You can delete a Facebook group, but only if you are the group admin
To delete a group on Facebook, you must be the group's admin. Facebook does not let regular members delete a group — only the person who created it or someone the creator made an admin can do this. The deletion is permanent and cannot be undone, so make sure you want to remove the group before you start.
The process takes just a few clicks, but Facebook will ask you to confirm your choice because deleting removes all posts, photos, and member records. If you are not the admin, you will need to ask the current admin to delete it, or you can simply leave the group instead.
Key Takeaways
- Only group admins can delete a Facebook group; regular members cannot remove a group no matter how long they have been in it.
- Deleting a group is permanent and erases all posts, photos, files, and member history with no way to recover them.
- Facebook will ask you to confirm the deletion twice to make sure you did not do it by accident.
- If you are not the admin, you can ask the current admin to delete the group or leave it yourself.
- The delete option is found in the group settings, not in the main group menu.
Steps to delete a group from your computer
Open Facebook and go to the group you want to delete. Click the three horizontal lines (called the menu icon) at the top right of the group's cover photo. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.
Scroll down in that menu and look for "Settings." Click it. You will now be in the group settings page. On the left side, you will see a list of options — scroll down until you find "Delete Group" at the bottom of that list. Click it.
Facebook will show you a warning that says the group and all its content will be permanently deleted. Read this carefully. Click the "Delete" button to confirm. Facebook will ask you one more time if you are sure. Click "Delete" again, and the group will be removed immediately.
Steps to delete a group from your phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and navigate to the group. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the top right of the group's cover photo. Scroll down and tap "Settings."
In the settings menu, scroll all the way to the bottom. You will see "Delete Group" in red text. Tap it. A confirmation message will appear asking if you want to permanently delete the group and all its content. Tap "Delete" to confirm. You will be asked to confirm one more time — tap "Delete" again, and the group is gone.
What happens when you delete a group
When you delete a group, Facebook removes everything associated with it immediately. All posts, photos, videos, files, and comments disappear. Member records are also deleted, so there is no way to see who was in the group or what they posted. This cannot be reversed, so if you think you might want the group back later, consider leaving it instead of deleting it.
Members of the group will see that the group no longer exists when they try to visit it. They will not receive a notification that you deleted it — they will simply find that the group is no longer there. If the group was important to members, you may want to send them a message beforehand to let them know you are closing it.
If you are not the group admin
If you are a member of a group but not an admin, you cannot delete it. Your only options are to contact the group admin and ask them to delete it, or to leave the group yourself. To leave, open the group, click the three-line menu, and select "Leave Group." This removes you from the group but does not affect other members.
If the group admin is no longer active or you cannot reach them, Facebook does not have a way for members to take over or remove an inactive group. You can report the group to Facebook if it violates their community standards, but this is different from deletion and is only for groups that break Facebook's rules.
Before you delete — things to consider
Deletion is permanent, so think through whether you really want to remove the group. If the group has important information or memories, take screenshots or download the content before you delete. Facebook does not provide a download tool for group content, so you will need to save things manually if you want to keep them.
If you are deleting because the group is inactive, consider whether you might want to reactivate it later instead. You can always archive the group or simply stop posting to it without deleting it. If you are deleting because of member conflict, you might want to remove the problematic members instead and keep the group running.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a group after I delete it?
No. Once you delete a group, it is gone permanently. Facebook does not restore deleted groups, and there is no recovery option. If you think you might want the group back, do not delete it — leave it inactive instead or remove it from your groups list.
Will members get notified when I delete the group?
Members will not receive a notification that the group was deleted. They will simply see that the group no longer exists when they try to visit it. If you want to let them know beforehand, you will need to message them separately.
What if I only want to leave the group instead of deleting it?
Open the group, click the three-line menu, and select "Leave Group." This removes you from the group but keeps it active for other members. The group will remain unless an admin deletes it.
Can I delete a group if I am not the original creator?
Yes, if you are an admin. Any admin can delete a group, not just the person who created it. If you are a regular member, you cannot delete it no matter what your role was.
Is there a way to download the group's posts before deleting it?
Facebook does not have a built-in download tool for group content. If you want to keep posts or photos, you will need to take screenshots or save them manually before you delete the group.