So you‘ve decided it‘s time to remove one of your Facebook pages. Maybe it was for a business that didn‘t pan out. Maybe you‘re an influencer consolidating your social media presence. Or perhaps that meme page from 2011 has run its course.
Whatever the reason, deleting a Facebook page is a permanent move (after 30 days), so let‘s discuss what you need to know before getting started.
Key Stats on Facebook Pages
To provide some context, here are a few key statistics on Facebook page usage as of 2023:
- Over 70 million Facebook pages for businesses and organizations
- Over 50 million pages for community causes or public figures
- The average user likes around 4 Facebook pages
- Top pages can have over 100 million likes
As you can see, pages remain highly popular on the platform. But sometimes pruning your online presence is necessary.
Before Deleting: Key Considerations
Here are a few important factors to keep in mind before removing a page permanently:
You Lose All Content
Once deleted after 30 days, all of your page‘s posts, photos, videos and data are erased completely. So if you want to save anything, be sure to download or back up this content before deletion goes through.
Deactivation Isn‘t the Same
Deactivating a page simply hides it temporarily from public view. Deletion means permament removal down the line. Know the difference before proceeding!
The 30-Day Window
Facebook allows 30 days after initial deletion to reactivate the page before wiping its data completely. Use this as a buffer period if having second thoughts.
Alright, now that you know what you‘re getting into, let‘s get to the step-by-step guides…
How to Delete a Facebook Page on Desktop
If you prefer managing your pages while sitting at an actual computer, here is how to remove one via the desktop website:
Before starting, log into your Facebook account through any browser.
Step 1: Access Your Facebook Page Profile
Click on the profile icon showing your name/photo in the top blue navigation bar. This opens a drop-down menu.
[INSERT SCREENSHOT]In the menu, click "See All Profiles" to view a list of all pages and profiles connected to your account.
Step 2: Select Your Page
You should see a list of pages you administer as the page owner or editor. Click on the name of the specific page you want to delete to open its profile.
For example, if you wanted to remove your business page called "Oceanfront Rentals", you would click on the link for that page name to proceed.
[INSERT SCREENSHOT WITH A LIST OF FAKE PAGE NAMES]Step 3: Access Page Settings
From your page‘s profile view, click on the profile icon in the top right corner again to open the drop-down menu. This time, select "Settings & Privacy".
[INSERT SCREENSHOT WITH ARROW POINTING TO SETTINGS AND PRIVACY]Step 4: Go To Page Information > Deactivation & Deletion
On the left sidebar of settings, click "Privacy". Then scroll down to the "Facebook Page information" heading.
Click the "Deactivation and deletion" link under this section.
[INSERT SCREENSHOT SHOWING LEFT SIDEBAR NAVIGATION]Almost there!
Step 5: Choose Delete Page
You will now see two options – either temporarily deactivate the page from public view, or permanently delete it after 30 days.
Since we want the page gone completely in this case, click "Delete [Your Page Name]".
[INSERT SCREENSHOT WITH ARROWS POINTING TO DELETION OPTION]For example, you would select "Delete Oceanfront Rentals".
Step 6: Confirm Deletion
Facebook will ask you to confirm the deletion again before proceeding. At this point you can also download an archive or backup of all your page content before removing it.
If you‘re absolutely sure, click "Delete Page" to confirm and initiate the 30-day deletion timeline.
[INSERT FINAL CONFIRMATION SCREENSHOT]And we‘re done…with Step 1! Now let‘s tackle the mobile deletion process.
How to Delete a Facebook Page on Mobile
For those constantly on the go, here is how to delete a page right from the Facebook mobile app:
Step 1: Tap Your Profile Icon
Open up the Facebook app on your phone or tablet. Tap the ☰ icon in the top right corner to open your account menu.
[INSERT SCREENSHOT OF FB MOBILE APP WITH MENU OPEN]Step 2: Select Your Page
Your personal profile should be selected. Tap the down arrow next to your name to view other profiles connected to your account.
