Facebook Memories shows you posts, photos, and events from your past on the anniversary they happened
Facebook's Memories feature automatically surfaces content you posted years earlier — a photo from a vacation, a status update, an event you attended. The feature appears as a dedicated section in Facebook's main menu and also sends you daily reminders of what you posted on that date in previous years. You do not have to do anything to create these memories; Facebook builds them from your own posting history.
The Memories tool works differently from searching your timeline. Instead of you hunting through years of posts, Facebook shows you curated selections based on dates. This matters because Facebook stores everything you post — even deleted comments and old photos — and Memories is one of the main ways the platform lets you revisit that history.
Key Takeaways
- Memories appear in Facebook's left-side menu under "Memories" and show posts from the same date in previous years.
- You can view memories by date, person, or location by using the Memories section or the "On This Day" feature.
- Memories only shows posts you made yourself or were tagged in — not posts from other people's timelines.
- You can hide specific memories, turn off daily memory notifications, or delete old posts to control what appears.
- Facebook stores all your data even after you delete a post, so memories may resurface unless you permanently remove the content.
Finding Memories in the left menu
Open Facebook and look at the left side of your screen. Below your name and profile picture, you will see a list of options including "Friends," "Groups," and "Pages." Scroll down this menu until you see "Memories" — it usually appears near the bottom, sometimes under a "More" section you have to click to expand.
Click "Memories" and Facebook will show you today's memories — posts you made on this date in previous years. The page displays them in reverse chronological order, with the most recent year first. Each memory shows the original post, how many likes or comments it received, and the year it was posted.
If you do not see Memories in your menu, your account may be new or you may not have posted much in previous years. The feature only works if you have content from at least one year ago. On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then scroll to find Memories.
Using "On This Day" to browse by date
The "On This Day" feature is Facebook's way of showing you memories without waiting for the anniversary date. Open your Memories section and you will see a calendar or date picker. You can select any date and Facebook will show you posts from that date across all previous years you have been on the platform.
This is useful if you are looking for a memory from a specific time — a birthday, a holiday, or a trip — rather than waiting for that date to come around again. Click the date you want and Facebook displays all posts, photos, and events from that date in past years. You can scroll through multiple years of the same date to find what you are looking for.
Searching for memories by person or location
Facebook's Memories section includes filters that let you narrow down what you see. At the top of the Memories page, you will see options to filter by "People," "Photos," "Videos," or "Posts." Click "People" and type a name to see all memories involving that person — posts you made with them, photos you were tagged in together, or events you both attended.
The location filter works similarly. If you tagged your posts with a location (a restaurant, a city, a landmark), you can filter memories by that place. This helps if you remember roughly where something happened but not when. Keep in mind that this filter only works for posts where you or someone else added a location tag at the time of posting.
You can also use Facebook's main search bar to look for old posts. Type a keyword, name, or phrase into the search box at the top of Facebook, then click "Posts" to see results from your own timeline. This is broader than Memories and includes posts from any date, not just anniversaries.
Controlling which memories appear
If a memory is painful or embarrassing, you can hide it so it does not appear in your Memories feed again. Hover over the memory and click the three dots in the corner. Select "Hide this memory" and Facebook will remove it from your Memories section — though the original post remains on your timeline and in Facebook's records.
You can also turn off daily memory notifications if you do not want Facebook reminding you of old posts. Go to your Facebook settings, click "Notifications," then search for "Memories." Toggle off "Memories notifications" and Facebook will stop sending you daily reminders. You can still view Memories manually by visiting the Memories section whenever you want.
If you want to permanently remove a memory, you have to delete the original post from your timeline. Right-click the post, select "Delete," and confirm. This removes it from your timeline and from future Memories. However, Facebook may retain a copy of the data in its backup systems, so deletion does not may provide the content is gone from Facebook's servers.
Understanding what Facebook stores about your memories
Every post you make on Facebook — including ones you later delete — is stored in Facebook's database. The Memories feature only shows you a small portion of what Facebook keeps. Even if you hide a memory or delete a post, Facebook retains the data for its own purposes, including targeted advertising and user analysis.
This is why memories can resurface unexpectedly. If you delete a post but Facebook still has it in storage, and you later reactivate your account or change your privacy settings, that post might reappear. The Memories feature itself does not store anything new — it straightforward retrieves posts from data Facebook already has about you.
If you are concerned about your data, you can read a copy of everything Facebook has stored about you. Go to Settings, click "Your Information," then select "read Your Information." Facebook will create a file containing all your posts, photos, messages, and metadata. This shows you exactly what the platform has recorded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see memories from other people's posts I was tagged in?
Yes. Memories includes photos and posts where someone else tagged you, not just content you posted yourself. If a friend posted a photo of you five years ago and tagged you in it, that photo will appear in your Memories on the anniversary of that post. You can hide these memories the same way you hide your own posts.
What if I do not want certain people to see my memories?
Memories are private to you — other people cannot see your Memories feed. However, if you have posted something publicly or shared it with specific people, those people can still see the original post on your timeline or in their own feeds. Hiding a memory only removes it from your Memories section, not from your timeline or from other people's view of your profile.
Why is Facebook showing me memories I do not remember posting?
Facebook's algorithm sometimes surfaces posts you made years ago that you genuinely forgot about. This is especially common with old status updates, comments, or photos you were tagged in. If you do not want to see them again, you can hide the memory or delete the original post.
Can I export or save my memories?
You can read all your Facebook data, including posts that appear in Memories, through Facebook's "read Your Information" tool in Settings. This creates a file you can save to your computer. Individual memories cannot be exported separately, but the full data read includes everything.
Do memories appear if my account is deactivated?
No. If you deactivate your Facebook account, Memories stops working because the feature requires an active account. If you reactivate your account later, Memories will resume showing you posts from your history. If you permanently delete your account, Facebook eventually removes your data, though this can take up to 90 days.