Are you planning to take a break from Facebook, or have you decided to quit it for good? If yes, here is a simple guide explaining how to deactivate your Facebook account temporarily or delete it permanently in 2023. We will also explain how to reactivate it or return your Facebook account if you change your mind.
Facebook is among the most popular social media platforms, but many users opt to leave it. This is due to recent privacy concerns, allegations of spreading false news or misinformation and being too addictive. Taking some time off is always better when you get too hooked on the platform.
This applies to Facebook and every social media like Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Reddit, and others. For now, our focus is the Meta-owned network, and we’ll discuss the other platforms in other dedicated posts.
What Happens When You Deactivate Facebook?
When you deactivate your Facebook account, it will be removed from the platform temporarily (until you reactivate it). You can reactivate it anytime and start using it just like before. However, when your account is deactivated, other Facebook users can’t see your timeline or search for your profile.
You won’t appear on the platform till you reactivate the account. However, some of the information may remain visible to others. For instance, the messages you sent to someone or those you sent in a group on Messenger will still be visible when your account is deactivated.
If you use your Facebook account to sign in to and use Oculus products, you won’t be able to use it while it’s deactivated. You can also not use your Oculus information anywhere until you reactivate the account. The good thing is that the change is temporary, and you won’t lose important data or information.
What Happens When You Delete Your Facebook Account?
When you delete your Facebook account, the change is permanent. You can’t get back your Facebook account when it is deleted permanently. Facebook delays the request to delete accounts, and there is a buffer period when you can cancel the request and get your account back.
Once the account is deleted from the servers, all the information and data from your account will be deleted too. However, some information, such as your messages and message history, will remain on the platforms. This means your friends will be able to see the messages you have sent them without your name.
Facebook also stores copies of some materials like log records in the database, but they are disassociated from personal identifiers. If your FB account was linked to Oculus, deleting it will also clear the Oculus information, and you can’t use it with the device moving forward.
How To Deactivate Your Facebook Account?
The procedure to deactivate your Facebook account is really simple and straightforward. Follow these steps:
- Visit Facebook in a browser and sign in to your account.
- Now click on your profile picture present in the top right section.
- Next, click “Settings & Privacy” and select “Settings.”
- Next, click “Personal Details” in the Accounts Centre section.
- Next, click on “Personal Details” and then click on “Account ownership and control.”
- Click on “Deactivation and Deletion” after that.
- Select “Deactivate Account” and click on “Continue.”
- Enter the password of your account and then click on “Continue.”
- Select a reason to deactivate your account and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Finally, deactivate your account and close the tab.
That’s it. Once you do this, you will be logged out of your Facebook account, and it’ll be deactivated. It will disappear from the platform, and your friends can’t search for you. You can reactivate your account when your break ends and undo all the changes.
How To Reactivate Your Facebook After Deactivating it?
Reactivating your Facebook account is very simple. All you have to do is log back in using your credentials. Just visit Facebook.com in a web browser and launch the Facebook app. Enter your email address/ phone number and password, then hit the Log in button.
Once you are logged in, your Facebook account is reactivated. You don’t have to do anything else. You can also deactivate it again once you decide to take another break. Remember that you should also write the password of your Facebook account somewhere safe, so you don’t forget it during your time away.
How To Delete Your Facebook Account Permanently?
If you have decided to quit Facebook and want to get rid of your account, you can permanently delete it. However, take this decision with calmness and composure, as you won’t be able to reverse it after a certain time. Don’t do this in haste, as you may regret later.
Follow these steps to delete your Facebook account permanently:
- Visit Facebook in a web browser and make sure you are signed in.
- Click on your profile picture from the top right section.
- Now click on “Settings & Privacy,” then click “Settings.”
- Next, click on “Personal Details” from the “Accounts Centre” section.
- Next, click on “Personal details” and then click on “Account ownership and control.”
- Select “Delete Account” and then click on “Continue.”
- Enter your Facebook account password and click on “Continue.”
- Next, choose a reason to delete your account and confirm your choice.
- Keep following the on-screen instructions and complete the process.
Once done, you’ll be logged out of your account, and the request to delete it will be submitted. Facebook takes 30 days to delete your account permanently. If you change your mind during this period, you can cancel the request to delete your account. After that, your FB account will be gone forever.
Can You Get Back Your Deleted Facebook Account?
You can restore your deleted Facebook account only 30 days after initiating the request. After 30 days, your account and all your information will be permanently deleted. You can’t retrieve or undo the account deletion, then.
Facebook takes around 90 days from the beginning of the deletion process to delete everything you’ve posted. However, it won’t be accessible to you or anyone else on the platform during the deletion.
If you want to cancel your request and get back your deleted Facebook account within 30 days, follow these steps:
- Visit Facebook.com in a browser.
- Now log in to your Facebook account using your account credentials.
- Finally, click on “Cancel Deletion.”
That’s it. Once you have cancelled the request, your Facebook account will be active once again. You can continue using it as you did previously. You won’t lose any data or personal information when you cancel an account deletion request and restore the account successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A: You can’t see a deactivated Facebook account on the platform if you don’t reactivate it. Once you reactivate it by signing back in, it will be visible to everyone. However, the deactivated Facebook account is still visible on Messenger if you have used it to send or receive messages.
A: Here is a quick overview of the steps you need to follow to deactivate your Facebook account:
Log in to your account on Facebook -> Click on your profile picture -> Click on Settings & Privacy -> Click on Settings -> Click on Privacy -> Click on Your Account Information -> Select Deactivation & Deletion -> Choose “Deactivate Account” and follow the on-screen instructions.
A: When you deactivate your Facebook account, your profile will be taken off the platform temporarily. Your account will not be visible to everyone, and no one will be able to see your posts, photos, and videos. Some information, like your messages and message history, will still be visible to other users.
A: You can only recover a deleted Facebook account within the first 30 days of initiating the deletion request. Sign in to your account using your credentials and select “Cancel Deletion.” However, if the period of 30 days has already passed and you want to recover your account, it’s not possible.
Once Facebook has completely deleted your account from the platform, there is no to get it back. You can’t do anything to retrieve your lost information. You can sign up for a new account and begin a new journey.
Final Words:
It’s a wise decision to temporarily deactivate your Facebook account and take some time off when you get hooked to the screen for longer periods. You can go back and reactivate it whenever you want to. If you want to quit the platform completely, you can delete your FB account.
However, take that decision wisely as it can’t be reversed after some time. Now you know everything about taking some time off of Facebook. The quickest way is still to uninstall the app and reinstall it when you want to use it again. That’s all for this guide. Feel free to use the comment box for your queries.
This is Saquib, a technology and social media expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. With a passion for staying up-to-date on the latest developments and trends in the tech and social media world and as a writer, I have been creating informative and engaging content that is easy for readers to understand and enjoy, also published in several leading tech and social media publications and is a regular speaker at industry events. In addition to my writing and speaking engagements, I also work as a consultant, helping businesses grow with the ever-changing tech and social media niche.