Select the specific page name you want to delete from this list to open its profile.
[INSERT SCREENSHOT SHOWING LIST OF PAGES]For example, tap on "Oceanfront Rentals" if that is the page you want to remove.
Step 3: Tap Settings
From your page‘s profile, tap the ⚙️ settings icon in the top right corner.
[INSERT SCREENSHOT OF SETTINGS ICON]Step 4: Go To Page Information > Deactivation & Deletion
Just like the desktop process, you need to access the "Deactivation and deletion" option under "Facebook Page Information" in settings.
Tap "Page Settings > Facebook Page Information > Deactivation and deletion" to navigate there.
[INSERT SCREENSHOTS DEMONSTRATING PATH]Almost done!
Step 5: Select Delete Page
You will now see the options to temporarily hide the page from public view with deactivation, or permanently delete it after 30 days.
Tap "Delete [Your Page Name]" to initiate permanent deletion.
[INSERT SCREENSHOT WITH RED ARROW POINTING TO DELETE OPTION]Step 6: Confirm Deletion
Facebook will prompt you to confirm deletion twice before carrying it out.
Tap "Continue" then tap "Delete Page" again on the next page to proceed.
[INSERT TWO CONFIRMATION SCREENSHOTS]And with that, say goodbye to that page forever pending the 30-day reactivation window!
Before Deleting: Save Important Page Data
I want to reiterate again that after 30 days, everything you‘ve ever posted on that page will be erased.
So if you want to save any photos, posts, videos or other data for personal use or records, be sure to:
- On desktop: Download your page information archive to your computer before deleting
- On mobile: Tap to archive your page data to your personal Facebook profile‘s activity log
Don‘t sleep on this – you can‘t go back for anything you forget!
After Deleting: The 30-Day Buffer Period
I briefly mentioned it earlier, but want to call out again that deleting a Facebook page doesn‘t remove everything instantly. Here‘s a breakdown:
Initial deletion → 30-day grace period → Permanent removal after 30 days
So you actually have one month before all access and content is deleted. Here is a timeline demonstrating:
| Timeline Stage | What Happens | Reversible? |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Deletion | Page hidden from public view | Yes |
| 0-30 days after | Page enters reactivation period | Yes |
| 30+ days after | Permanent deletion finalized | No |
I wanted to highlight this specifically in case you have second thoughts or regret deleting the page after that initial impulse!
Use those 30 days wisely as a sort of safety net before you lose the option to reactivate that page.
FAQs: Your Pressing Facebook Page Deletion Questions, Answered
I threw a lot at you, so let‘s recap some commonly asked questions about removing Facebook pages:
Can someone else recover my deleted page if they were also an admin?
Unfortunately no. Only the original page creator has the ability to reactivate a deleted page during that 30-day grace period using the steps outlined above. No one else will be able to recover it after permanent removal.
What exactly happens after 30 days?
After 30 days from initial deletion, Facebook erases all page content and the page profile itself. There is no way to recover anything at this point – it will be gone completely as if it never existed!
Is it easier to deactivate rather than delete?
In most cases, yes – deactivation simply hides the page temporarily while allowing you to maintain ownership and the option to reactivate at any time. Unless you are certain you want to permanently erase that page from existence, try deactivation first.
Can someone else claim my page name after it‘s deleted?
Possibly. Facebook pages have unique name URLs just like usernames. If someone tries creating a page using your old vanity name, it may become available to claim after full deletion and expiration of that 30-day reactivation window.
What if my business fails? Should I delete the page?
This depends, but deleting an unsuccessful business page isn‘t always the best course of action. I‘d recommend deactivating it from public view but consider maintaining ownership in case you pivot directions or have a reason to reuse that page and brand identity later on.
I hope this guide gives you confidence on how to properly delete your Facebook page when needed! Let me know if you have any other questions.
