Accounts Center Rollout
As of January 2023, Meta introduced the “Accounts Center” to users, changing how settings are managed across its apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. This centralized hub is intended to simplify the control of settings and preferences across these platforms.
How to Access the Accounts Center:
On Desktop: Click your profile picture in the top right corner to open “Settings & Privacy,” then select “Settings.” Look for “Accounts Center” at the top of the menu. On Mobile: Tap the hamburger menu icon (in the bottom right corner of the app on iPhone, or top right on Android), open the “Menu,” then tap the cogwheel icon in the top right to access “Settings & privacy.” “Accounts Center” will be at the top of this menu.
How to Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account
You can take precautionary steps before you decide to permanently delete your Facebook account, like restricting who can view your profile or regularly removing cookies collected by the platform. They won’t fully secure your data, but if you’re not ready to quit Facebook yet, these extra safety measures will ensure only the most essential information is stored on the servers.
How to Delete Your Facebook Account on Desktop and Mobile
How to Download an Archive of Your Facebook Account
Once you’ve made a download request, it will appear as “Pending.” When ready, the file will be available in the “Available downloads” section of your “Download your information” page for four days. Note that this page is located in either your “Accounts Center” or “Facebook Settings” depending on your Facebook account. You will receive notifications via email and Facebook when your download is ready or if you have initiated a data transfer, when it is complete. You can find details of completed transfers in the “Previous Transfers” section of the Transfer Your Information tool.
Changed Your Mind? Here’s How to Recover Your Deleted Facebook Account
Facebook provides a 30-day grace period if you change your mind about deleting your account. During this time, you can log back into your account and stop the deletion process. After this period, your account and all associated information will be permanently deleted, and it will not be possible to recover any data.
How to Cancel Facebook Account Deletion
What’s the Difference Between Deleting and Deactivating Your Facebook Account?
If you decide to delete your Facebook account, you are choosing a permanent and irreversible action that removes your ability to use Facebook login for third-party apps like Spotify or Tinder, and automatically deletes your Messenger account along with all your messages without any option for recovery. Deactivating your Facebook account is a temporary measure that hides your profile and content from other users but preserves them for when you choose to reactivate, regardless of how much time has passed. Messenger remains active too, allowing you to communicate with your contacts. Keep in mind that if you are the owner or sole admin of any Facebook pages, deactivating your main account will also deactivate these pages. You can reactivate your account at any time by logging back in with your credentials. Simply follow the steps below to temporarily remove yourself from the site.
How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account
How to Protect Yourself from Data Collection Using Off-Meta (Previously Off-Facebook) Activity
With the rebranding of Facebook to Meta in 2021, several features also underwent name changes. The tracking of off-platform activity is now “off-Meta” instead of “off-Facebook.” Meta collects data from third-party apps and websites you interact with while using apps like Facebook and Instagram. This includes details about the websites you visit, the apps and games you use, the purchases and transactions you make, and how you interact with ads. Understanding and managing these settings can help you maintain better control over your data privacy.
How to Access Off-Meta Activity Settings on Mobile and Desktop
How to Change Your Security Settings on Facebook
Maintaining control over who can see and interact with your content on Facebook is crucial for protecting your privacy and managing your online presence.
How to Change Your Audience and Visibility Settings on Facebook
How to Remove Third-Party Apps Connected to Your Facebook Account
To ensure your personal data remains secure and isn’t mishandled by platforms connected to your Facebook account, you’ll need to regularly audit and remove third-party apps that you no longer trust or use. Follow these steps to clean up the apps linked to your Facebook profile:
How to Delete Your Content on Facebook
Facebook’s Activity Log lets you review and manage everything you’ve shared on the platform, from posts and likes to comments and searches. By carefully managing your activity, you can enhance your privacy and control without needing to deactivate or delete your account. Unfortunately, there is no quick way to clear your entire activity log. You will have to manually review and manage your content.
How to Manage and Delete Your Content through Facebook’s Activity Log
Regularly checking and updating your settings in the Activity Log can enhance your privacy and security on Facebook. Take time to familiarize yourself with each category.
How to Clear Your Search History on Facebook through the Search Bar
While the Activity Log provides a comprehensive tool for managing and deleting your content on Facebook, including search history, there’s a quicker, more direct method available right from the search bar.
How to Clear Your Facebook Searches through the Search Bar on Desktop
How to Clear Your Facebook Searches through the Search Bar on Mobile
Facebook’s Data Security and Privacy
Facebook remains the world’s most popular social media network, but many users still harbor concerns about its data security and privacy. However, protecting your data on Facebook doesn’t necessarily mean deleting your account. You can take several effective steps to control your data and improve your security. These include removing third-party apps, clearing old posts and comments, and managing the visibility of your activities. Learn how to take control of what you share on Facebook and safeguard your information.
How to Uninstall and Disable the Facebook App
Deleting the Facebook app on your phone prevents accidental logins after you have deleted or deactivated your Facebook account. Should you decide to return to Facebook, you can easily re-download the app. However, certain Android devices come with the Facebook app pre-installed. On these devices, you can’t fully delete the Facebook app — you can only disable it. Disabling the app stops it from running and removes its icon from your app drawer, but it does not remove the app from your device entirely. If you receive an update and the app shows up again, you’ll need to disable it once more.
How to Disable the Facebook App on Android
How to Uninstall the Facebook App on Android
How to Uninstall the Facebook App on iOS
Take Steps to Keep Your Online Data Private
As Facebook continues to evolve, so do its measures to enhance user privacy and security. Yet, daily interactions with many websites and online service providers still pose a risk as these entities often access and exchange your personal information. This ongoing data sharing can leave your personal details vulnerable to both authorized scrutiny and unauthorized access by hackers. Protecting your online privacy requires an understanding of how to control who views your data and how it’s managed. Below we discuss guidelines to help safeguard your online data across all platforms.