How to Deactivate Facebook Account and Reactivate Again

Facebook is one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world, with over 2.9 billion monthly active users. However, there may come a time when you want to take a break from the platform or permanently delete your account. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps on how to deactivate your Facebook account and how to reactivate it if you change your mind.

Deactivating your Facebook account temporarily hides your profile and all of your posts, but it doesn't delete your account or any of your data. Your friends won't be able to see your profile or send you messages, and you won't receive any notifications. However, you can still access Messenger and use other Facebook services.

Now that you have an overview of deactivating and reactivating your Facebook account let's dive into the detailed steps:

How to Deactivate Facebook Account and Reactivate Again

Follow these 10 key steps to manage your Facebook account's status:

• Access account settings
• Select deactivation option
• Confirm deactivation
• Wait for 30 days
• Log in to reactivate
• Confirm reactivation
• Recover profile visibility
• Restore friend connections
• Retrieve messages and posts
• Reactivate Messenger

Note: Deactivation is temporary, while deletion is permanent.

Access account settings

To begin the process of deactivating your Facebook account, you need to access your account settings. Here's how to do it:

• Click the downward arrow icon:
  

  In the top-right corner of any Facebook page, click the downward arrow icon.

• Select "Settings & privacy":
  

  From the drop-down menu, select "Settings & privacy".

• Choose "Settings":
  

  In the pop-up window, click on "Settings".

• Navigate to "Your Facebook Information":
  

  On the left-hand side of the Settings page, find and click on the option labeled "Your Facebook Information".

Once you're in the "Your Facebook Information" section, you'll find various options related to your account data and privacy. To proceed with deactivating your account, you'll need to locate the "Deactivation and deletion" option.

Select deactivation option

Once you've accessed the "Your Facebook Information" section and located the "Deactivation and deletion" option, you'll find two choices:

• Deactivate account:
  

  This option allows you to temporarily deactivate your account. Your profile, posts, and other data will be hidden from others, but you can reactivate your account later if you change your mind.

• Delete account:
  

  This option permanently deletes your Facebook account and all of your data. This action is irreversible, so make sure you really want to delete your account before selecting this option.

For the purpose of this guide, we'll focus on deactivating your account. To proceed, click on the "Deactivate account" option.

Confirm deactivation

After selecting the "Deactivate account" option, Facebook will ask you to confirm your decision. You'll see a pop-up window with the following information:

• A reminder of what deactivation entails:
  Facebook will remind you that deactivation will hide your profile and all of your posts from others, but your account will not be permanently deleted.
• A warning about Messenger:
  Facebook will inform you that Messenger will also be deactivated, and you won't be able to send or receive messages until you reactivate your account.
• A prompt to download your information (optional):
  Facebook will give you the option to download a copy of your Facebook data before deactivating your account. This is a good idea if you want to keep a record of your posts, photos, and other information.

Once you've reviewed the information in the pop-up window, click on the "Deactivate" button to confirm your decision. Your account will be deactivated immediately.

It's important to note that deactivation is a temporary measure. Your account will remain deactivated for as long as you want, but you can reactivate it at any time by simply logging back into Facebook.

However, if you decide that you want to permanently delete your Facebook account, you can do so by following the steps outlined in the "Delete account" section of the "Deactivation and deletion" page.

Wait for 30 days

Once you've deactivated your Facebook account, you'll need to wait for 30 days before you can reactivate it. This waiting period is in place to prevent people from deactivating and reactivating their accounts frequently, which could be disruptive to the platform.

• Cooling-off period:
  

  The 30-day waiting period can be seen as a cooling-off period, giving you time to reflect on your decision to deactivate your account. During this time, you can consider whether you truly want to leave Facebook or if you simply need a break.

• Permanent deletion:
  

  If you do not reactivate your account within 30 days, it will be permanently deleted. All of your data, including your profile, posts, photos, and messages, will be erased from Facebook's servers.

• No access to account:
  

  While your account is deactivated, you will not be able to access it in any way. You won't be able to log in, view your profile, or send or receive messages. You also won't be able to use Messenger.

• Reactivation option:
  

  After 30 days, you will have the option to reactivate your account. To do so, simply log back into Facebook using your email address and password. Your account will be restored to its previous state, and you will be able to use Facebook as normal.

It's important to note that the 30-day waiting period applies to deactivation only. If you choose to permanently delete your account, it will be deleted immediately and cannot be recovered.

Log in to reactivate

After waiting for 30 days, you can reactivate your Facebook account by simply logging back in. Here's how to do it:

• Visit the Facebook login page:
  

  Go to the Facebook login page at www.facebook.com.

