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Before you delete your Facebook account permanently, it is essential to download a copy of all your data. Navigate to Settings & Privacy, then click on Settings. From the left-hand menu, select Your Facebook Information, then click on Download Your Information. You can choose the date range, format (HTML or JSON), and media quality. Select all categories including posts, photos, videos, comments, likes, friends list, messages, and more. Click Create File and wait for Facebook to compile your archive. This process can take several hours or even days depending on how much data you have accumulated over the years. You will receive a notification when your download is ready.
Many third-party apps and websites use Facebook as a login method. Before deleting your account, go to Settings, then Apps and Websites to see all connected services. Make a list of every app that uses Facebook Login, because once your account is deleted, you will lose access to those accounts unless you create separate login credentials. Visit each connected service individually and either create a standalone account with an email and password, or link an alternative login provider such as Google or Apple. This is a critical step that many people overlook, and failing to do so could result in permanent loss of access to other important accounts and services you depend on daily.
Let your friends and family know you are leaving Facebook so they can reach you through other channels. Post a status update with your alternative contact information such as your email address, phone number, or a privacy-respecting messaging app like Signal or WeTalkin. You might also want to send direct messages to your closest contacts. Consider creating a simple contact card or sharing your preferred communication methods. Remember that once your account is deleted, people will no longer be able to find you on Facebook, tag you in photos, or send you messages through the platform. Give people at least a week to see your announcement before proceeding with the deletion.
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To begin the permanent deletion process, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, and select Your Facebook Information from the left menu. Click on Deactivation and Deletion. You will be presented with two options: Deactivate Account and Permanently Delete Account. Select Permanently Delete Account and click Continue to Account Deletion. Facebook will ask you to enter your password and may require you to complete a CAPTCHA verification. Read through the information Facebook presents about what deletion means, including the permanent removal of your profile, photos, posts, videos, and everything else you have added. This action cannot be undone after the grace period expires.
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After confirming deletion, Facebook begins a 30-day grace period during which your account is deactivated but not yet permanently deleted. During this time, your profile is invisible to other users, but Facebook retains all your data. If you log back in during this period, your deletion request will be canceled and your account will be fully restored. To ensure successful deletion, do not log into Facebook during these 30 days. Also avoid using Facebook Login on any third-party apps or websites, as this can inadvertently reactivate your account. After the 30-day period, Facebook begins permanently deleting your data, though some information stored in backup systems may take up to 90 days to be fully removed.
Once you have initiated the deletion process, remove the Facebook app from all your devices to avoid accidentally logging in and canceling the deletion. On iPhone, press and hold the Facebook app icon, tap Remove App, then confirm. On Android, long-press the icon, drag it to Uninstall, and confirm. Also remove Facebook Lite if you have it installed. Check your browser bookmarks and remove any Facebook-related bookmarks. Clear your browser cookies and cached data for facebook.com to remove any stored sessions. If you use Facebook on a work computer, make sure to log out and clear the browser data there as well. This helps prevent any automatic login that could reactivate your account during the 30-day grace period.
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After the 30-day grace period has passed, verify that your account has been permanently deleted. Try visiting facebook.com and attempting to log in with your old credentials. If deletion was successful, you should not be able to log in, and Facebook should display a message indicating that the account cannot be found. Ask a trusted friend to search for your name on Facebook to confirm your profile no longer appears in search results. If for some reason your account still exists, you may need to restart the deletion process. Keep in mind that some residual data such as messages you sent to other people may still be visible on their accounts, as Facebook considers those messages to belong to the recipient as well.
By completing this guide, you have successfully worked through 7 steps covering "How to Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account". Here is a summary of what you achieved:
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