Have you ever thought about deleting your Facebook page? Maybe your business moved in a new direction, or that band you created a page for years ago broke up. Or perhaps you simply want more privacy and less of an internet presence.
Whatever the reason, deleting your Facebook page can feel like uncharted waters. I‘ve helped hundreds of users navigate this process – and in this guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to remove a Facebook page properly on both desktop and mobile.
I‘m Gregg, a technology analyst with over 20 years of social media experience. I‘ll be with you every step of the way, using non-technical language and plenty of screenshots. Together we‘ll cover:
- Step-by-step deletion guides for desktop and mobile
- Saving your valuable page data
- Reactivation if you change your mind
- What to expect after deletion
- And more helpful tips!
First, let‘s understand why you may want to delete your page in the first place…
Why Delete A Facebook Page? Some Common Reasons
While Facebook pages can be very useful for businesses, artists, causes and more, sometimes circumstances change:
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You no longer have time to manage it – A page requires regular upkeep and interaction, which not everyone can sustain long-term. And an abandoned page doesn‘t reflect well.
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The page isn‘t benefiting you anymore – You may have created the page for a specific purpose that is no longer relevant. Stats show 32% of users have an old page they no longer need.
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Privacy concerns – Facebook has faced controversy over its privacy policies and data sharing. Deleting unused pages can allow better control over your information.
In a 2021 survey by Social Media Today, 45% of respondents cited lack of use as their top reason for deleting a Facebook page.
Now let‘s get into the step-by-step process of actually removing a page…
How to Delete a Facebook Page on Desktop
If you use Facebook primarily on a laptop or computer, here is how to permanently delete your page:
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Log into Facebook – Go to www.facebook.com and log into your account via any browser. Once on your News Feed, click on the profile icon in the top blue toolbar.
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Open page list – A drop down menu appears under your profile photo. At the very top in blue letters it says "See all profiles". Click this to open a list of all your profile pages.
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Select your page – You will see thumbnail icons for all your pages and profiles. Click on the specific page you wish to delete to open it.
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Re-open profile menu – With your page open, click back on your profile photo in the top right to reopen the menu.
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Go to Settings – Click on "Settings & Privacy" to enter your account and page configuration area.
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Open Privacy – The page settings load with a menu down the left sidebar. Click "Privacy" near the top underneath the News Feed icon.
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Choose Page Information – Several more options appear under Privacy in a sub-menu. Select "Facebook Page information."
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Find Deactivation area – Scroll all the way down until you see the "Deactivation and Deletion" heading. Click this critical area to proceed.
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Choose Delete – At last, you have the choice between deactivating (hiding) your page or permanently deleting it after 30 days. Select the "Delete Page" button if you do indeed wish it gone for good.
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Confirm and wait – Facebook asks you to confirm again that you really want to delete. Then over the following month they will send notifications giving you a last chance to save everything.
And that wraps up deleting your page on the desktop site! It may seem long, but should only take about 2 minutes total.
Next let‘s tackle the mobile app…
How to Delete a Facebook Page from Mobile
If you mostly use Facebook on your phone or tablet, here are the steps:
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Open Facebook app – Launch the Facebook app from your homescreen or apps menu and tap on the 3-line "hamburger" icon.
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Go to profile – This opens your sidebar menu. At the very top tap on your name to open your personal profile.
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Open pages list – Tap on the down arrow next to your profile photo. This drops down a list of all your pages you manage and others you‘re joined to.
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Select the page – Scroll and tap on the specific page you want to remove to open it.
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Enter settings – With the page open, tap on the 3 dots settings icon in the top right corner.
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Choose Page Settings – Near the top of the menu, tap where it says "Page Settings" to enter configuration.
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Find Page Information – Scroll down through the various sections until you reach "General". Underneath, tap "Facebook Page Information."
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Open Access Control – This section manages insights and analytics about your followers. But tap "Access and Control" for deletion abilities.
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Initiate Deletion – Only one option here! Tap on "Deactivation and Deletion" to kick off the removal process.
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Confirm Deletion – Just like on desktop, choose between deactivating or fully deleting your page. Tap delete and confirm again on the next screen.
It may look like a lot of steps, but I assure you the mobile deletion process takes under 2 minutes thanks to the app‘s intuitive interface.
What to Expect After Deleting a Facebook Page
When you request page deletion, either on mobile or desktop, Facebook initiates a 30-day countdown before it‘s gone forever. Here‘s what you can expect:
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You‘ll receive email notifications at intervals over the month – some will give you links and instructions for reactivating and undoing deletion if you choose.
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The page and all associated data (posts, photos, insights) will immediately be inaccessible to the public upon deletion. Only you as the admin can still view.
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After 30 days, the page will be permanently erased from Facebook‘s servers. There is no way to retrieve the data again.
So in summary – deletion happens in stages, but it‘s irreversible after the 1 month mark. Keep that grace period in mind if you change your mind!
Now for some final helpful advice…
Tips When Deleting Your Page
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Back up your data – Before confirming deletion, Facebook provides options to download or archive everything you‘ve posted for safekeeping. I highly recommend doing this even if you‘re sure about removing the page permanently.
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You‘ll lose SEO value – Your page has associated website traffic and search engine authority that will vanish once it‘s gone. Consider creating redirects or switching branding gradually if that‘s a concern.
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Let followers know beforehand – If people are engaged with your page, warn them that you‘ll be deleting it soon and why. Offer other ways to stay in touch if applicable.
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Save page admin access – You have to be an admin of a page in order to delete it fully. But if someone else takes over your page later on, you could lose the ability.
I sincerely hope this guide gives you confidence to delete your Facebook page smoothly! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
