You can remove a like by clicking it again
To delete a like on Facebook, find the post you liked and click the reaction button — the thumbs up icon or emoji — again. The like disappears when ready. This works on posts from friends, pages, photos, comments, and links. There is no separate "delete" option; clicking the reaction a second time is how Facebook removes it.
The reaction button appears at the bottom of every post. On a computer, hover over the post to see it clearly. On a phone, the button is visible without hovering. One click adds the like; the second click removes it. If you have already reacted with a different emoji (such as a heart or laughing face), clicking the thumbs up will change your reaction instead of adding a second one — Facebook only lets you pick one reaction per post.
Key Takeaways
- Click the reaction button (thumbs up or emoji) on any post a second time to remove your like when ready.
- This works the same way on desktop, mobile web, and the Facebook app.
- If you reacted with a different emoji, clicking thumbs up will swap your reaction rather than add a second one.
- Removed likes do not send a notification to the person who posted, so they will not see that you unliked it.
- You can remove likes from your own posts, other people's posts, comments, photos, and shared links.
How to remove a like on desktop
Open Facebook in your web browser and find the post you want to unlike. Hover your mouse over the post to reveal the reaction button at the bottom. The button shows a thumbs up icon or the emoji you selected when you liked it. Click that button once, and your like is removed.
If you cannot see the reaction button, scroll down slightly or move your mouse directly over the post area. Some posts hide the button until you hover. Once you see it, a single click removes the like. The post will refresh to show that you no longer liked it, and the like count will decrease by one.
How to remove a like on the Facebook app
Open the Facebook app on your phone and scroll to the post you liked. The reaction button appears at the bottom of the post without any hovering needed. Tap the thumbs up icon or the emoji you selected. Your like is removed when ready, and the like count drops by one.
On both iPhone and Android, the process is identical. The button is always visible on the main feed, so you do not need to tap anything else first. If you tapped a different emoji (heart, laughing face, angry face, or sad face), tapping the thumbs up will change your reaction to a thumbs up instead of removing it entirely. To remove all reactions, tap the thumbs up if that is your current reaction, or tap your current emoji to toggle it off.
Removing likes from comments and photos
You can remove likes from comments the same way you remove them from posts. Find the comment you liked, locate the reaction button beneath it, and click or tap it again. The like disappears, and the comment's like count decreases.
For photos, open the photo to full view and look for the reaction button at the bottom. Click or tap it to remove your like. You can also unlike photos from the thumbnail view in an album — the reaction button appears when you hover (on desktop) or is always visible (on mobile). Shared links, videos, and other post types all follow the same pattern: find the reaction button and click it a second time.
What happens when you remove a like
When you remove a like, it disappears from your activity and from the post's like count. The person who posted does not receive a notification that you unliked it. Your unlike does not appear in anyone else's news feed or activity log. The action is private and when ready.
If you liked a post and then removed the like, Facebook does not keep a record that you ever liked it. The post will not appear in your "Likes" section of your profile. However, if you commented on the post, your comment remains visible even if you remove your like.
Removing likes from your own posts
You can remove your own like from a post you created. Find the post on your timeline or in your news feed, and click or tap the reaction button to remove your like. This works the same way as removing a like from anyone else's post. Your own like count will decrease by one.
Removing your like from your own post does not delete the post itself. Comments, shares, and other reactions remain unchanged. If you want to remove the entire post, you would need to delete it separately using the three-dot menu on the post.
Troubleshooting: The reaction button is not responding
If clicking the reaction button does not work, refresh the page or close and reopen the app. Sometimes Facebook needs a moment to load properly. On desktop, try a different browser or clear your browser cache. On mobile, make sure you have the latest version of the Facebook app installed.
If the button still does not respond, check your internet connection. A weak connection can prevent the like from being removed. Wait a few seconds and try again. If the problem persists, log out and log back in. This usually fixes minor glitches that prevent reactions from working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the person know when I unlike their post?
No. Facebook does not send a notification when you remove a like. The person who posted will not see that you unliked it, and it will not appear in their activity log. Only you know that you removed the like.
Can I undo removing a like?
Yes. If you remove a like by mistake, click or tap the reaction button again to add it back. Facebook does not track how many times you have liked and unliked something, so you can change your mind as many times as you want.
What if I reacted with an emoji instead of a thumbs up?
If your reaction is a heart, laughing face, angry face, or sad face, clicking the thumbs up will change your reaction to a thumbs up. To remove all reactions entirely, click or tap your current emoji a second time. This removes the reaction without replacing it with something else.
Can I remove likes from old posts?
Yes. You can remove a like from any post, no matter how old it is. Find the post in your timeline, in your activity log, or in someone else's profile, and click the reaction button to remove it. There is no time limit on when you can unlike something.
Will removing a like affect my privacy?
No. Removing a like does not change your privacy settings or expose any information. It straightforward removes that one reaction from that one post. Your profile privacy and post visibility settings remain the same.