How to deactivate Facebook account

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If you’re thinking about taking a break from your digital social life or getting rid of Facebook altogether, this guide will help you do it without any hassle. It explains the steps to either deactivate or delete your Facebook account.

Before we dive in, remember that deactivating Facebook means temporarily pausing your account activity, while deleting it means removing your profile permanently.

How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account from a Browser

The quickest way to deactivate your Facebook account is to log in, go to your privacy settings, and choose the “Deactivate account” option. You’ll need to re-enter your password to confirm the temporary deactivation. After that, you can reactivate your account whenever you wish. Keep in mind that even after deactivation, your data might still be with data brokers.

Alternatively, you can follow these steps to deactivate your Facebook account from your computer or browser:

1. Sign in to Facebook.
2. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner and select “Settings & privacy.”
3. Go to “Settings.”
4. Click “Privacy” in the left panel, then choose “Your Facebook information.”
5. Scroll to the last option and click “Deactivation and deletion.”
6. Confirm your choice, then click “Continue to account deactivation.”
7. Re-enter your Facebook password and click “Continue” to confirm deactivation.

How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account from the iPhone App

Deactivating your Facebook account through the iPhone app is the same as doing it on a desktop or browser. If you want to delete your Facebook account using the iPhone app, you can find instructions below.

1. Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the menu icon (three lines) and then go to “Settings & Privacy.”
3. Choose “Settings” > “Access and control.”
4. Tap “Deactivation and deletion” and select “Deactivate account.” Re-enter your password to confirm the deactivation.

How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account from the Android App

To temporarily suspend your Facebook account on Android, simply follow these steps through the Facebook mobile app:

1. Open the Facebook app on your Android phone.
2. Tap your profile picture and select “Settings & privacy.”
3. Tap “Settings” > “Access and control.”
4. Select “Deactivation and deletion” and then “Deactivate account.” Re-enter your password to confirm.

Deleting Your Facebook Account

Your online activity can leave a trail that advertisers and others can use to track you. To protect your digital privacy or permanently delete your Facebook account, follow these steps.

How to Delete Your Facebook Account from a Browser

Deleting your Facebook account from a computer is similar to deactivating it. The only difference is the final step, where you choose to permanently delete your account instead of temporarily deactivating it.

Here’s how to delete your Facebook account through a browser:

1. Open Facebook and log in.
2. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner, then select “Settings & privacy.”
3. Choose “Settings” > “Privacy” > “Your Facebook information.”
4. Click “Deactivation and deletion.”
5. Confirm by selecting “Delete account.”
6. Click “Continue to account deletion” and re-enter your password.

These are the steps for deleting your Facebook account using a computer. Keep in mind that once you delete your Facebook account, you won’t be able to use it to log in to other websites.

How to Delete Your Facebook Account from the iPhone App

Deleting your Facebook account on an iPhone follows the same steps as deactivation, with the final choice being “Delete” instead of “Deactivate.” Here’s how:

1. Open the Facebook app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the menu icon (three lines) and select “Settings & Privacy.”
3. Tap “Settings” > “Access and control.”
4. Select “Deactivation and deletion” and choose “Delete account.” Re-enter your password to confirm.

How to Delete Your Facebook Account from the Android App

To delete your Facebook account using the Android app, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Facebook app on your Android device.
2. Tap the menu icon (three lines) and select “Settings & Privacy.”
3. Tap “Settings” > “Access and control.”
4. Choose “Deactivation and deletion” and then select “Delete account.”

Deactivation vs. Deletion: What’s the Difference?

Deactivating a Facebook account means putting it on hold temporarily, while deleting it means removing it permanently. With deactivation, you can reactivate your account at any time without losing any data. However, if you delete your Facebook account, all your data is erased and cannot be restored.

Pros and Cons of Deactivating Facebook

Pros:

• You can keep using Facebook Messenger.
• You can reactivate your account at your convenience.
• It temporarily hides your photos, friends, and posts.

Cons:

• Your personal data is not deleted.
• Oculus products won’t work unless you reactivate your account.
• You’re still at risk of Facebook-related scams upon reactivation.

Pros and Cons of Deleting Facebook

Pros:

• No need to worry about data leaks.
• Greater control over your personal data.
• All data linked to your inactive Facebook account is deleted.

Cons:

• No turning back; rejoining means starting from scratch.
• Risk of losing important photos and videos if not backed up before deletion.

Can You Deactivate Facebook and Keep Messenger?

Yes, you can deactivate your Facebook account and still use Facebook Messenger. To do this, choose the option “Deactivate account” instead of permanently deleting your Facebook profile. However, be sure to adjust your privacy settings on Facebook and clear your Facebook cache periodically to protect your privacy.

Can You Reactivate Facebook?

Yes, after deactivating your Facebook account, simply log back in to reactivate it. You can also reactivate Facebook by using your Facebook login to access another website. Deleted accounts can be recovered within 30 days of deletion. If you don’t reactivate within that time frame, your data will be permanently deleted. If your reason for deactivating or deleting Facebook was due to annoying ads, consider using ad blockers on Facebook instead.

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