Let's face it: using Facebook doesn't really help your privacy online. Deleting Facebook account used to be a long and tedious process but not anymore. We'll show you how to unsubscribe from Facebook , easily deactivate your account, or delete it forever if you're done with social media. For more information on this, as well as learning how to remove specific content from your Facebook profile, check out our detailed guide below.
How to permanently delete my Facebook account?
If you've given it some thought and are ready to unsubscribe from Facebook forever, here's what you need to do to permanently delete your account:
- Go to the settings page. Alternatively, you can click the arrow in the top right corner and access the settings from there.
- On the left, you will have a list of available settings. Click Your Facebook Information > Delete Your Account and Information.
- A page will appear with suggestions for deactivating your account or downloading your information. If you're not interested in any of these options, click Delete account.
- It will ask you to enter your password. Do it, then click Continue.
- And this is how you can unsubscribe from Facebook ! If you want to cancel the deletion, you have 30 days to log into your account and click Cancel deletion. Otherwise, you only have to be patient for a month, before your Facebook account is permanently deleted.
Also, you don't have to worry that accidental logins will automatically cancel the deletion process.
It may be a good idea to download a copy of your information before completely deleting your Facebook profile.
How long does it take for Facebook to delete my account?
Facebook delays the removal for a few days after the request is made. If you sign in during the grace period, the deletion is cancelled. You cannot regain access to your Facebook account once it is deleted.The term to unsubscribe from Facebook , as indicated above, is 30 days. Data stored on backup systems may take up to 90 days to be deleted.
How to delete my old Facebook account if I don't remember the username and password?
Do you have an old Facebook account that you no longer use with posts or photos from your youth that you don't want people to see? It's easy to delete your account if you still have access to it. But what if you don't remember your login information?Here are the two steps you can take to try to regain access to the account, so that you can delete it, and any associated unwanted past memories, permanently.
1. Try to recover your Facebook password
Go to https://www.facebook.com/login/identify to find your account. You can search by the email or phone number you used to set up the account, or just by name (the search screen doesn't mention that option, but it works too).If you go the name route, your account may or may not appear, depending on your privacy settings. If you don't see it, click "I'm not on this list" and it will ask you to enter a friend's name and search again.
Once you find your old account, you'll be able to send a reset code to any of the email addresses or phone numbers you've associated with that account. If you're not sure what email address you used, Facebook will show you a redacted version (eg f*******h@hotmail.com ) which should jog your memory in case it's an old email .
If you no longer have access to that email address or phone number, try regaining access to that old email account.
2. Use Facebook's Trusted Friends feature
If you can't access the email address or phone number on your account, your only other hope is Facebook's Trusted Friends feature. Launched in 2013, Trusted Friends allows you to regain access to your account if you forget your credentials by asking three “ trusted friends ” to provide a reset code.The big problem with Trusted Friends is that you had to have it set up for your account beforehand, which very few people have done.
To set it up for an account you still have access to:
- Go to Settings (down arrow).
- Go to Security and login settings
- Scroll down to Choose 3-5 friends to contact if blocked and click Edit.
- Click Choose Friends and follow the on-screen instructions.645227036
If you fall into the category of one of the lucky few who set this up, when you tell Facebook that “You no longer have access to these?” on the email and phone recovery page, it will provide you with the option to enter a new email or phone number and continue with the process.
Click on “ Reveal my trusted contacts ” and type the full name of one of your trusted contacts. Facebook will then give you a special URL that each of your three friends must access. The URL contains a recovery code to reset your account, which your friends must return to you. You will need to contact your friends and provide them with the URL; Facebook won't do it for you. If you can't get in touch with one of your trusted friends for whatever reason, you won't be able to.
3. Report your old account as fake
While Facebook makes it difficult to remove an old account, thanks to the proliferation of Facebook account spoofing, removing a fake account is much easier.
To report your old account as fake:
- Go to the profile of your old account
- Click the three little dots at the bottom right of the cover photo and select "Send feedback or report this profile."
- Click on “Pretend to be someone” and then click on “Me”
You can also use the Facebook Data Policy Help Center contact form or send a letter by post to:
Facebook, Inc.
