How to Delete an Old Facebook Account

Facebook has been around for so long that some of its earliest users are abandoning old accounts in favour of fresher accounts that more accurately reflect the person they are today.

While it’s easy to update an existing account with new information, pictures, friend lists, and more, for some users the idea of shedding their old account in favour of a new one is both easier and more attractive.

Which is why we’ve created this quick article to help you access and delete an old account, removing all trace so that people you know can only find and contact you via your new Facebook profile.

Deleting an Account You Have Access To

If you’ve created a new account using the same underlying credentials and information, then deleting an old account is easy via the Accounts Centre.

Similarly, if you still know the log in details for the old account and have access to the email inbox to which it is linked, you can simply log in and follow the standard Account Deletion process as outlined in the Accounts Centre on Facebook.

To access the Accounts Centre, make sure that you are logged in using the information linked with the old then follow these steps:

1. Click on the menu button in the bottom right hand corner of your screen
2. Tap on the cog icon at the top of the menu
3. Select ‘Accounts Centre’ at the top of the settings menu
4. Select ‘Personal Details’ then ‘Account Ownership and Control’
5. Tap ‘Deactivation or Deletion’ then select the account that you want to delete

Remember that deactivating an account is temporary with the account able to be restored at any time. If you choose to delete the account, this action is permanent.

Can You Delete an Account You Don’t Have Access To?

If you don’t have access to the account but know it exists somewhere on Facebook, is it still possible to delete it?

There are a few things you can try.

• Recover the password and follow the Accounts Centre deleting process as listed above
• Report the account as fake and rely on Facebook itself removing the account
• Reach out to Facebook Support

In short, there is no quick and easy fix for deleting an account you don’t have access to – because in the eyes of Facebook, the account could belong to anyone. Proving that an account was previously linked to you is extremely difficult, especially if you no longer have access to the email account it is connected to and therefore can’t recover the password.

So, your best options are to try and report the account and get it removed or reach out to Facebook Support directly for advice. Note that these processes can take time and do not have a guaranteed outcome.

We hope this offers some degree of help. Deleting an old account is sometimes necessary but may not always be easy or even possible.