How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account: Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you are contemplating a Facebook break or would like to merely deactivate your account, this is the step-by-step guide to help you do it. Deactivating the account enables you to take a temporary break from Facebook without deleting the account for best. This way, you could go back and use your account in the future if you change your mind. Let's break down the process, its benefits, disadvantages, and other considerations.

(toc)

How to Disable Your Facebook Account

Follow these procedures to disable your Facebook account:

1. Log into Your Facebook Account:

Using your email address or phone number with password, log into your account.

2. Go to Account Settings:

• Click on your profile picture or dropdown arrow in the top-right corner of the homepage.
• Choose Settings & Privacy and then the Settings.

3. Click Accounts Centre in the left sidebar

From "Account settings" under "Personal details" then check in "Account ownership and control"

4. Choose Account Deactivation:

• Scroll down to the Deactivate and Delete section.
• Click Deactivate Account, then Continue to Account Deactivation.

5. Provide a Reason for Deactivation:

A form will appear, asking for your reason for deactivating your account. Select an option from the list or write your own reason.

6. Confirm Deactivation:

Once you’ve completed the form, click on the Deactivate button.

Facebook will temporarily deactivate your account.

Advantages of Deactivating Your Facebook Account

1. Maintain Privacy:

Deactivating your account conceals your profile, posts, and activities from other users and gives you some rest from online visibility.

2. Temporary Solution:

You do not actually lose your data. You can log in anytime to reactivate your account and pick up where you left off.

3. Mental Health Benefits:

Reducing time on social media can lower stress, anxiety, and feelings of comparison with others.

4. Control Over Time:

It will help you spend time on personal goals or more time offline. 

(ads)

Disadvantages of Deactivating Your Facebook Account 

1. Limited Access to Facebook Services: 

You will not be allowed to use Messenger anymore, access all apps and services connected to your underlying Facebook account unless specifically mentioned. 

2. Social Disconnect: 

Once you have deactivated your account, you would not receive any update, notifications, or interactions with friends and groups. 

3. Temporary Deactivation Only:

Unlike deletion, your account is retained on the servers of Facebook, and re-activation is simply done by logging back in.

Important Notes

• Deactivation vs. Deletion: The deactivation of your Facebook account is temporary, while deletion removes all your data permanently.
• Reactivation: Your account will automatically reactivate the next time you log in using your credentials.
• Messenger Use: You can still use Messenger even after deactivating your account, but you need to set that up during the deactivation process.

Deactivating your Facebook account provides a temporary digital detox; it keeps your account intact for use later. Proceed with the steps given above carefully, and identify if this solution fits your needs.