You can delete a Facebook page in two ways: deactivate it temporarily or delete it permanently
Deactivation hides your page from public view for 30 days, during which you can change your mind and restore it. Permanent deletion removes the page entirely after 30 days and cannot be undone. Most people choose deactivation first because it's reversible — you can reactivate within the 30-day window if you change your mind. Permanent deletion is the right choice only if you're certain you won't want the page back.
The process differs slightly depending on whether you're using Facebook on a computer or phone, but both routes take about five minutes. You'll need to be logged in as the page admin — if someone else created the page and you're just a moderator, you cannot delete it.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your page for 30 days and can be reversed; permanent deletion takes 30 days to complete and cannot be undone.
- Only the page admin can delete a page — moderators and editors cannot perform this action.
- Deactivating a page removes it from search results and hides all posts, but followers cannot see that the page still exists in a hidden state.
- After you request permanent deletion, Facebook holds the page for 30 days before erasing it, giving you time to cancel if needed.
- Deleted pages cannot be restored after the 30-day window closes, so download any content you want to keep first.
How to deactivate your page on a computer
Open Facebook and navigate to your page. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the page header. Scroll down and select "Settings and privacy," then click "Settings." On the left sidebar, click "General." Scroll to the bottom of that section and click "Deactivate page." Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Deactivate page" again.
Your page will disappear from public view immediately. Your followers will no longer see it in their feeds or search results. Posts you published will be hidden, and people cannot message your page. You can reactivate it anytime during the 30-day window by logging back in and following the same steps, then clicking "Reactivate page" instead.
How to deactivate your page on a phone
Open the Facebook app and go to your page. Tap the three-line menu icon (hamburger menu) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Tap "General." Scroll to the bottom and tap "Deactivate page." Confirm by tapping "Deactivate page" again.
The process is identical to the computer version — your page hides immediately and you have 30 days to change your mind. If you reactivate during that window, all your posts and followers return exactly as they were.
How to permanently delete your page
If you want to erase the page completely rather than just hide it, follow the same steps as deactivation but look for "Delete page" instead of "Deactivate page" in the Settings menu. You may need to scroll further down in the General section to find it. Click or tap "Delete page," then confirm your choice.
Facebook will send a confirmation message to the email address associated with your account. You have 30 days from the deletion request to cancel — if you do nothing, the page is permanently erased after that period. During the 30 days, the page remains hidden from public view but still exists in Facebook's system. You cannot restore it after the 30-day window closes.
What happens to your posts and followers when you delete a page
Deactivation hides everything but keeps it intact. Your posts, photos, and follower list remain on Facebook's servers. If you reactivate, everything returns exactly as it was. Permanent deletion removes all of this — posts cannot be recovered, and followers lose access to the page entirely.
If you have content you want to keep, download it before you delete. Go to your page Settings, click "Download your information" in the General section, and select the date range and content types you want. Facebook will prepare a file you can download, though this process can take several hours or days depending on how much content you have.
What to do if you're not the page admin
Only the person who created the page can delete it. If you're a moderator or editor, you cannot perform this action — you can only remove yourself from the page. To leave a page you don't admin, go to the page, click the three-dot menu, and select "Remove yourself as [your role]."
If the page admin is no longer available and you need the page removed, you can report it to Facebook if it violates their policies. Go to the page, click the three-dot menu, select "Report page," and choose the reason. Facebook reviews reports but does not delete pages simply because someone requests it — the page must violate their community standards.
Common reasons the delete option doesn't appear
If you cannot find the delete or deactivate option, you're likely not logged in as the page admin. Check that you're viewing the page as yourself, not as the page. In the top right corner of the page, you should see your name or profile picture, not the page name. If you see the page name, click it and switch to your personal profile.
Another reason the option might not appear is if the page is still in a grace period from a previous deletion request. If you requested deletion within the last 30 days and then reactivated it, you may need to wait before requesting deletion again. Contact Facebook Support through the Help Center if you believe you should have access but cannot find the option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reactivate my page after the 30-day deletion window closes?
No. Once the 30 days pass, the page is permanently erased and cannot be restored. This is why Facebook gives you 30 days to cancel — use that time to download any content you want to keep, then let the deletion complete if you're sure.
What's the difference between deactivating and deleting?
Deactivation hides the page temporarily and is reversible within 30 days. Deletion removes the page permanently after 30 days and cannot be undone. Most people deactivate first because it's safer — you can always change your mind.
Will my followers be notified when I delete my page?
No. Your followers will simply see that the page no longer exists when they try to visit it. They won't receive a notification that you deleted it. If you want to tell them where you're moving (another platform, a new page, etc.), post an announcement before you deactivate or delete.
Can I download my page content before deleting it?
Yes. Go to Settings, find "Download your information," and select the content types and date range you want. Facebook prepares a file you can download, though it may take several hours. Do this before you request deletion, since you won't be able to access the page during the 30-day deletion window.
What if I accidentally deleted my page?
You have 30 days from the deletion request to cancel. Go to Settings, find the deletion request, and select "Cancel deletion." Your page will reactivate immediately with all content intact. After 30 days, cancellation is no longer possible.