If you have a second Facebook profile you no longer use, you may be wondering how to delete it. There are two ways to delete a Facebook profile: temporarily deactivating it or permanently deleting it. After you’ve chosen which option is right for you, you can delete your profile by following our step-by-step instructions.
If you deactivate your account, it will be hidden from other users, and you will not be able to use it to log in to Facebook. However, you will be able to reactivate your account at any time. If you delete your account, it will be permanently deleted, and you will not be able to recover it. So, if you’re not sure whether you want to delete your account, it’s best to deactivate it first.
Understanding the Different Facebook Profile Types
Facebook offers a variety of profile options to cater to different user needs. It’s important to understand these types to determine which one is right for you and whether you need to delete a second profile.
Personal Profiles
Personal profiles are the most common type and designed for individuals to connect with friends and family. They include personal information such as your name, profile picture, and a timeline of your posts. You can only have one personal profile associated with your email address and phone number.
Features:
- \- Share posts, photos, and videos with friends
- \- Send messages and join groups
- \- Tag others in posts and comments
- \- Manage privacy settings to control who can see your information
Limitations:
- \- Cannot be used for business purposes
- \- May be subject to Facebook’s real name policy
- \- Limited to 5,000 friends
Business Profiles
Business profiles are designed for businesses, organizations, and public figures to promote their brand and connect with customers. They include a business name, description, and contact information. Unlike personal profiles, you can have multiple business profiles associated with your email address.
Features:
- \- Create a business page and promote your products or services
- \- Interact with customers through posts, messages, and reviews
- \- Run ads to reach a wider audience
- \- Track your page’s performance with analytics
Limitations:
- \- Cannot be used for personal purposes
- \- Requires a separate email address for each business profile
- \- May be subject to Facebook’s business page guidelines
| Profile Type | Purpose | Multiple Profiles Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Connect with friends and family | No |
| Business | Promote businesses and brands | Yes |
Step-by-Step Guide to Deleting a Secondary Profile
2. Deactivating the Profile
Once you’re logged into your secondary profile, navigate to the top right corner and click the down arrow button. From the drop-down menu, select “Settings & Privacy,” then “Settings.” In the left-hand sidebar, click “Your Facebook Information,” followed by “Deactivation and Deletion.” Choose “Deactivate Account” and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the deactivation process.
Additional Considerations
Before deactivating your profile, it’s crucial to note the following:
- Deactivating a profile temporarily hides it from Facebook but does not permanently delete it. You can reactivate it anytime you wish.
- Your profile picture and name will remain visible to friends in group conversations and messages for a period of time.
- You will not be able to use Messenger while your profile is deactivated.
Reactivating Your Profile
To reactivate your deactivated profile, simply log back into Facebook using the email and password associated with that account. Follow the on-screen prompts to restore your profile.
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| If you have forgotten your password, click “Forgot Password?” on the login page to reset it. | Follow the instructions to regain access to your profile. |
| If you deactivated your profile over a year ago, you may not be able to reactivate it. | In this case, you will need to create a new profile. |
The Implications of Deleting a Facebook Profile
Deleting a second Facebook profile may seem like a simple task, but it can have significant implications. Before you decide to delete your account, it’s crucial to consider the consequences.
Data Loss
Once you delete your second Facebook profile, all of the data associated with it will be permanently erased. This includes:
- Your posts, photos, and videos
- Your messages and conversations
- Your friend list and connections
- Your page likes and interests
- Your advertising data and preferences
It is important to note that this data cannot be recovered once your profile is deleted. If there is any information that you wish to preserve, it is recommended that you back it up before deleting your account.
Loss of Access to Facebook Features
Deleting your second Facebook profile will prevent you from accessing certain features and services that require a Facebook account. These include:
- Using Facebook to log in to other websites and apps
- Using Facebook Messenger to chat with friends and family
- Participating in Facebook Groups and Events
- Using Facebook Marketplace to buy and sell items
If you rely on these features, you may want to consider keeping your second Facebook profile active.
Impact on Other Accounts
If you have linked your second Facebook profile to other accounts, such as your Instagram or Twitter account, deleting your Facebook profile may affect those accounts. You may lose access to certain features or data that is associated with your Facebook profile.
