Facebook: delete all data - how it works

To delete all data on Facebook, you have to do a lot more than just delete your Facebook account. Because nevertheless, a lot of data remains stored on Facebook. We show you how to remove almost all data.

Deleting all data on Facebook is complicated

Delete all data on Facebook with one click? Unfortunately, it doesn't work that easily. Because if you delete your Facebook account, you are not also deleting all stored data. A lot of data is often left behind, for example because it is related to other Facebook users. As data protectors have found, a lot of other data is still stored. You must therefore delete the data yourself:

• First, open your profile and remove all personal entries.
• Deleting pinboard entries is a little easier. You can use this trick for this.
• You can also easily delete the search history yourself, as we have already shown you in a previous article.
• On the other hand, deleting Facebook friends is a bit more complicated: Here you have to call everyone on Facebook and click on "Remove as friend" on the title picture under "Friend".
• You cannot completely delete pictures on Facebook: The photos no longer appear in galleries or pin boards, but can still be accessed via a direct link.
• Finally, you should delete all Facebook links, for example to Instagram.

Facebook messenger: delete data

You must also delete all messages from Messenger individually in each chat:

1. First, start a chat.
2. Then click on the gear on the far right next to the name and profile picture.
3. Now select "Delete" here.

Messenger app: remove synchronization

Facebook automatically syncs your contacts if you have the Messenger app installed. As soon as you deactivate the synchronization, the saved contact data will also be removed:

1. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap People.
2. Now select "Synchronize contacts" here.
3. You will now be asked if you want to stop the automatic synchronization. Confirm this with "OK".

Delete Facebook data from Google & Co.

In order to no longer be found on Google with the Facebook profile, a Facebook comment or a like, you must deactivate this:

1. First go to the "Settings" on your Facebook.
2. Then click on "Privacy" in the left column.
3. Under the section "Who can search for me?" select "Would you like other search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?"

Delete Facebook with your mobile phone: what happens to the data?

If you are not sure whether the effort is worth it, you can request a free data report from Facebook. Facebook must hand them over to you on request. Then you know exactly what Facebook has saved about you.