ATTENTION: Privacy Operations
1601 Willow RoadMenlo Park, CA 94025
Since these are not officially authorized means of account deletion, we do not know what your chance of success will be.
What is the difference between deleting or deactivating the Facebook account?
Did you know that you can unsubscribe from your account without permanently deleting Facebook ? This is possible simply by deactivating the Facebook account. How is this different from deleting your Facebook?
While they look the same, deactivating your account is different from deleting it. When you deactivate your account, it is still present as you can still log in. In fact, you are the only one who can see your information.
Other users who try to view your profile will not see it at all. Despite this, certain bits of information are still visible, such as messages sent.
Yes, this means you can still use Messenger in this setting. Your name still appears in groups and friend lists belonging to your friends. You can remain in this state for as long as you like, giving you the option to reactivate when the time comes.
Deactivating your account is a good option if you plan to calm down a bit. You still have the opportunity to come back when you're ready to use your Facebook account again.
Compared to deactivating it, deleting your Facebook account removes everything. This option does not allow you to reactivate your account, nor to be able to use Messenger. It also ensures that you are no longer susceptible to future security breaches.
This implies a total deletion of your account and the information related to it. This includes images, posts, and messages. If you used your Facebook account to sign in to your apps, you will lose access to them now that the linked account is gone.
When you make this decision, Facebook gives you a 30-day grace period. During this time, you still have the option to change your mind and cancel the deletion. Once that time passes, you definitely lose count.
This is more of a decisive action and a permanent solution that once you take it, there is no going back.
How to temporarily deactivate Facebook account?
If you want to take a break from Facebook, but aren't quite ready to say goodbye one last time (or still want to access Messenger), deactivating your Facebook account in 2020 is a decent alternative to permanent deletion.
Keep in mind that with this option, all of your information will remain available to Facebook, and you may end up the unwitting victim of data harvesting or a security breach.
To temporarily deactivate your Facebook account, you must do the following:
- Complete steps 1 and 2 of the permanent removal guide (Settings > Your Facebook information > Delete your account and information).
- Click Deactivate account
- Alternatively, you can go to Settings > General > Deactivate your account.
- Enter your password when prompted and click Continue. Now your account is already deactivated.
How to activate a Facebook account that is deactivated?
To reactivate your account, simply log in to Facebook (or an app/service that uses your Facebook account). It will ask you to enter your password; after that, your profile will be fully operational once again.
How to delete the account of a deceased or medically disabled person?
Data protection at Facebook obliges it to comply with the wishes of users regarding their digital will. To unsubscribe a deceased person from Facebook , you must send a special request. This includes the following information:
- Birth certificate of the deceased person
- Death certificate of the deceased person
- Proof of authority under local law that you are the legal representative of the deceased person or their estate
Check out this special application form for all the necessary requirements. The following options are available on this page:
- remember this account
- Delete this account
- I have a special request
- I have a question
How to delete Facebook account from mobile?
How to unsubscribe from Facebook from your mobile phone ? The procedure is the same as you do from the computer. The steps are the following:
- Sign in to your Facebook account
- Click the arrow in the top right
- Tap Settings and privacy
- Choose Settings
- Select your Facebook information
- Click Deactivation and removal
- Select Permanently delete account and then Continue with account deletion
- Click Delete account, enter your password, and then click Continue
How to delete Facebook App account?
Deleting apps you used your Facebook account to log into is a good idea if you want to permanently delete them. This is what you should do:
- On your Settings page, click Apps & Websites
- The list of active, expired and deleted applications will appear. To remove an active app, check the box next to it and click Remove
- Expired apps no longer ask for your private information, but you can still sign in with your account. You can edit the information they request or you can remove them entirely.
Deleting your connected apps is not required if you want to permanently opt out of Facebook. However, accessing an app connected to your Facebook account may require you to cancel the removal process if you've already started it.
You can unsubscribe Facebook App following the same steps as to unsubscribe the Facebook account.
The above content published at Collaborative Research Group is for informational purposes only and has been developed by referring to reliable sources and recommendations from experts. We do not have any contact with official entities nor do we intend to replace the information that they emit.
Veronica is a culture reporter at Collaborative Research Group, where she writes about food, fitness, weird stuff on the internet, and, well, just about anything else. She has also covered technology news and has a penchant for smartphone stories. .