How to delete a Facebook account permanently

If the time has come where you've outgrown Facebook or simply posted so many embarrassing photos that it's time for a fresh start, we'll show you how to deactivate your Facebook account in a few minutes. We'll also cover the more permanent solution of deleting your Facebook account for good.

What to do before you delete Facebook

I'll assume you've thought long and hard about the impact deleting Facebook will have on those with which you primarily communicate through the social platform. In some circles you'll simply cease to exist, so you'll have to figure out all-new ways to know what's going on in your friends' lives and get yourself invited to events. If you're good with this there are just a few things you should do first.

Be nice to your friends and let them know you're leaving.

Give your friends fair warning
Let people know you're planning on leaving. Don't just delete your Facebook account without warning anyone first. Give people time to absorb the impending loss of your digital presence in their lives and let them chase up an email address, phone number or alternative means of knowing what you ate for dinner before you pull the pin.

To download your Facebook archive, go to Settings > General to find the link.

Save what you can, forget the rest
Of course, if you're going to set up a fresh Facebook account then you probably only want to tell those people you actually want trying to friend your new account. Next, think about the massive store of data you'll be leaving behind: photos, chats, posts and location data. Try to grab as much of that content as you can before you kill Facebook entirely. Familiarize yourself with the other options: temporarily suspending your account, for example.

If you want more in your life than just Facebook, read on friends, and relieve yourself.

Note: You actually have two options to get rid of Facebook: you can deactivate your account (meaning it can be reactivated anytime afterward by logging back in, although you will have lost your friends list, photos and interests) and permanently deleting your account (thanks to Arjun Paliath for pointing this out). First we'll cover deactivating your account, followed by permanently deleting your account.

How to deactivate a Facebook account

1. If you're committed, grab your phone and launch the Facebook app for the last time. Take a look around, breath in that virtual social air and hit the menu button in the top right-hand corner. It's the white one with three horizontal bars (not the blue one above it with the person next to it).

Hit the menu button and scroll down to Account Settings.

2. Scroll down to Account Settings, then Security.
3. At the bottom of the Security Settings page you'll see Account > Deactivate. This is what you're looking for. Tap Deactivate.

Tap Security and then Account > Deactivate (at the bottom).

4. You'll be prompted to re-enter your password. Do so.
5. You'll then be taken to a departure survey asking you to explain why you want to delete your Facebook account. You have to pick something so do so. Facebook will throw some rather desperate attempts at you to convince you to stay (choose “I don't find Facebook useful” and it'll suggest you find more friends on the social network, for example).

Enter your password and resist Facebook's attempts to keep you signed up

6. Make sure to check the box at the bottom so you don't get follow up emails from Facebook after you delete your Facebook account.
7. Tap Deactivate and you'll be required to enter your password one final time. This is the very last step to deactivating your account. Once you tap Deactivate you'll be taken back to the app login screen and your Facebook account will be gone for good.

Opt out of future emails and hit Deactivate. That's it. You're free.

8. Now, just uninstall the Facebook app from your Android and enjoy all the spare time you have to actually, you know, talk to your friends in person.