• Enter your login credentials:
  

  Enter the email address or phone number associated with your account, as well as your password, in the provided fields.

• Click "Log In":
  

  Click on the "Log In" button to attempt to log in to your account.

• Follow the on-screen instructions:
  

  If your account reactivation is successful, you may see a message asking you to confirm your identity or update your password. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reactivation process.

Once you've successfully logged in, your account will be reactivated. Your profile, posts, photos, and other data will be restored to their previous state, and you'll be able to use Facebook as normal.

Confirm reactivation

After you've entered your login credentials and clicked on the "Log In" button, you may be asked to confirm your identity or update your password. This is a security measure to ensure that you are the rightful owner of the account.

The specific steps for confirming your reactivation may vary depending on your account settings and security preferences. Here are some common scenarios:

• Confirming your identity:
  Facebook may ask you to confirm your identity by sending a security code to your email address or phone number. Enter the code in the provided field to proceed.
• Updating your password:
  If you've forgotten your password or if Facebook detects suspicious activity on your account, you may be required to update your password. Create a new, strong password and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reactivation process.
• Reviewing your account settings:
  Once you've confirmed your identity or updated your password, you may be prompted to review your account settings. Make sure that your profile information, privacy settings, and other preferences are accurate and up-to-date.

After completing the necessary steps to confirm your reactivation, you'll be able to access your Facebook account as usual. Your profile, posts, photos, and other data will be restored to their previous state, and you'll be able to connect with your friends and family.

It's important to note that if you've deleted your Facebook account instead of deactivating it, you won't be able to reactivate it. In this case, you'll need to create a new account.

Recover profile visibility

After reactivating your Facebook account, you may notice that your profile is not visible to others. This is because your profile is temporarily hidden when you deactivate your account. To make your profile visible again, you'll need to manually reactivate it.

• Click on your profile picture:
  

  In the top-right corner of any Facebook page, click on your profile picture.

• Select "Settings & privacy":
  

  From the drop-down menu, select "Settings & privacy".

• Choose "Settings":
  

  In the pop-up window, click on "Settings".

• Navigate to "Privacy":
  

  On the left-hand side of the Settings page, find and click on the option labeled "Privacy".

On the Privacy page, you'll see a section called "Who can see your stuff?". Under this section, look for the setting labeled "Profile visibility". Click on the "Edit" button next to this setting.

Restore friend connections

When you reactivate your Facebook account, your friend connections are automatically restored. However, in some cases, you may need to manually reconnect with your friends.

• Check your friend requests:
  

  After reactivating your account, check your friend requests to see if you have any pending requests. Accept the requests to reconnect with your friends.

• Send new friend requests:
  

  If you have friends who have deactivated or deleted their accounts, you may need to send them new friend requests. To do this, search for their names in the Facebook search bar and click on the "Add Friend" button.

• Join groups and pages:
  

  Rejoin the groups and pages that you were a member of before deactivating your account. This is a great way to reconnect with your friends and interests.

• Reach out to your friends:
  

  Send messages or posts to your friends to let them know that you've reactivated your account. This is a friendly way to re-establish your connections.

It may take some time to fully restore your friend connections after reactivating your account. Be patient and take the initiative to reach out to your friends. Over time, you'll be able to rebuild your social network.

Retrieve messages and posts

When you deactivate your Facebook account, all of your messages and posts are hidden from others. However, they are not permanently deleted. Once you reactivate your account, you can retrieve your messages and posts.

To retrieve your messages:

1. Click on the Messenger icon:
   In the top-right corner of any Facebook page, click on the Messenger icon.
2. Select "See All in Messenger":
   In the Messenger drop-down menu, click on the option labeled "See All in Messenger".
3. Find your messages:
   Your messages will be displayed in the Messenger window. You can search for specific messages using the search bar at the top of the window.

To retrieve your posts:

1. Click on your profile picture:
   In the top-right corner of any Facebook page, click on your profile picture.
2. Select "Profile":
   From the drop-down menu, select the option labeled "Profile".
3. Find your posts:
   Your posts will be displayed on your profile page. You can scroll down to find older posts.

It's important to note that if you have deleted your Facebook account instead of deactivating it, your messages and posts will be permanently deleted and cannot be retrieved.

Reactivate Messenger

When you deactivate your Facebook account, Messenger is also deactivated. This means that you won't be able to send or receive messages until you reactivate your account.

• Reactivate your Facebook account:
  

  To reactivate Messenger, you first need to reactivate your Facebook account. Follow the steps outlined in the "Reactivate Facebook Account" section of this article.

• Open the Messenger app or website:
  

  Once your Facebook account is reactivated, you can open the Messenger app on your mobile device or visit the Messenger website on your computer.

