How Will I Know if My Facebook Account Is Still Active or Not?

The account deactivation option enables you to temporarily refrain from using Facebook without losing all of your content. When you deactivate your account, it disappears from view, storing your Timeline, friend lists, photos and all other content on the Facebook servers. The deactivation process is instant, requiring only a few clicks. Once your request is confirmed, your account is immediately disabled, along with your access to it. You lose the ability to view and interact with all of your Facebook pages, apps and features. To regain access to your account, you’ll simply need to log in, although multiple deactivation requests may result in your having to wait 24 hours to reactivate.

When you delete your Facebook account, you won’t have the option to regain access to it. Unlike deactivation, the deletion process is irreversible. You lose all access to your content immediately and nothing is stored by Facebook for you to use later. Once deleted, your account instantly disappears from the social network, leaving nothing active for use by you or your friends. While you’ll always have the option to return to Facebook, you will have to build a new account from scratch, adding each friend again, uploading every photo and adding all personal information again.

If your account is inactive, but you haven’t taken steps to deactivate or permanently delete it, Facebook has likely disabled it for a violation of terms. If, upon logging in, you get a message stating that your account has been disabled, this is probably the case. Disabled accounts are inactive for unspecified periods of time depending on the nature of the violation. Repeat offenders and severe violators are often subject to longer periods. Some behaviors that can get your account disabled include unsolicited contact, harassment, impersonation and continued behavior despite warnings from Facebook. You’ll know your account has become active again when you’re able to log in successfully.

If you’re unable to log in to your Facebook account, there may be several reasons why. Perhaps you’re using incorrect login credentials. Upon creating an account, you were required to select a login password. If, upon logging in, you’re getting a password error message, use the “Forgot Your Password” link below the password box and enter your email address, phone number, username or full name on the resulting page. If your account is still active, this search feature will help you to locate and sign into it. Use the reporting tool (link in Resources) if you’re still unable to find your account.

Facebook will not disable your account simply due to long periods of inactivity. With knowledge that its users may want or need to step away from their accounts from time to time, Facebook does not require login activity at regular intervals. If your account is inactive, it is surely due to one of the afore-mentioned reasons.