You can delete your own Instagram photos in three taps from your phone
Open Instagram and go to your profile. Find the photo you want to remove, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post, and select "Delete." Instagram will ask you to confirm — tap "Delete" again, and the photo is gone from your profile and from anyone's feed within seconds.
The photo disappears from your profile when ready, but Instagram's servers may keep a copy for a short time as part of their backup systems. For practical purposes, it is deleted — no one can see it, comment on it, or share it anymore. If you posted the photo to your Stories instead of your main feed, the process is identical: three dots, delete, confirm.
Deleting a photo does not erase the comments or likes it received while it was live. Those are gone from view once the post is deleted, but Instagram's internal records may retain some data about the interaction. This matters mainly if you are concerned about a photo being screenshotted before you delete it — deletion stops new people from finding it, but does not retrieve copies someone already saved.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the three dots on any of your own posts and select "Delete" to remove it from your profile and feed within seconds.
- Deleted photos cannot be recovered through Instagram — once you confirm deletion, the post is permanently removed from the platform.
- Deleting a photo stops new people from seeing it, but does not retrieve screenshots or copies someone saved before you deleted it.
- You can only delete photos you posted yourself; you cannot delete comments or photos other people posted on your profile.
- Instagram keeps backup copies of deleted content for a limited time, but these are not accessible to you or other users.
What happens to likes and comments when you delete a photo
All comments, likes, and shares attached to the photo disappear when you delete the post. Anyone who commented on the photo will no longer see their comment on your profile, and the like count vanishes. If someone had saved the photo to their own collection before you deleted it, they can still see it in their saved folder — deletion only removes it from Instagram's public view.
If you are trying to remove a photo because of a specific comment or argument in the replies, deleting the whole post is the fastest way. You also have the option to delete individual comments without deleting the photo: tap the comment, hold it, and select "Delete." This lets you remove one problematic reply while keeping the photo live.
Recovering a deleted photo from Instagram
Instagram does not offer a trash bin or recovery option for deleted posts. Once you confirm deletion, you cannot get the photo back through the app or through Instagram's support team. If you need the photo again, your only option is to re-upload it from your phone's camera roll or cloud storage.
Before you delete a photo permanently, save a copy to your phone if you think you might want it later. You can read your own posts by taking a screenshot, or by using Instagram's "read Your Data" feature in Settings, which gives you copies of everything you have posted. This takes a few days to process, but it is useful if you want to back up your entire account before deleting anything.
Deleting photos from your Stories
Instagram Stories disappear automatically after 24 hours, so you do not have to delete them manually. If you want to remove a Story before the 24 hours are up, open your profile, tap and hold the Story you want to delete, and select "Delete." The Story vanishes when ready, and anyone who has not viewed it yet will not see it.
Unlike regular posts, Stories do not show a count of views or likes in a way that persists after deletion. Once a Story is gone, there is no record of it on your profile. People who screenshotted your Story before you deleted it will still have the image, but they cannot share it back to Instagram or tag you in it.
Removing photos from your profile without deleting them
If you do not want to delete a photo permanently but want to hide it from your profile, you can archive it instead. Tap the three dots on the post and select "Archive." The photo moves to a private folder that only you can see — it does not appear on your profile or in your followers' feeds, but you can unarchive it anytime to make it public again.
Archiving is useful if you are unsure whether you want to keep a photo long-term, or if you want to clean up your profile without losing the image. Archived posts do not count toward your visible post history, so your profile looks less cluttered. You can view all your archived posts by going to your profile, tapping the menu icon, and selecting "Archive."
What to do if someone else posted a photo of you
You cannot delete a photo that someone else posted, even if you are tagged in it. You can untag yourself by tapping the photo, finding your name in the tag list, and selecting "Remove Tag." This removes you from the post and stops it from appearing on your profile, but the photo stays on the other person's account.
If the photo violates Instagram's community guidelines — for example, if it is a nude image posted without consent — you can report it. Tap the three dots on the post and select "Report." Choose the reason that best describes the problem, and Instagram's team will review it. If they agree it breaks the rules, they will delete it. Reporting takes time, and Instagram does not always remove content, so reporting is not a may provide.
Deleting multiple photos at once
Instagram does not have a bulk delete feature that lets you remove many photos in one action. You have to delete each photo individually by tapping the three dots and confirming. If you want to clean up your entire profile, you will need to go through each post one by one.
If you want to delete your whole account instead of just individual photos, that is a separate process. You can deactivate your account temporarily (which hides your profile but keeps your data) or permanently delete it (which removes everything after 30 days). Both options are in Settings under "Account," but deleting your account removes all your photos at once, not just the ones you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a photo after someone has already screenshotted it?
No. Deleting a photo from Instagram only removes it from the platform — it does not retrieve screenshots or copies someone saved to their phone. If you are concerned about a photo being screenshotted, deletion will not help. The only way to prevent screenshots is to not post the photo in the first place, or to post it to your Stories, which disappear after 24 hours.
Will people get a notification if I delete a photo?
No. Instagram does not send notifications when you delete a post. People who liked or commented on the photo will not receive an alert that it is gone — they will straightforward notice it is no longer on your profile if they look for it.
Can I delete a photo I posted years ago?
Yes. You can delete any photo you posted, no matter how old it is. Go to your profile, scroll back to find the photo, tap the three dots, and select "Delete." Instagram keeps all your posts available for deletion unless you have already deleted them.
What is the difference between deleting and archiving a photo?
Deleting removes the photo from Instagram permanently and makes it invisible to everyone. Archiving hides the photo from your profile and other people's feeds, but you keep a private copy that only you can see. You can unarchive a photo anytime to make it public again, but you cannot recover a deleted photo.
If I delete a photo, will my follower count change?
No. Deleting a photo does not affect how many followers you have. Your follower count only changes when people follow or unfollow your account, not when you delete individual posts.