On WhatsApp, it’s Settings -> Account -> Request account info. On Instagram, it’s More -> Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Data download -> Request download. On Facebook, you can access your archive from: Settings & Privacy -> Settings -> Your Facebook Information -> download your information -> request download. (Though you should also be prepared for it to surface some data you might not want to remember, like conversations with former partners or cringey college photos.) And it may not seem like a lot of that is worth hanging onto, but if you’ve used an account for years it’s a good way to preserve a record of your past photos, videos and other posts. Some, like Facebook, will even provide a record of what the site’s advertisers know about you.īy subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy.

These data archives look a little different for each service, but in general they contain your previous posts, a record of what accounts you follow, your messages and even some of your past activity on the services. Downloading your data will ensure you have a record of your prior posts, messages, photos and other activity. Regardless of your reasons for wanting to leave your accounts behind, it’s worth it to take the time to download all your data before you delete them for good. Keep reading to find out exactly how to delete your Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Oculus accounts. The good news is that removing these accounts is in many cases a lot easier than it has been in the past, even if there are sometimes a few extra steps involved. For Facebook, Instagram and other Meta-run services, deleting an account entirely isn’t necessarily straightforward, either.Īnd even though all the services are run by the same company, there isn’t one centralized way to delete all your Meta-associated accounts. For many of us, our accounts are filled with years of photos, memories and memes that aren’t easy to part with ,even if we are ready to stop the daily scrolling habit. It’s never exactly easy to pull the plug on a social media account you’ve had for years.

Deleting messenger