Restoring a Deleted Facebook Profile
If you have accidentally deleted your secondary Facebook profile, you may be able to restore it by following these steps:
- Log in to your primary Facebook account.
- Go to the “Settings & Privacy” menu.
- Click on “Settings.”
- Select “Your Facebook Information.”
- Under “Deactivation and Deletion,” click on “View.”
- Click on “Reactivate Profile.”
Once you have reactivated your profile, you will be able to access it as before.
Note: You may not be able to restore your profile if it has been permanently deleted. Permanently deleted profiles are typically deleted after 30 days, and cannot be recovered.
| Restore a Deleted Profile | Restoring Permanently Deleted Profiles |
|---|---|
|
Not possible. Permanently deleted profiles are erased after 30 days. |
Managing Multiple Facebook Accounts
If you have more than one Facebook account, you may want to merge them or delete the secondary one. Follow the steps below to delete a secondary Facebook account.
1. Log into your secondary Facebook account
Go to facebook.com and enter your username and password for the account you want to delete.
2. Click the down arrow in the top right corner
A drop-down menu will appear.
3. Click “Settings & Privacy”
A new menu will appear.
4. Click “Settings”
You will be taken to the Settings page.
5. Click “Your Facebook Information”
A new menu will appear with several options, including “Deactivation and Deletion”.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Deactivate Account | Temporarily disables your account. You can reactivate it later if you want. |
| Delete Account | Permanently deletes your account and all associated data. This action cannot be undone. |
Choose the option that you want and follow the on-screen instructions.
Creating a New Facebook Profile After Deletion
After deleting your second profile, you can create a new one by following these steps:
1. Go to www.facebook.com and click “Create New Account”.
2. Enter your first name, last name, email address, and password.
3. Click “Sign Up”.
4. Verify your email address by clicking on the link in the email that Facebook sends you.
5. Choose your profile picture and fill out your profile information.
6. Add friends and customize your profile. Keep in mind Facebook’s policies when creating your new profile. Avoid using fake information, impersonating others, or engaging in any prohibited activities. To ensure compliance, consider the following guidelines:
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Use your real name and profile picture | Use fake or misleading information |
| Create a profile for personal use | Create a profile for business or commercial purposes |
| Follow Facebook’s Community Standards and Terms of Service | Engage in spam, harassment, or other prohibited behaviors |
7. Once you have created your new profile, remember to delete your old one permanently to avoid any confusion or potential issues.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls When Deleting a Profile
1. Deactivating Instead of Deleting
Deactivating your profile hides it from search results and most other users, but it doesn’t permanently delete it. If you want to completely erase your Facebook presence, you must delete your profile.
2. Forgetting to Back Up Your Data
Before you delete your profile, make sure to download a backup of your photos, videos, and other data. Once your profile is deleted, you will not be able to recover any of your information.
3. Missing Linked Accounts
If you have linked other accounts (such as Instagram or Twitter) to your Facebook profile, you will need tounlink them manually before you can delete your profile. Otherwise, you may not be able to access these accounts in the future.
4. Messenger Access
Deleting your Facebook profile does not automatically delete your Messenger account. If you want to remove your Messenger account as well, you will need to do so separately.
5. Pending Requests
If you have any pending friend requests or messages, they will be deleted when you delete your profile. Make sure to respond to or decline any important requests before you delete your profile.
6. Group Memberships
If you are a member of any Facebook groups, you will be removed from those groups when you delete your profile. You may want to leave any important groups before you delete your profile.
7. Password Reset Options
Deleting your profile will remove all of your associated email addresses and phone numbers from your Facebook account, making it impossible to reset your password if you forget it. Ensure you have access to an alternative email or phone number before you delete your profile so you can recover your account if needed.
Common Reasons for Deleting Multiple Facebook Profiles
There are several reasons why you might want to delete a second profile on Facebook. Perhaps you created it for a specific purpose, such as running a business or connecting with old friends, and you no longer need it. Or maybe you’re concerned about privacy and would like to reduce your online footprint.
Deleting Your Profile
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Step 1: Log in to your Facebook account.
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Step 2: Click the dropdown arrow in the top right corner of the screen and select “Settings & Privacy.”
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Step 3: Under “Settings,” click on “Your Facebook Information.”
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Step 4: Select “Profile Information.”
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Step 5: Under “Account Ownership and Control,” click on “Deactivate or Delete Account.”
