Updated April 2026.
Facebook holds years of your life. Photos, posts, messages, every place you've checked in, every like. Most people don't realize the full archive is available. You can download everything in a single file with a few clicks. The download itself is easy. The harder question is what to do with all that data once you have it.
This guide covers both: how to get your Facebook data in 2026 (Facebook has changed the flow a few times) and the best things to do with it once it's on your desktop. Whether you're planning to turn your Facebook history into a printed book, keep a backup before closing the account, or save a record for family, the right approach depends on the end goal.
Why download your Facebook data
Four common reasons, ranked by what people actually do with the download:
- Turn it into a printed photo book. Years of posts, organized chronologically with photos and captions, in a book you can keep or give away. This is by far the most common reason. See the section below.
- Archive before deleting your account. If you're planning to leave Facebook, downloading first means you keep every photo and memory. You can walk away without losing a decade of history.
- Preserve a record of a specific event or person. A grandparent passing, a wedding, a year abroad. Exporting lets you extract the part you care about and set it aside.
- Audit what Facebook knows about you. The archive shows everything Facebook has stored: friend lists, ad interests, login history, messages. Some people download for curiosity alone.
How to download your Facebook data in 2026
Facebook moved the download flow into the Accounts Center in 2024. The path is now the same on desktop and mobile, with minor UI differences. Desktop is easier if you're downloading a lot of data.
Desktop steps
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook
- Go to Settings & privacy, then Settings
- In the left sidebar, click Accounts Center
- Click Your information and permissions
- Click Download your information
- Click Download or transfer information
- Select the Facebook account you want to export from
- Choose Some of your information to pick specific types, or All of your information for the full archive
- Pick a destination: Download to device
- Set date range, format (HTML or JSON), and media quality (Low, Medium, or High)
- Click Create files
Facebook emails you when the file is ready. Download it from the same Accounts Center page. The file expires a few days later, so save it to your device quickly.
Mobile steps
In the Facebook app, tap your profile picture, then Settings & privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Center. Follow the same flow as desktop. Mobile works, but a big download will eat phone storage. Use desktop if you have the choice.
HTML or JSON?
Pick HTML if you want to browse the data like a website. Posts look similar to how they appeared on Facebook, which makes it easier to scan years of content. Pick JSON if you're planning to import the data into another tool. For most people who just want to look at their history, HTML is the right call.
How long does the download take?
Anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. A slim download (posts and photos only, medium quality) usually finishes within 30 minutes. A full download with high-quality media and a decade of history can take 6 to 12 hours. Facebook will notify you when it's done.
What to do with your Facebook data (the fun part)
You've got the zip file. Now what? Sitting in a folder on your computer, the data doesn't do much. The real value comes from doing something with it.
Turn it into a printed photo book
The single best thing you can do with your Facebook data is turn it into a book. Your photos, captions, dates, locations, and likes all end up in a real book you can keep on a shelf, give as a gift, or hand down.
My Social Book connects directly to Facebook and builds a chronological photo book from your posts automatically. No downloading, no uploading, no layout work. The whole process takes under three minutes: connect, preview, adjust, order. Your photos appear with their original dates and captions, so the book reads like a proper timeline of your life rather than a random slideshow.
Books run from 25 to 450 pages in a 21 x 25 cm format, with hardcover or softcover options in glossy or matte finishes. With a 4.7 Trustpilot rating, 12 years in business, and over 700,000 books printed, My Social Book is the main reason most people start thinking about Facebook data in the first place. If your plan was to get your photos out of Facebook and into print, you can skip the download step entirely. My Social Book handles everything through the Facebook connection.
See your free book preview in 3 minutes
Archive it, then delete your account
If you've been thinking about leaving Facebook, downloading your data first is the obvious move. You get to keep everything that matters (photos, messages, memories), and you can close the account without losing a decade of history. A lot of people download specifically to do this: archive the content, print the best of it as a book, then delete the account for good.
If that's your plan, downloading in HTML format means you can still browse your old posts offline. Combining that with a printed Facebook photo book covers both ends: a permanent digital archive and a physical keepsake.
Turn it into a family gift
Years of posts often cover weddings, births, trips, kids growing up. Content that gets shared once and forgotten in a feed. Turning it into a physical book means your parents, partner, or children can actually hold it. A book feels different from an infinite scroll. Grandparents in particular tend to care a lot more about the book version than anyone realizes.
Start your free preview. Connect your Facebook and see how your years of posts look as a real book.
What's not included in your Facebook archive
A few things are missing from the download, which is worth knowing before you start:
- Deleted content. Once you delete a post, message, or photo on Facebook, it's gone from their servers. The download only includes content that was live when you requested it.
- Ad-targeting categories. Facebook categorizes every user with thousands of attributes to decide which ads to show. Most of those don't appear in the download. You can see some of them under Ad preferences in your settings.
- Content from other users. Comments or messages from friends aren't included unless they were on your own timeline.
- Off-Facebook activity details. The archive shows a summary but not the full granular detail of every website that shares data with Facebook.
Before you start
A few practical things worth getting right the first time:
- Use a private network. Avoid downloading your Facebook data on public Wi-Fi. The file includes years of personal content.
- Storage check. A full download with high-quality media can be several gigabytes. Make sure your device has room, or use an external drive.
- The download expires. Facebook keeps the generated file available for a few days after it's ready. Save it to your device soon after you get the notification.
- Password required. Facebook will ask for your password before starting the download. This is normal.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download only my Facebook photos?
Yes. In the "Download your information" flow, deselect everything except "Posts" and "Photos and videos." You'll get all your uploaded images without the rest of the history. If you want a photo book specifically, you don't even need to download. My Social Book pulls your photos directly from Facebook, no download step required.
Can I download deleted posts or messages?
No. Once you delete something on Facebook, it's gone from their servers and won't appear in your download. If you're worried about losing content, download before you delete anything.
Is it safe to download my Facebook data?
Yes, as long as you're on a private network and downloading to a secure device. Avoid public Wi-Fi. Facebook requires your password before starting the download, and you can delete the generated file from Facebook's servers after you've saved it to your device.
How do I turn my Facebook data into a photo book?
My Social Book does this automatically. Connect your Facebook account and the service generates a chronological book from your posts with original dates, captions, and photos preserved. You can preview every page, adjust the cover, and order. No download or upload needed. The whole process takes under three minutes.
What's the difference between HTML and JSON formats?
HTML shows your data as browsable web pages that look similar to Facebook. JSON is raw structured data that other tools can read. For most personal use, HTML is the right call. For developers or automation pipelines, JSON.
Ready to turn your Facebook years into a real book? Create your free My Social Book preview. It takes less than three minutes, and you'll see your actual posts laid out in a printed book before you buy.
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