Now you can deactivate your Facebook account and still use the messenger.

If you feel like you spend too much time checking the latest status updates on Facebook but regularly use its Messenger app to keep in contact with friends and family, there is a way to wean yourself off one while remaining active on the other.Facebook but regularly use its Messenger app to keep in contact with friends and family, there is a way to wean yourself off one while remaining active on the other.

Instead of deleting your Facebook account, you can also deactivate your account so you can temporarily remove yourself from the site. You won’t appear in search results and your Timeline will disappear, but your information isn’t deleted so you can log back in at any point to resume using it.deleted so you can log back in at any point to resume using it.

Deactivating your account needn’t mean waving goodbye to Messenger, the instant messaging program that lets you share text messages and make video calls with friends and family individually or in groups.needn’t mean waving goodbye to Messenger, the instant messaging program that lets you share text messages and make video calls with friends and family individually or in groups.

Here’s how to keep Messenger up and running while giving yourself a well-earned break from Facebook:

Step 1: Download your data

Start by downloading a copy of your Facebook data. You don’t need to do this, but in the event you decide not to reactivate, you’ve got a permanent copy of all your posts and photos.

Click the drop-down arrow at the top right and select Settings.

Under General, click ‘Download a copy of your Facebook data.’

Follow the instructions and Facebook will send you an email with a link allowing you to download a copy of your personal archive.

Step 2: Deactivate your account (part 1)

Remaining within the Settings menu, click Security from the left-hand side. Look forfor‘Deactivate‘Deactivate your account’ and click Edit.

Click ‘Deactivate your account’ and enter a reason for leaving.

To try and make you stay Facebook will offer a solution to each reason.

Step 3: Deactivate your account (part 2)

Underneath are two options:

Email opt-out: Tick the box and you won’t receive future emails from Facebook.

Messenger: Keep the box checked to keep using Messenger; this means people will still be able to send you a message.

When you are happy click happy click ‘Deactivate’. Facebook will ask you one more time if you are sure, so click ‘Deactivate’ again.

4: Using Messenger

Launch Messenger on your phone and you’ll see a screen called ‘Keep Using Messenger.’

This means you can keep using Messenger to chat to your Facebook friends, but you don’t have to use Facebook.