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Step 6: Click on “Delete Account.”
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Step 7: Enter your password and click on “Continue.”
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Step 8: Review the information about what will happen when you delete your account and click on “Delete Account.”
Data Retained Data Removed Messenger conversations Friend list Saved posts Groups and pages Event responses Profile and cover photos -
To unlink Messenger, open the app and tap on your profile picture in the top left corner. Then, tap on “Settings” and select “Account.” Under “Linked Accounts,” tap on “Facebook” and then tap on “Unlink Account.”
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To unlink other accounts, go to the settings page for each account and look for the option to unlink it from Facebook.
- Go to Facebook’s Help Center: https://www.facebook.com/help/
- Type “Delete a second profile” in the search bar and press Enter.
- Select the “Delete Your Second Profile” article.
- Scroll down to the “How do I delete my second profile?” section.
- Click on the “Submit a Request” button.
- Fill out the form with the requested information, including your email address, profile name, and a short explanation of why you want to delete the profile.
- Select “I want to delete my second profile” from the drop-down list.
- Attach a screenshot of your second profile, if possible.
- Click on the “Submit” button.
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Log into the profile that you want to delete.
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Click the down arrow in the top-right corner of the Facebook homepage.
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Select "Settings & Privacy" from the drop-down menu.
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Click "Settings" in the left-hand menu.
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Scroll down to the "Your Facebook Information" section and click "View".
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Click "Deactivation and Deletion".
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Select "Delete Account" and then click "Continue".
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Enter your password and click "Continue".
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Click "Delete Account" again to confirm.
Deleting Messenger and Other Associated Accounts
When you delete your Facebook profile, you’ll also lose access to Messenger and any other accounts that are linked to it. If you want to keep these accounts, you’ll need to unlink them from your Facebook account before you delete it.
Using Facebook’s Help Center for Support
If you’re having trouble deleting a second profile using the methods described above, you can reach out to Facebook’s Help Center for assistance. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Facebook will review your request and respond to you via email. The process may take some time, so be patient.
| Contact Method | Facebook Help Center |
| Estimated Response Time | Varies, may take several days |
| Additional Requirements | Screenshot of second profile (optional) |
Maintaining Privacy and Security After Deletion
Hiding Evidence of Past Presence
1. Delete all posts, photos, and other content associated with the profile.
Privacy Settings Review
2. Adjust privacy settings to limit who can see your future activity.
Email and Messenger Management
3. Remove the associated email address and phone number from the account.
Friend List Purging
4. Unfriend or block any contacts who may have been friends with the deleted profile.
Group Removal
5. Leave any groups where the deleted profile was active.
Cache and Google Search Cleanup
6. Clear your browser’s cache and remove any cached search results related to the deleted profile.
Third-Party Apps and Services
7. Revoke access to any third-party apps or services that may have been connected to the deleted profile.
Data Download and Deletion
8. Request a copy of your data from Facebook and delete any sensitive information.
Permanent Email Address Removal
9. If the associated email address was created solely for the deleted Facebook profile, consider deleting it as well.
Continuing Privacy Vigilance
10. Regularly monitor your Facebook settings and activity to ensure continued privacy and security. Consider using tools like Privacy Badger or Disconnect to block trackers and protect your information from data breaches.
How To Delete A Second Profile On Facebook
Facebook allows users to have only one personal profile, but it does allow users to create additional profiles for businesses, organizations, or public figures. If you have a second personal profile that you no longer want or need, you can delete it.
To delete a second profile on Facebook:
Your second profile will now be deleted. Please note that this action cannot be undone, so make sure that you are absolutely sure that you want to delete the profile before you proceed.
People Also Ask
How do I delete a business or organization profile on Facebook?
To delete a business or organization profile on Facebook, you must be an admin of the profile. Once you are logged in as an admin, you can follow the steps outlined above to delete the profile.
What happens if I delete my second profile on Facebook?
When you delete a second profile on Facebook, all of the content associated with that profile will be permanently deleted. This includes photos, videos, posts, and messages. You will also lose access to any groups or pages that you have joined with that profile.
Can I create a new profile after I delete my second profile?
Yes, you can create a new profile after you delete your second profile. However, you must wait 30 days after deleting your second profile before you can create a new one.
