Quitting Facebook but don’t want to lose your photos, messages, and memories? Facebook lets you download everything before you leave. Here’s exactly how to export your data and then permanently delete your account.
Short Answer: Download your data first via Settings → Your Facebook Information → Download Your Information. After downloading, go to Settings → Your Facebook Information → Deactivation and Deletion → Delete Account. The deletion takes 30 days to complete during which you can cancel.
Part 1: Download All Your Facebook Data
Step 1: Request Your Data Download
- Go to Settings & privacy → Settings
- Tap Your Facebook Information
- Tap Download Your Information
📸 SCREENSHOT NEEDED: Facebook Settings showing ‘Your Facebook Information’ section with Download option
Step 2: Choose What to Download
- Select the date range (or leave as “All of my data”)
- Choose format: HTML (readable in browser, good for personal use) or JSON (better for importing to other platforms)
- Set Media Quality to High if you want original-quality photos
- Select which data to include — at minimum: Posts, Photos and Videos, Messages, Friends
- Tap Create File
📸 SCREENSHOT NEEDED: Facebook Download Your Information screen with format selection, date range, and data categories checkboxes
Step 3: Download When Ready
Facebook will notify you by email when your file is ready (usually within a few hours to a few days for large accounts). Return to Download Your Information and download the file.
Part 2: Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account
Deactivation vs Deletion — Know the Difference
- Deactivation: Hides your profile temporarily. Your data stays on Facebook’s servers. You can reactivate anytime.
- Deletion: Permanently removes your account and data after 30 days. Cannot be undone after 30 days.
How to Delete Your Account
- Settings → Your Facebook Information
- Tap Deactivation and Deletion
- Select Delete Account
- Tap Continue to Account Deletion
- Tap Delete Account and confirm with your password
📸 SCREENSHOT NEEDED: Facebook Deactivation and Deletion screen with Delete Account option selected
Warning: Once you confirm deletion, you have 30 days to cancel by logging back in. After 30 days, the deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed. Make absolutely sure you’ve downloaded your data before initiating deletion.
Before You Delete: Things to Check
Quick checklist:
- ✅ Download your data and verify the download is complete and readable
- ✅ Save your photos and videos to a local folder or Google Photos
- ✅ Note any groups or pages you manage — assign a new admin first
- ✅ Disconnect any apps that use ‘Login with Facebook’ (those logins will stop working)
- ✅ Tell close friends to contact you through alternative methods
- ✅ Check for any active Marketplace transactions or pending payments
FAQ
Does Facebook actually delete my data after 30 days?
Facebook says most data is deleted within 90 days of the deletion request. Some data like backup copies may take longer. Certain information (messages you sent to others, content in others’ posts) remains on Facebook’s servers since it belongs to other users’ accounts.
What happens to my Facebook Messenger when I delete Facebook?
Deleting Facebook also deletes Messenger. Your conversation history disappears from your view, but recipients may still have their copies of messages you sent.
Can I keep Messenger without Facebook?
Yes — you can deactivate Facebook while keeping Messenger active. Go through the deactivation flow and choose to keep Messenger when offered the option. This doesn’t work for full account deletion.
Facebook Privacy Settings ↗Best Facebook Alternatives
Download your data first — always. The HTML version is the most user-friendly format and can be opened directly in any browser. Once you’ve verified your photos and memories are safely downloaded, the deletion process takes less than two minutes.