How to Deactivate Facebook

man on his smartphone — If you need a break from social media, deleting or deactivating your Facebook account is pretty straightforward. 10'000 Hours/Getty

Maybe you're tired of cyber drama and nutty political posts. Or maybe you've had it with feeling like you're being spied on. Whatever the case, you've begun wondering about how to deactivate Facebook on your smartphone and/or computer. You might have even decided you'd like to delete your Facebook account permanently.

That leaves you with a decision to make: Should you deactivate or delete your account?

What Does It Mean to Deactivate Your Facebook Account?

Deactivating your Facebook account means you're putting it into digital hibernation. No one can find your profile or see your timeline, but you'll still be able to use Facebook Messenger.

Then, months or years down the road, if you decide that you miss those political spats between relatives, you'll be able to reactivate your account and continue using it.

For many people who are fed up or otherwise in need of a break, it makes more sense to temporarily deactivate their accounts. That way, they can take a break, and they still have the option to resume use of the app at a later date.

What Happens if You Delete Your Facebook Account?

If you permanently delete your account, it really is gone for good. All the content you uploaded, including your photos, as well as your personal and account information, will disappear into the ether of the internet.

You won't be able to use Messenger either. And the only perceptible trace of your Facebook past will be old sent messages sitting in the inboxes of your friends. (By the way, Facebook doesn't notify your friends that you have deleted or deactivated your accounts.)

Facebook really, really doesn't want you to delete your account. So, after you issue the deletion command, it puts your account into a 30-day holding pattern. That way, if you change your mind, you'll be able to rescue your account from oblivion. (Logging in even once takes your account out of the "delete" queue as well.)

After the 30 days is up, the company will finally delete your account, but it could take up to three months for all your personal information to be expunged from the site.

What Makes More Sense: Deactivation or Deletion?

The answer to this question will depend on the personal needs and temperament of the user. Deletion is the permanent option, and also the more difficult one to accomplish. While it can feel intimidating, it might be the kind of liberation from distraction, irritation and unhealthy scrolling that you need.

On the other hand, Facebook remains a very widely used and popular platform. Even people who don't use it very much might occasionally find a reason to open the app. In that case, the deep-sixing of their personal details from the platform can be a step too far.

If you decide to deactivate your Facebook account, you'll be giving yourself a chance to experience what that lifestyle can be like but still have the option to return later on. It's also easier to do, with fewer steps involved.

How to Deactivate Facebook

The following steps are necessary to deactivate your Facebook account. Note that the steps vary based on where Accounts Center is found in the device you're using. The following step-by-step instructions follow the guidelines from the Facebook help page.

Deactivate Your Facebook Account Using Accounts Center

Click on your profile picture (this should be in the upper right corner of the screen).
Click on Settings & Privacy, then select Settings.
If Accounts Center is at the top left of your Settings menu, you can proceed and deactivate your account through Accounts Center.
Tap Personal Details, under Account Settings.
Tap Account Ownership and Control.
Tap Deactivation or Deletion.
Choose the account or profile you want to deactivate.
Tap Deactivate Account.
Tap Continue, then follow the instructions to confirm.

Deactivate Your Account Through Your Facebook Settings

Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
Select Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.
Tap Privacy, then click Your Facebook Information.
Tap Deactivation and Deletion.
Choose Deactivate Account, then tap Continue to Account Deactivation and follow the instructions to confirm.

How to Delete Your Facebook Account

Say you've decided to go all the way and proceed with account deletion. As with account deactivation, there are two main ways to do this on the Facebook app, either through the Accounts Center or through Facebook Settings. Once again, these are Facebook's own instructions, lightly edited.

Delete Your Facebook Account Using Accounts Center

To permanently delete your account through Accounts Center:

Tap your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.
Tap Accounts Center at the top left of your screen.
Tap Personal Details, under Account Settings.
Tap Account Ownership and Control.
Click Deactivation or Deletion.
Choose the account or profile you want to delete.
Select Delete Account.
Tap Continue, then follow the instructions to confirm.

Delete Your Facebook Account Through Your Facebook Settings

Just like the one listed above, the following deletion process will be permanent.

Tap your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
Select Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.
Tap Your Facebook Information.
Tap Deactivation and Deletion.
Choose Delete Account, then tap Continue to account deletion.
Click Delete Account, enter your password and then click Continue.