How to Download Your Facebook Data

This video walks you through how to download all of the personal data Facebook has that's associated with your account.

Video Transcript:
Facebook makes it possible for you to download all of the information that Facebook has about you. This includes information about when you logged into Facebook and what device you logged in from, what ads you click, topics that Facebook has identified you as being interested in for the purposes of targeting ads toward you, conversation history, places you've checked in to, and much, much more. You have to request an information file from Facebook, which has to generate your information file and will notify you when its ready to download. Facebook will supply your information to you in a ZIP file, which you'll need to unzip to see what's inside of it.

And now, let's walk through the steps to request and download your information from Facebook.

Step 2. Click the down-pointing arrow that appears in the menu row to the right of your profile icon in the upper right corner of the screen. A drop-down menu appears.

Step 3. Click "Settings." The General Account Settings screen appears.

Step 4. Select "General" in the list of options on the left side of the screen if it's not selected already.

Step 5. Click "Download a Copy" in the Download a Copy of Your Facebook Data message that appears beneath the information in the General Accounts Settings screen. The Download Your Information screen appears.

Step 6. Click the green "Start My Archive" button. A Please Re-enter Your Password screen appears. Re-enter your Facebook password, and then click "Submit." The Request My Download screen appears, informing you that it may take a while to gather your information.

Step 7. Click the blue "Start My Archive" button in the Request My Download dialog box. A Download Requested dialog box appears, informing you that Facebook will contact you at the email address associated with your account when your information is ready for you to download. Click the blue "Okay" button in the Download Requested dialog box to close it. You'll return to the Download Your Information screen.

Step 8. Wait for roughly 12 hours to receive an email from Facebook with the subject line Your Facebook Download is Ready. Navigate to the bottom of the email and click the link to start downloading your Facebook data file. You'll be returned to the Download Your Information screen on the Facebook website.

Step 9. Click the green "Download Archive" button. A dialog box appears asking you to re-enter the password for your Facebook account. Enter your password, and then click the blue "Continue" button. A Save As dialog box appears.

Step 10. Navigate to the location where you want to save your Facebook data file, and then click "Save." The file will be downloaded as a ZIP file. The amount of time it takes to download the data file depends on the size of the file and the speed of your Internet connection.

[rups]

There is no such option. After manage account there is option of identity confirmation.

[fafafafdada]

Thanks. After I download the files can I delete it in my "Available files"? and why I cant open messages in HTML? Thank you so much

[jaelynmarlan]

do you have to deactivate or delete your account to download your data? or can u keep your account as well as download data?

[stevenjgarner]

So I got 6 zip files - I have unzipped each one and now I have thousands of folders to recombine. How to automate that?

[graphicsociety]

Thanks for the great video, but when downloading it asks for password; which password is it asking for? I put in my Facebook password but it doesn't accept it.

[SuperCillz]

Download a copy doesn’t pop up for me. My technical support team thinks it may be due to the time I’ve had the fb account.

Is there another way to request the data ?

[patriciaharding]

Thanks for posting this. It was clear and easy to follow.

[Hy-Brasil]

I just want my pictures and stories about my kids (so i could write them down in ACTUAL book some day) i don't care about the rest of it. It's not like i'm going to sit there and read random comments from six years ago. The problem is I will actually have to weed through all that crap JUST to get the good but the ultimate goal is to delete that time hog. i also noticed my laptop hates that website. it runs quickly, smoothly and quietly until I pull up FB.

[captainlevonn]

Bruh the Download a copy not showing on my settings

[charlesbrightman]

Why does it take 12 hours for the system to get you copies of your own data? Time for NSA and/or others to scrub the data they don't want you to

[davaeddavis]

you sound like the criminally listed guy LOL but thanks!

[patrickdaveconsay]

Mine is requesting for a Zip file for more than 24 hours what should I do?

[leelewis]

I get to step 5 and then there is now download option. Cannot proceed past this point.

[fafafafdada]

Hi Max can I retrieved deleted messages? Thank you

[marylennanien]

I’m not really sorry but you are my favorite

[MrSloughran]

Hi there never asked me for my password just said will notify me when ready by email thanks for turturiol most helpful have a nice day 😀

[arupchowdhury]

my download and copy option is not showing.... what can i do please help

[fafafafdada]

I already open and why theres no deleted messages? I cant retrieved ? Thank you

[MrSloughran]

Hi Max wow it surprised me what face book had kept about me many thanks again 😁

[angeldreams]

i want to transfer that data to my another fb account..is it possible..!