What deactivating your Facebook account does
Deactivating your Facebook account hides your profile, messages, and posts from other people, but Facebook keeps your data. Your name and photo disappear from search results. Friends cannot message you or see your wall. Comments you left on other people's posts stay visible but show as "Facebook User" instead of your name.
Deactivation is temporary. You can reactivate by logging back in with your email and password at any time — even years later. Your photos, friends list, and messages return exactly as they were. If you want Facebook to delete everything permanently instead, that is a separate process called deletion, which takes about 30 days and cannot be undone.
Most people deactivate when they want a break from the platform but are not ready to lose their account forever. If you are certain you never want to use Facebook again, deletion is the right choice.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your profile but keeps your data on Facebook's servers; you can log back in and restore everything at any time.
- Your name and photo disappear from search and your friends' friend lists, but your old comments stay visible under a generic name.
- You can deactivate from your phone or computer in the Settings menu under "Deactivation and Deletion."
- Facebook will ask you to confirm your choice and may show you photos of friends to try to change your mind — this is normal.
- If you want to delete your account permanently instead, that process takes 30 days and cannot be reversed.
Steps to deactivate on a computer
Open Facebook in a web browser and log in if you are not already. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen — this opens a menu. Scroll down and select "Settings and privacy," then click "Settings."
On the left side of the screen, find and click "Deactivation and Deletion." You will see two options: "Deactivate Account" and "Delete Account." Click "Deactivate Account." Facebook will ask you to choose a reason for leaving — this is optional, but selecting one helps Facebook understand user feedback. Click "Next."
You will be asked to enter your password to confirm. Type it in and click "Deactivate." Facebook may show you photos of friends and ask if you want to stay — you can ignore this and proceed. Your account is now deactivated. You will be logged out immediately.
Steps to deactivate on a phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy," then tap "Settings."
Scroll down to find "Deactivation and Deletion" and tap it. Select "Deactivate Account" from the two options shown. Choose a reason if you want to, then tap "Next." Enter your password when prompted and tap "Deactivate." The app will log you out.
If you are using Facebook through a mobile web browser instead of the app, follow the same steps as the computer version above.
What happens immediately after deactivation
Your profile becomes invisible to other users right away. Your name no longer appears in search results, and friends cannot find your profile by clicking on your name. Messages you sent before deactivation stay in your friends' inboxes, but they cannot send you new messages — attempts to message you will fail silently.
Posts you made are hidden from your timeline, but comments and reactions you left on other people's posts remain visible. Those comments will show "Facebook User" as the author instead of your name, with no link to a profile. Your friends list, photos, and personal information are hidden from view but still stored on Facebook's servers.
If you are part of a Facebook Group or Page, your membership is hidden but not removed. When you reactivate, you will still be a member.
How to reactivate your account
To reactivate, simply log into Facebook using your email address and password on any device. You can do this on the Facebook website, in the app, or through any app or service that uses Facebook login (like Spotify or a game). Your account will restore immediately — your profile, photos, friends list, and messages will all return exactly as they were.
There is no time limit on reactivation. You can deactivate for a week or for five years and still restore your account by logging in. Facebook does not delete deactivated accounts automatically.
The difference between deactivation and deletion
Deactivation is reversible; deletion is permanent. When you deactivate, Facebook keeps everything. When you delete, Facebook removes your posts, photos, messages, and profile information from its servers over the course of about 30 days. After that period, your data cannot be recovered.
Deletion also takes longer to complete. You cannot reactivate during the 30-day window — if you log in, the deletion will cancel and your account will restore. After 30 days, your account is gone for good. Choose deletion only if you are absolutely certain you will never want to use Facebook again.
To delete instead of deactivate, follow the same steps above but select "Delete Account" instead of "Deactivate Account" in the Deactivation and Deletion menu.
What to do before deactivating
Download your photos and messages if you want to keep copies. Go to Settings, click "Your information," then "Download your information." Facebook will prepare a file of your data — this can take a few hours or days depending on how much you have. You will receive a link to download it.
Tell people who need to reach you that you are leaving. Give them your email address or phone number, or direct them to another way to contact you. If you use Facebook login to access other apps or services (like Spotify, Airbnb, or games), you will need to set up a different login method before deactivating, or you will be locked out of those accounts.
Check if you are the admin of any Facebook Pages or Groups. If you are the only admin, you should assign another admin before deactivating, or the Page or Group will be left without leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my friends know I deactivated?
No, Facebook does not notify your friends that you deactivated. Your profile simply disappears from their view. They may notice you are no longer active or that your profile is gone if they try to visit it, but they will not receive a message about it.
Can I deactivate without entering my password?
No, Facebook requires your password to confirm deactivation. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from deactivating your account without permission. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login screen to reset it before deactivating.
What happens to my Messenger account when I deactivate Facebook?
Your Messenger account stays active even after you deactivate Facebook. People can still send you messages in Messenger, but you will not receive notifications unless you open the app. If you want to deactivate Messenger as well, you must do that separately through Messenger settings.
Can I reactivate my account if I forgot my password?
Yes. Go to the Facebook login page and click "Forgot Password." Enter your email address or phone number, and Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. Once you reset it, you can log in and your account will reactivate automatically.
How long does deactivation take to go into effect?
Deactivation is immediate. Your profile disappears from search results and your friends' view right after you confirm. However, it can take a few minutes for the change to show everywhere across Facebook's systems, so you might still appear in some places briefly.