Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp have been a huge part of our lives for what feels like forever. But that appears to be changing for some. Whether it’s to get more IRL time back or because of recent controversies, more and more users are looking for the exits.
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If you’re ready to finally say goodbye to all-things Meta, I’ll walk you through the quickest and easiest ways to delete your Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp accounts. It’s not hard at all and can be done in a matter of minutes. I’ve detailed the steps for both iPhone and Android users, though you can do most of it from a computer if that’s your preference.
How to delete Facebook
What you’ll need: To delete your Facebook account, you can use the Facebook app on your phone or do it from a computer. These instructions are for the iPhone and Android mobile apps, but the process is similar to a computer browser.
Open the Facebook app on your phone and make sure you’re logged into your account. Next, head to your profile’s Menu. If you’re using an iPhone, tap the menu icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen. If you’re on Android, tap the menu icon at the top-right corner.
Once you’re in the Menu, go to Settings. On iPhone, scroll down, tap Settings & Privacy, and then select Settings. On Android, scroll down, tap Settings & Privacy, and then choose Settings.
You can now access the account deletion options in Settings and decide whether to delete your account.
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On both iPhone and Android:
- If Accounts Center is at the top of the settings menu, tap it, select Personal Details, go to Account Ownership and Control, and then tap Deactivation or Deletion.
- If Accounts Center is at the bottom, choose Profile Access and Control and then tap Deactivation and Deletion.
Finally, select the option to delete your account. On iPhone, tap Delete Account, then choose Continue to Account Deletion and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. On Android, follow the same steps: tap Delete Account, select Continue to Account Deletion, and finish by following the on-screen prompts.
How to delete Facebook Messenger
What you’ll need: If you’ve already deleted Facebook but later want to delete Messenger too, all you need is the Messenger app on your phone and your login details. The steps below work for both iPhone and Android users who have already deleted their Facebook account. Keep in mind, you can’t delete your Messenger account from a computer.
1. Open Messenger app and go to Profile
Open the Messenger app on your phone and log in if you’re not already signed in. Then, go to your profile by tapping your profile picture in the top-left corner of the Chats tab on both iPhone and Android.
2. Navigate to Settings
Next, navigate to your account settings in the Messenger app. On both iPhone and Android, scroll down, tap Settings, and then select See More in Accounts Center.
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3. Find your account control options
From here, access your Messenger account controls. On both iPhone and Android, tap Personal Details, then select Account Ownership and Control.
4. Complete the deletion process
Now you can delete your Messenger account. On both iPhone and Android, select Deactivation or Deletion, choose the account you want to delete, tap Delete Account, and follow the prompts to confirm.
How to delete Instagram
What you’ll need: To delete your Instagram account, you’ll need the Instagram app on your phone and your login details.
1. Open Instagram and go to your profile
Open the Instagram app and log in to your account if needed. Next, navigate to your profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom-right corner of the screen on both iPhone and Android.
2. Access Settings
Now go to your account settings by tapping the Menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner of the screen on both iPhone and Android.
3. Navigate to account deletion settings
You can now access your account deletion settings. On both iPhone and Android, open Accounts Center, select Personal Details, tap Account Ownership and Control, and then choose Deactivation or Deletion.
4. Complete the deletion process
From here, select the account you want to delete, tap Delete Account, and follow the on-screen prompts to confirm on both iPhone and Android.
How to delete WhatsApp
What you’ll need: To delete WhatsApp, you need the app on your primary device, and you’ll need to know your phone number.
1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings
Once you’ve opened and signed into the WhatsApp app on your phone, go to the Settings area to begin your account deletion process. On iPhone, tap the Settings tab located at the bottom-right corner of the screen. On Android, tap the More Options menu (three vertical dots) in the top-right corner and select Settings.
2. Navigate to account deletion options
Now you’ll need to find the deletion options with your WhatsApp settings. On iPhone, go to Account and select Delete My Account. On Android, navigate to Account and tap Delete My Account.
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3. Provide your number
WhatsApp requires that you enter your phone number and submit a reason for deletion. On iPhone, enter your phone number in full international format (e.g., +1 for the US), select a reason for deletion from the dropdown menu, and proceed to the next step. On Android, follow the same process: Enter your phone number in the required format, choose a reason, and continue.
4. Confirm account deletion
Now, to finish everything: On iPhone or Android, tap Delete My Account, and you’ll complete the deletion process.
Do you need to delete each Meta account separately?
Yes, unfortunately. Each of your accounts — Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp — must be deleted individually.
Can you delete your Facebook and still keep Messenger?
No. If you want to keep Messenger, for whatever reason, you’ll need to deactivate your Facebook account rather than delete it.
Do you need a computer to delete your Meta accounts?
You can delete Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp directly from their respective apps on your phone. A computer is optional. However, you need the Messenger mobile app to delete your Messenger account if you’ve already deleted Facebook.
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Can you recover your accounts after deleting them?
No. Once the deletion process is complete, your Meta accounts cannot be recovered. There is a grace period — 30 days for Facebook and Instagram — where you can log back in to cancel the deletion process, however. There is no grace period for deleting a WhatsApp account,
What happens to your data after you delete your accounts?
Meta says it retains some data for legal or operational purposes, but most of your content and personal data will be permanently deleted.
What’s the difference between deleting and deactivating?
You can deactivate Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, if you prefer that option instead.
Each app has its own deactivation process. But essentially, once you deactivate your account — specifically on Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp — your profile and all its content will be temporarily hidden. (For Messenger, deactivation is tied to your Facebook account.) You can reactivate your profiles later on either app simply by logging back into the platform.
Deleting your account is permanent, erasing all data and making recovery impossible after a certain grace period (e.g., 30 days for Facebook and WhatsApp). Deactivation is a good choice if you want a break but think you might return later, while deletion is if you’re certain about leaving for good.
For step-by-step guidance on deactivating or deleting accounts, see the following resources pages:
