If you may delete Facebook or fear losing access, request a download while you can still sign in. Meta says information added to an account cannot be retrieved after deletion. Choose the categories and date range you need, then make sure the downloaded archive is stored somewhere independent of Facebook and opens before you proceed.
Download your Facebook information
Meta provides a tool to download a copy of your information. Depending on your account, it may appear in Accounts Center or in Facebook settings; Meta notes that the Accounts Center option is not available to everyone. Look for the information and permissions or download-your-information controls. Menu labels can vary.
- Open Facebook settings. If available, go to Accounts Center and open Your information and permissions, then choose the download or export option. Otherwise, look in Facebook settings for the tool to download your information.
- Select the account or profile. If prompted, choose the Facebook profile whose information you want to save.
- Choose what to include. You can select all available categories or choose specific ones. For an archive before deletion, selecting every available category is a sensible precaution, not a requirement imposed by Meta.
- Choose a date range. Select the broadest relevant range available if you want a long-term record; a narrower range may suit a focused export.
- Submit the download request and follow Facebook’s on-screen instructions to retrieve the resulting file. Delivery and availability details can depend on the current tool; do not assume a particular completion time or download-expiry period.
Meta says its Download Your Information tool began including data logs in February 2024. Those logs can include information about content viewed on Facebook. This dated product detail does not mean every account’s export has an identical inventory. Meta Engineering explains data logs in Download Your Information.
Choose a download or a direct transfer
A download creates a file for you to keep. A direct transfer sends eligible information to an external service supported by Facebook’s transfer tool. They are different routes: a transfer is not necessarily a complete Facebook archive.
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| Route | Scope | Destination | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download | All available categories or selected categories and date ranges | A file you retrieve and store separately | Keeping a broad personal archive |
| Direct transfer | Categories supported by the transfer tool | An external service currently offered in your transfer interface | Moving eligible information, such as photos or videos, elsewhere |
Choose only from the destinations shown in your own transfer interface. Meta’s 2021 announcement named photo and video destinations including Backblaze, Dropbox, Google Photos and Koofr at that time; that historical list is not a guarantee that those destinations are available now. See Meta’s announcement about transferring information to other services.
Check the archive before deleting your account
Keep the downloaded file somewhere you can access without Facebook. Check that the file is present and opens, and make a second copy of important material in a separate location. An offline drive is one optional place to keep a copy; Meta does not prescribe a storage device, and the right choice depends on your archive and backup needs.
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Before submitting a deletion request, check whether other services depend on your Facebook account. Deletion can affect Facebook Login and Meta Quest access or information, and may affect additional profiles. Meta recommends considering a download first. Its Help Center states: “After your account has been deleted, you won’t be able to retrieve anything you’ve added.” See Meta’s guidance on permanently deleting a Facebook account.
If you are unsure about deleting
Deactivation is temporary; deletion is intended to be permanent once the process completes. Some information, such as messages you sent to other people, may remain visible to recipients after your account is deleted. Review Meta’s explanation of deactivation and deletion before choosing.
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Meta’s English Help Center guidance describes a 30-day period in which a deletion request may be cancelled, while noting that the period varies by region. Deletion processing can take longer. Do not rely on that window as a substitute for making your archive before requesting deletion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If you have already lost access
If your account was hacked, Meta directs you to facebook.com/hacked, ideally from a device you have used to log into Facebook before. Meta’s Help Center says: “If someone hacked your account, visit www.facebook.com/hacked on a device you’ve used to log into Facebook before.”
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You may need to recover access before you can request an export. Meta does not promise that an export can be created while you are locked out, so start with account recovery rather than assuming the download tool will be available.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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