How to deactivate a Facebook account?

July 16, 2024

Facebook is the largest social media in the world with over three billion monthly active users. You too likely have a Facebook account — in fact — you might have multiple accounts that you don’t really use. And because of that, or for any other reason, you are looking to deactivate your Facebook account? Here is how you do so!

How to deactivate a Facebook account?

What is deactivating?

Firstly, let’s understand, what is deactivating an account. Well, it’s pretty much self-explanatory. It’s making your account inactive or dormant. Why would you do it? Normally, it is to take a break from the platform. Say, you want a hiatus from Facebook, but you know you’ll use your account in the future. You simply deactivate your account.

But, people do deactivate their Facebook accounts for a variety of reasons. Be it to pretend that they are studying for their exams or going through a break-up. You know the drill, it’s a national meme at this point. Anyhoo, there are some benefits to deactivating your account instead of deleting it.

Advantages of deactivating Facebook

You can easily reaccess your account when you change your mind
You can still use Messenger normally even though your Facebook is deactivated

So how to?

Facebook generates its revenue through you, so it obviously does not want you off its platform. Which is why, they often complicate the process to demotivate you from doing so. They even switch up the process every now and then to throw you off. But, here is how to deactivate a Facebook account:

How to deactivate a Facebook account

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Tap the burger icon (≡) or your profile picture on the top right of Facebook
Go to Settings & Privacy
Click on Settings
Tap on the Accounts Centre
Go to Personal details
Click on Account ownership and control
Select Deactivation or deletion
Choose the account you want to reactive
Select Deactivate account then Continue
Enter your Password
Select a reason for your decision
Choose when to reactivate your account then Continue
Select Deactivate my account
Done!

Quite a long and unnecessarily complicated process, I know. Again, as I mentioned earlier, Facebook wants you to stay on its platform, so that it can sell ads, and generate revenue. Regardless of how complicated it is to deactivate a Facebook account, reactivating is one simple step.