• Log in to Messenger:
  

  Enter your Facebook email address and password to log in to Messenger.

• Start using Messenger:
  

  Once you're logged in, you'll be able to send and receive messages, make calls, and use other Messenger features.

It's important to note that if you have deleted your Facebook account instead of deactivating it, Messenger will also be permanently deleted and cannot be reactivated.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about deactivating and reactivating your Facebook account:

Question 1: What happens when I deactivate my Facebook account?
Answer 1: When you deactivate your Facebook account, your profile, posts, and other data are hidden from others. However, your account is not permanently deleted, and you can reactivate it at any time.

Question 2: How long does it take to deactivate my Facebook account?
Answer 2: Your Facebook account will be deactivated immediately.

Question 3: How long do I have to wait before I can reactivate my Facebook account?
Answer 3: You must wait 30 days after deactivating your account before you can reactivate it.

Question 4: What happens to my Messenger account when I deactivate my Facebook account?
Answer 4: Your Messenger account will also be deactivated when you deactivate your Facebook account. You won't be able to send or receive messages until you reactivate your Facebook account.

Question 5: What happens to my data when I deactivate my Facebook account?
Answer 5: Your data is not deleted when you deactivate your account. It is simply hidden from others. Once you reactivate your account, your data will be restored.

Question 6: What's the difference between deactivating and deleting my Facebook account?
Answer 6: Deactivating your account temporarily hides your profile and data. Reactivating your account will restore your profile and data. Deleting your account permanently erases your profile and data.

Question 7: Can I reactivate my Facebook account after 30 days?
Answer 7: No, you cannot reactivate your Facebook account after 30 days. If you do not reactivate your account within 30 days, it will be permanently deleted.

Closing Paragraph:
We hope this FAQ section has answered your questions about deactivating and reactivating your Facebook account. If you have any further questions, you can visit the Facebook Help Center for more information.

Now that you know how to deactivate and reactivate your Facebook account, here are some tips to help you manage your account more effectively:

Tips

Here are some practical tips to help you manage your Facebook account more effectively:

Tip 1: Consider deactivating instead of deleting:
If you're not sure whether you want to permanently delete your Facebook account, consider deactivating it instead. Deactivation is a temporary measure that allows you to hide your profile and data from others without deleting it permanently.

Tip 2: Download your data before deactivating:
Before you deactivate your Facebook account, take the time to download a copy of your data. This includes your posts, photos, videos, and other information. This way, you'll have a backup of your data in case you change your mind and want to reactivate your account in the future.

Tip 3: Be aware of the 30-day reactivation window:
Remember that you only have 30 days to reactivate your Facebook account after deactivating it. If you miss the 30-day window, your account will be permanently deleted.

Tip 4: Use Facebook's privacy settings to control your data:
If you're concerned about your privacy on Facebook, take advantage of the platform's privacy settings to control who can see your posts and other information. You can also limit the amount of data that Facebook collects about you.

Closing Paragraph:
By following these tips, you can better manage your Facebook account and protect your privacy. Remember, deactivation is a temporary measure, while deletion is permanent. Consider your options carefully before making a decision about the status of your account.

In conclusion, deactivating and reactivating your Facebook account is a relatively simple process. However, it's important to understand the implications of these actions before you proceed.

Conclusion

In this article, we have provided a comprehensive guide on how to deactivate and reactivate your Facebook account. We have covered the following main points:

• Understanding deactivation and deletion:
  We explained the difference between deactivating and deleting your Facebook account, emphasizing that deactivation is temporary while deletion is permanent.
• Steps to deactivate your Facebook account:
  We provided step-by-step instructions on how to deactivate your Facebook account, including how to access account settings and confirm deactivation.
• Waiting period for reactivation:
  We highlighted the 30-day waiting period that applies to deactivated accounts, during which time you cannot reactivate your account.
• Steps to reactivate your Facebook account:
  We provided detailed instructions on how to reactivate your Facebook account, including how to log in, confirm reactivation, and recover your profile visibility and friend connections.
• Retrieving messages and posts:
  We explained how to retrieve your messages and posts after reactivating your account.
• Reactivating Messenger:
  We provided instructions on how to reactivate Messenger after reactivating your Facebook account.
• FAQs and tips:
  We included a FAQ section to answer common questions about deactivation and reactivation, as well as a tips section to help you manage your Facebook account more effectively.

Closing Message:
Deactivating and reactivating your Facebook account is a personal decision that depends on your individual needs and preferences. Whether you choose to temporarily hide your profile or permanently delete your account, it's important to understand the implications of your actions and to proceed with caution. We hope this article has provided you with the information you need to make an informed decision about the status of your Facebook account.

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