Thinking of taking a break from Facebook but don’t want to start over? Facebook lets you deactivate your account so you can take a break and pick up where you left off at a later date. Here’s how it works.
How to deactivate a Facebook profile
- How is deactivation different from deletion?
- How to deactivate your account
- Deactivate via Facebook.com
- Deactivate via the Facebook mobile application
- How to reactivate your Facebook account
How is deactivation different from deletion?
When you delete your Facebook account, you say goodbye to your profile, posts, friends, and messages. This means that you will have to start from scratch if you want to use the service again. It may not be a bad option if you had a negative experience and you have no intention of returning.
But for many, the thought of losing years of interactions and reuniting with friends is daunting. This is where the ability to deactivate your account comes in.
When you deactivate your account, people can’t search for you or view your timeline. Updates won’t appear in News Feeds, although some data will still be visible, such as messages you’ve sent to other Facebook users. No one will be notified of your absence. To your Facebook friends, it may look like you’ve deleted your account.
Opting out is perfect for anyone who wants to get away from Facebook for a bit, with the option to come back later. You may want to deactivate if you know you will be away from the service for an extended period of time. Maybe Facebook is eating away at your productive hours and you’d like to cut out the distraction a bit.
The deactivation of your account is temporary, unless you never reactivate it again, in which case your deactivation is of course permanent. You always have the choice to come back.
Note that if you use Oculus Products and you deactivate your Facebook account, you will not be able to use your Facebook account to access the Oculus Services until you reactivate it.
How to deactivate your account
You can deactivate your Facebook account using Facebook on the web or through the mobile app. The process is simple on both:
Deactivate via Facebook.com
Head toward facebook.com in your web browser and log in as usual. Once logged in, click the down arrow in the upper right corner of the screen.
From the list of options, choose “Settings & Privacy” and then “Settings” to view the full list of account options.
In the left sidebar, click on “Your Facebook information” and find “Deactivation and deletion” at the bottom of the screen. Click “View” to continue.
Make sure “Deactivate Account” is selected, then click the “Continue to Account Deactivation” button to proceed.
Finally, enter your Facebook password and click “Continue” to finalize your decision.
Fill out the form and tell Facebook why you’re leaving (or just making something up). Also read any warnings about losing group admin privileges if they apply to you.
Press the big blue “Deactivate” button to log out and deactivate your account.
Once you are done, your Facebook account will effectively be suspended indefinitely.
Deactivate via the Facebook mobile application
You can do this in the iPhone or Android mobile app instead if you prefer. To get started, launch the Facebook app and make sure you’re logged in. Click on the “More” tab in the lower right corner of the screen.
Scroll down to the “Settings & Privacy” heading. Tap it, then tap “Settings” to see the full list of options.
Tap “Account Ownership and Control” under the “Account” section.
Tap on “Deactivation and deletion”. Make sure “Deactivate Account” is selected, then press the “Continue to Account Deactivation” button.
Finally, enter your Facebook password and press the “Continue” button to finalize your decision.
Once this process is complete, you will be logged out of Facebook and your account will be deactivated.
How to reactivate your Facebook account
Reactivating your Facebook account is surprisingly easy. All you have to do is log back in and your account will be reactivated and ready to go. That’s all we can say about it!
If you’re considering returning to Facebook or any other social networking site, be sure to review what you shouldn’t share.
