You can edit a Facebook post up to 30 days after you publish it

Facebook lets you change the text, photo, or link in any post you've made — but only within 30 days. After that window closes, you can still delete the post entirely, but you cannot edit it. The edit button appears in a menu on the post itself, and the process takes about 30 seconds.

Edits are visible to everyone who could see the original post. Facebook does not hide the fact that you edited something — it shows "Edited" below the timestamp so people know the post changed. This matters if you're correcting a mistake or adding information, because your audience will see both the original time and the edit notice.

You can edit a post on Facebook's website, on the mobile app for iPhone or Android, or through Facebook Lite. The steps are slightly different depending on which device you use, but the menu you're looking for is the same.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the post you want to change, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Edit post" from the menu.
  • You can change the text, add or remove photos, or update links, but you cannot change who the post is shared with after publishing.
  • Facebook marks edited posts with an "Edited" label so your audience knows the post changed.
  • Once 30 days have passed, you can no longer edit the post, though you can still delete it completely.
  • If you delete a post by mistake, Facebook does not recover it — there is no undo or trash folder for posts.

How to edit a post on Facebook's website or app

Find the post you want to change on your timeline or in a group. Look for the three dots (called a menu button) in the top right corner of the post, next to the timestamp. Tap or click those three dots.

A menu will pop up with several options. Select "Edit post" — it's usually near the top of the list. The post will open in edit mode, and you'll see the text box and any photos or links highlighted so you can change them. Make whatever changes you need: rewrite the text, swap out a photo, or fix a link. When you're done, look for a "Save" or "Done" button at the bottom and tap or click it.

Your post will update when ready. Anyone who saw the original version will see the new version, and the "Edited" label will appear below the timestamp. People who haven't seen the post yet will only see the edited version.

What you can and cannot change in an edited post

You can change the text of your post freely — rewrite it completely, fix typos, add more information, or shorten it. You can also add, remove, or swap photos and videos. If your post includes a link to a website, you can change that link or remove it entirely.

You cannot change the privacy setting after you publish. If you posted something publicly and want it to be visible only to friends, you'll need to delete the post and create a new one with the correct privacy setting. You also cannot change who is tagged in the post — if you want to add or remove a tag, delete and repost.

If your post is in a group, you cannot move it to your timeline or another group by editing. Editing only changes the content itself, not where the post lives or who can see it.

Deleting a post instead of editing it

If you want to remove a post entirely rather than fix it, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner and select "Delete" instead of "Edit post." Facebook will ask you to confirm — tap or click "Delete post" again to remove it permanently. The post will disappear from your timeline and from everyone's feeds when ready.

Deleted posts cannot be recovered. Facebook does not keep a trash folder or undo option for posts you delete yourself. If you delete something by mistake, your only option is to write and post it again from scratch.

Deleting is useful if you posted something you regret, if the post contains outdated information you don't want to correct, or if you want to remove a post that's been up for longer than 30 days and you can't edit it anymore.

Why Facebook marks posts as edited

The "Edited" label exists so people know a post has changed since they first saw it. If someone read your post an hour ago and comes back to it later, the label tells them something is different now. This transparency matters especially if you're correcting misinformation or changing a claim you made.

Facebook does not let you hide the fact that you edited a post — there's no way to remove the "Edited" label. If you want a post to look like it was never changed, your only option is to delete it and post a new version. The new post will have a fresh timestamp and no edit history.

Editing posts in groups and on other people's pages

You can edit your own posts in groups the same way you edit posts on your timeline — find the three dots and select "Edit post." Group admins can also edit or delete posts that other members made, but regular members cannot edit anyone else's posts.

If you posted on someone else's timeline or page, you can still edit your own post using the same method. The post owner (the person whose timeline or page it's on) can also edit or delete your post if they choose to. You cannot edit posts on a page you don't own unless you're an admin of that page.

What happens if you edit a post with comments or reactions

Editing a post does not delete the comments or reactions people have already left. If your post has 50 likes and 10 comments, those stay there after you edit the text. The comments will still be visible below the edited post, so people can see what others were responding to.

This is important to keep in mind if you're editing a post to correct something people commented on. Your edit will change what the post says, but the comments will still refer to the old version. If the change is significant, you might want to add a comment yourself explaining what you changed and why.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit a post after 30 days?

No. Once 30 days have passed, the "Edit post" option disappears. You can still delete the post, but you cannot change its text or photos. If you need to update information in an old post, delete it and post a new version.

Does editing a post change when it appears in people's feeds?

No. Editing a post does not bump it back to the top of feeds or make it appear new. It stays in the same position it was in before. People who have already scrolled past it will not see it again unless they go back to your timeline.

Can I edit a post I shared from another page or account?

No. You can only edit posts you created yourself. If you shared someone else's post (a repost or share), you cannot edit the original post — you can only delete your share of it. To change what the post says, the original author has to edit it.

What if I edit a post and then want to undo the edit?

Facebook does not keep a version history of your posts. Once you save an edit, the old version is gone. If you need to go back to what you wrote before, you'll have to remember it and edit the post again manually.

Does editing a post notify people who commented on it?

No. People who commented on your post will not get a notification that you edited it. They'll only see the change if they go back and look at the post again. The "Edited" label is visible on the post itself, but Facebook does not send alerts about edits.