- Facebook Dating is separate from your main profile
- Delete your Facebook Dating profile step by step
- What happens when you delete your Dating profile
- Is there a way to pause Facebook Dating instead?
- Before you delete your Dating profile, think about what you'll lose
- A short checklist before you tap Delete profile
- Can't find Facebook Dating at all?
- Facebook Dating safety for everyday users
- A note for business owners and Page admins
- Frequently asked questions
To turn off Facebook Dating, open the Facebook app, tap Menu, then Dating, tap the icon in the top right, tap Settings, then below Account tap Delete profile and confirm. This doesn't delete your Facebook account, but your Dating profile, matches and conversations can't be recovered.
Facebook Dating is something you opt in to, so it's reassuring to know you can opt back out. Maybe the relationship worked out, maybe the whole thing wasn't for you, or maybe a friend mentioned they'd spotted you in it and you'd like it gone. Whatever the reason, you can leave Dating without touching the rest of your Facebook.
The steps below follow Facebook's help articles Delete your Facebook Dating profile and What happens when you delete your Facebook Dating profile. One thing to know up front: the help pages describe deleting the profile. I couldn't find a pause or hide option in them, so I won't describe one.
Facebook Dating is separate from your main profile
Dating is a feature you open from the Facebook app on Android or iPhone. Facebook's help article says you can delete your Dating profile without deleting your Facebook account. It also says that if you delete your Facebook account, your Dating profile will be deleted too. Those are two different decisions, and my guide to deleting or deactivating your Facebook account explains the bigger one.
Delete your Facebook Dating profile step by step
- From your Facebook app, tap Menu in the top left, then tap Dating.
- Tap the icon in the top right.
- Tap Settings.
- Below Account, tap Delete profile.
- Tap Delete profile again to confirm.
That's the whole route according to Facebook's help article. Button positions can shift between app versions, so if something looks different, use the search box inside the Facebook app and type the name of the article.
What happens when you delete your Dating profile
Facebook's help article says deleting your profile removes your Dating profile, answers, likes, matches and conversations. A second help article adds that this information is not recoverable.
- Your matches can still see your chats. Facebook says deleting conversations from your profile doesn't remove them from the other person's inbox, and that people can't delete messages from another person's inbox.
- Your main Facebook account stays. Your normal profile isn't deleted by this step.
- There's a wait before you can start again. Facebook says you can't create a new Dating profile for seven days after deleting one. If you try sooner, you may see a message saying the limit has been reached.
Is there a way to pause Facebook Dating instead?
Some websites talk about pausing Dating. The Facebook help pages I read for this guide describe only deleting. If you want a break and aren't sure you're done, think carefully before you press the final button, because Facebook describes the deletion as permanent.
| What you want | What Facebook's help describes |
|---|---|
| Leave Dating for good | Delete profile, under Settings and then Account in Dating |
| Keep your Facebook account | Deleting the Dating profile doesn't delete the account |
| Come back later | A new profile can be created after seven days |
| Stop alerts only | Notification settings in the Facebook app |
Before you delete your Dating profile, think about what you'll lose
Because Facebook says the profile, answers, likes, matches and conversations can't be recovered, take a moment first. If there's a chat or a picture you want to keep, save it before you go. A screenshot of anything important is a sensible precaution.
It's also worth asking yourself why you're leaving. If it's tiredness with the app, notifications may be the real problem, and my guide on turning off notifications on Facebook may be enough. If it's a bad experience with a particular person, blocking and reporting them is the more targeted fix. I've explained blocking on the main platform in my guide to blocking someone on Facebook.
A short checklist before you tap Delete profile
- Decide whether you want a break or an ending. Facebook's help pages describe deletion only, and say it can't be undone.
- Save anything you'd miss, such as a conversation with a match you plan to keep in touch with elsewhere.
- Remember that your matches can still see the conversations they had with you.
- Make a note of the date. If you change your mind, Facebook says you'll have to wait seven days before you can create a new Dating profile.
- Then follow the five steps above and confirm.
None of this touches your normal Facebook profile, your posts or your Pages. It's a tidy exit from one feature, and it's worth treating it like one: calm, deliberate and done in one go.
Can't find Facebook Dating at all?
Facebook's help article says you access Dating from the Facebook app on Android or iPhone. If you can't find it in the menu, you may not have a Dating profile, it may not be offered where you are, or your app may need updating. Try the search box in the app and look for the word Dating.
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Facebook Dating safety for everyday users
If someone is bothering you through Dating, report them to Facebook. If you ever feel in danger, contact the police. Don't hang on to a profile just in case; take it down.
A note for business owners and Page admins
Your Dating profile doesn't connect to any Page you run, and Pages have nothing to do with Dating. If you're worried about customers seeing it, delete the profile and review who can see your friends list, which I covered in my guide to hiding your friends list on Facebook.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn off Facebook Dating?
Open the Facebook app, tap Menu, then Dating, tap the icon in the top right, tap Settings, then below Account tap Delete profile and confirm. This is the route Facebook's help article describes.
Does turning off Facebook Dating delete my Facebook account?
No. Facebook says you can delete your Dating profile without deleting your Facebook account.
Can I pause Facebook Dating instead of deleting it?
The Facebook help pages I read describe only deleting. I couldn't find a pause option, so I won't promise one.
Can I get my Dating profile back after deleting it?
Facebook says your profile, answers, likes, matches and conversations aren't recoverable. You can create a new profile after seven days.
Will my matches still see our conversations?
Facebook says deleting conversations from your profile doesn't remove them from the other person's inbox.
Why can't I find Facebook Dating in my app?
Facebook says you access Dating from the Android or iPhone app. Try searching for Dating in the app or updating it.
