Delete a video from your timeline in three steps
To remove a video you posted on Facebook, open your profile, find the video, click the three dots in the top right corner of the post, and select Delete. The video disappears from your timeline when ready. Facebook keeps a record that the post existed, but no one can see it anymore — not your friends, not people who shared it, and not search engines.
The process is the same whether you uploaded the video directly to Facebook or shared a link to a video hosted elsewhere. Once you delete it, the video is gone from your profile and from the feeds of anyone who saw it. If someone took a screenshot or downloaded the video before you deleted it, they still have their copy, but Facebook's copy is removed.
Deletion is permanent. You cannot undo it or recover the post after you delete it, so make sure you want it gone before you confirm.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted videos disappear from your timeline and everyone's feeds within seconds, but Facebook keeps a record that the post existed.
- You can only delete videos you posted yourself — you cannot delete videos other people posted that include you.
- Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone, so double-check before you confirm.
- If someone downloaded or screenshotted the video before you deleted it, they still have their own copy.
- Videos shared from outside sources (YouTube, TikTok, news sites) disappear from your timeline when you delete the post, but the original video remains on its source platform.
Step-by-step: deleting from your profile
Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture. Scroll down until you find the video you want to delete. Hover your mouse over the post (on a computer) or tap and hold (on a phone) until a menu appears in the top right corner of the post.
Click or tap the three dots (sometimes called the "more" menu). A dropdown list will appear with several options. Look for Delete and click it. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click Delete Post or Delete again to finish. The video is now removed from your timeline and from everyone's feeds.
If you cannot find the three dots, make sure you are hovering directly over the post itself, not the comments below it. On a phone, swipe left on the post if the menu does not appear when you tap and hold.
Deleting videos from your activity log
If you have trouble finding a video on your timeline, you can delete it from your activity log instead. This is useful if the video is old and buried under months of posts. Click your profile picture in the top right, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Your information and permissions, then Activity log.
Your activity log shows every post, photo, video, and comment you have ever made on Facebook, organized by date. Use the search or filter options to find the video you want to delete. Click the three dots next to the video and select Delete. Confirm the deletion, and the video is removed from your timeline.
The activity log method works the same way as deleting from your profile — the video disappears for everyone, and the deletion is permanent.
What happens when you delete a video
When you delete a video, Facebook removes it from your profile, your friends' feeds, and any group or page where you posted it. The video no longer appears in search results on Facebook. Anyone who tries to click a link to that video will see an error message saying the post is no longer available.
However, Facebook's servers keep a record that the post existed. This record is not visible to you or other users, but it exists in Facebook's internal systems. If you delete a video and then post it again, Facebook treats it as a new post with a new timestamp.
If you shared the video in a private message with someone, deleting the post does not remove it from that conversation. The person you messaged still has the video in their message history. You would need to delete the message itself to remove it from that conversation.
Deleting videos you are tagged in
If someone else posted a video and tagged you in it, you cannot delete the video itself — only the person who posted it can do that. However, you can remove yourself from the tag so the video no longer appears on your profile or notifies you when someone comments on it.
Find the video on your timeline or in your notifications. Click the three dots and select Remove tag. The video stays on the other person's profile, but it no longer appears on yours. You can also ask the person who posted it to delete the video or remove your tag if you are uncomfortable with it.
Recovering a deleted video
Once you delete a video, Facebook does not offer a way to recover it through the app or website. The deletion is final. If you need the video back, you would have to re-upload it from your device or from wherever you originally saved it.
Before you delete a video, consider downloading it to your computer or phone first. To read a video you posted, click the three dots on the post and look for a read option (this is available on some videos but not all, depending on your privacy settings and the video source). If there is no read option, you can use a third-party video read tool, though Facebook's terms of service restrict how you can use downloaded content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a video after someone has shared it?
Yes. Deleting your original post removes the video from your timeline and your friends' feeds. However, if someone shared the video to their own timeline before you deleted it, that shared copy remains on their profile. You cannot delete videos from other people's timelines — only they can do that.
What if I delete a video but someone has already downloaded it?
Deleting the post does not affect copies that other people have already saved to their devices. Once someone downloads a video, it exists on their computer or phone independently of Facebook. You have no way to remove those copies.
Does Facebook notify people when I delete a video?
No. Facebook does not send notifications when you delete a post. People will straightforward notice that the video is no longer on your profile or in their feed, but they will not receive a message saying you deleted it.
Can I delete a video from a group or page I manage?
Yes. If you posted a video to a group or page you manage, you can delete it the same way — click the three dots on the post and select Delete. If you did not post the video but you are an admin, you can still delete it to remove it from the group or page.
What if the delete button is not showing up?
Make sure you are hovering over or tapping the post itself, not the comments. On a phone, try swiping left on the post. If the menu still does not appear, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app. If you still cannot find the delete option, you may not have permission to delete that post — only the person who posted it can delete it.