If you're considering leaving Facebook, take these steps before deleting your account.

Over time, a notable number of users have chosen to distance themselves from Facebook, opting instead for platforms like TikTok and Instagram, or simply seeking to reduce their digital footprint. Before proceeding to delete your account, it is advisable to follow certain steps that allow you to safeguard data, memories, and connections. Here are five recommendations for leaving Facebook without losing valuable content or contacts.

1. Consider Temporary Deactivation
   Instead of permanently deleting your account, consider temporarily deactivating it. This option allows you to take a break from Facebook without deleting your information or disconnecting from your contacts. Deactivation enables you to evaluate your experience outside the platform, and you can reactivate it at any time to recover your profile just as it was. To deactivate the account, go to the menu, navigate to Settings, select More information in the center of accounts, and then under Personal data, choose Account ownership and control. From there, follow the steps to deactivate your account.

2. Back Up Your Content
   If you have used Facebook as a memory album, it is essential to back up the content you wish to keep. While you can save photos and videos individually, downloading a copy of all your information—including posts, messages, and reactions—is a more comprehensive option. This can be done by accessing the Settings menu, selecting Your information and permissions, and choosing Download your information. From there, follow the instructions to select the content to back up.

3. Inform Friends and Groups of Your Decision
   You likely have friends and family who only communicate with you through Facebook. Therefore, it is advisable to notify them of your decision to leave the platform, whether through a post or a direct message. This will not only inform them of your absence on Facebook but also allow them to contact you via other means. If you actively participate in groups, it would also be beneficial to share your decision there.

4. Disconnect Linked Apps and Services
   Over time, it’s common to have linked your Facebook account to various apps and services, such as music platforms or games. If you decide to delete your account without disconnecting these services, you could face difficulties accessing them in the future. To avoid this, go to Settings, select Apps and websites under Your activity, and review the list of linked apps. To disconnect any, select the app and confirm by clicking Remove.

5. Note Birthdays
   Facebook is useful for remembering friends' and family members' birthdays, a service that might be challenging to keep track of without the platform. Before proceeding to delete your account, take note of important dates and add them to your calendar in another app. You can find this information by accessing the birthday list from the search icon.

As an additional recommendation, it is advisable to delete any personal information that may remain on your profile, such as your email address or phone number. Although deleting your account should erase this data, manually removing sensitive information helps protect your privacy.