find the account removal options under the personal details menu.
Here’s how to delete your Facebook account using the mobile app:
Open the Facebook app and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
Select Privacy Center then tap Manage your accounts.
Select Personal details > Account ownership and control.
Tap Deactivation or deletion and choose your Facebook account (you can also delete your Instagram account from here). Finally, tap Delete account, choose Continue, then enter your password to confirm.
If you want to pause your account activity temporarily, you can deactivate your Facebook account by choosing the deactivation option in the settings menu. You can do this in a browser or via the app.
The fastest way to deactivate a Facebook page or suspend a Facebook account is by opening the Facebook Help page for deleting or deactivating a Facebook account. Here, click the first option: Deactivate account. If you’re already logged in to your Facebook account on a web browser, this page will open automatically.
You’ll be asked to re-enter your password before confirming the temporary deactivation. Once deactivation is confirmed, you can reactivate your Facebook account whenever you want.
Be aware that even after you deactivate your Facebook account, you’ll still have access to Facebook Messenger. And, your data could still be in the hands of data brokers.
If you have the Facebook app on your iPhone or Android, you can deactivate your account from the Accounts Center. It’s exactly the same process as deleting a Facebook account, except that, in the final step, select Deactivate account instead of Delete account.
Follow these step-by-step instructions to temporarily suspend your Facebook profile:
Open the Facebook app and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
Choose the Privacy Center option, then tap Manage your accounts.
Select Personal details > Account ownership and control.
Tap Deactivation or deletion, and select your Facebook account.
Finally, tap Delete account, choose Continue, then enter your password to confirm.
Yes, you can deactivate Facebook and still have full access to Facebook Messenger. The trick is to not permanently cancel your Facebook profile, but to select the option Deactivate account. But, if you delete your Facebook account, Messenger will also be deleted.
Deactivating a Facebook account means temporarily removing it. Deleting a Facebook account means permanently removing it. You can also temporarily suspend Facebook and reactivate it again, restoring all your data. But if you delete Facebook and don’t sign in to reactivate it within 30 days, your data is wiped and cannot be restored.
Maybe you're tired of seeing fake news, annoyed with all the ad tracking, or simply want to stop oversharing on social media. Whatever the reason for putting a pause on your Facebook account, there are pros and cons to temporarily deactivating Facebook vs deleting it completely.
Here are some of the main reasons for and against deactivating your Facebook account:
Pros
You can keep Facebook Messenger.
You can reactivate your Facebook account whenever you want, without losing any data.
It’s a temporary way to hide your photos, friends, and posts.
It’s a great way to take a social media break.
Cons
Your personal data is not removed while your account isn’t active.
Oculus products can’t be used unless you reactivate your account.
Once you reactivate, you’re again at risk of Facebook scams.
Here’s a look at the positives and negatives of deleting Facebook entirely:
Pros
You never have to check your Facebook for data leaks again.
You don’t have to worry about whether Facebook listens to your private conversations.
You have more control over your personal data.
All data tied to your inactive Facebook accounts is deleted too.
Cons
You can't change your mind if you delete your Facebook account — rejoining the platform means starting a completely new profile.
You may lose important photos and videos if you don’t back them up before deleting Facebook permanently.
To reactivate your Facebook account after a temporary deactivation, simply log back in. You can also reactivate your profile by using your Facebook login to access another website.
Deleted accounts can be recovered in the same way, but only for 30 days after deletion. If you don’t reactivate a deleted Facebook account within that timeframe, you’ve permanently canceled Facebook and erased all your data.
Privacy and data protection are often the main reasons people choose to delete Facebook and other social apps. But what if you didn’t have to make that choice?
With features like fake digital fingerprints to fool advertisers and track blocking, AVG AntiTrack lets you enjoy the freedom of a digital social life while helping minimize your digital footprint. Try AntiTrack for free today to help keep your browsing activity more private.
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