Delete a tweet in three steps

Open the tweet you want to remove, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner of the tweet, and select Delete from the menu. Twitter removes it when ready. The tweet disappears from your profile, from other people's feeds, and from search results within seconds.

You can delete any tweet you posted yourself. You cannot delete tweets from other accounts, even if they mention you or reply to something you wrote. If a tweet from someone else bothers you, you can mute that account, block the person, or report the tweet to Twitter instead.

Deleting a tweet does not notify the person who liked it, retweeted it, or replied to it. They will see that the tweet is gone when they try to view it, but they will not receive a message saying you deleted it.

Key Takeaways

  • You can delete your own tweets at any time by tapping the three dots and selecting Delete — the action is permanent and when ready.
  • Once deleted, a tweet disappears from your profile, other people's feeds, and search results, but people who saw it before deletion may remember it.
  • Deleting a tweet does not erase replies, retweets, or screenshots that other people created from it.
  • If you want to remove a tweet but keep the content, you can delete it and post a revised version instead.

Where the delete button is on different devices

On a phone or tablet, open Twitter and find the tweet on your profile or in your feed. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the tweet card. A menu appears with options including Delete. Tap Delete, and the tweet is gone.

On a computer, the process is the same. Click the three dots in the top right corner of the tweet, and Delete appears in the dropdown menu. Click it to remove the tweet.

If you cannot see the three dots, make sure you are looking at a tweet you posted yourself. The three-dot menu only appears on your own tweets, not on tweets from other accounts.

What happens after you delete a tweet

The tweet vanishes from your profile when ready. Anyone visiting your account will not see it in your timeline. It also disappears from the feeds of people who follow you, though they may have already seen it before you deleted it.

Search engines and Twitter's search function stop showing the tweet within seconds. However, if someone took a screenshot or quoted the tweet before you deleted it, that copy remains on their account and in their followers' feeds. Deleting your original tweet does not remove those copies.

If the tweet had replies or retweets, those remain on Twitter even after you delete the original. People can still see the replies and retweets, but they will show that the original tweet is no longer available.

Reasons to delete a tweet

You might delete a tweet because it contains a mistake, a typo, or outdated information. Deleting and reposting lets you fix the error without leaving the wrong version on your account.

You may also delete a tweet if you change your mind about what you posted, if it received unwanted attention, or if you want to clean up your profile before sharing it with an employer or school. Some people delete old tweets periodically to keep their timeline current.

If a tweet is getting negative replies or attracting harassment, deleting it stops new people from finding it, though it does not remove the replies that are already there.

Deleting tweets in bulk

Twitter does not have a built-in feature to delete all your tweets at once. You have to delete them one at a time using the three-dot menu.

If you want to remove many tweets quickly, third-party tools exist that can delete tweets in bulk, but they require you to give them access to your Twitter account. Before using any such tool, check its privacy policy and reviews. Twitter's terms of service allow these tools, but you are responsible for what access you grant them.

A safer approach is to delete your most recent tweets first, working backward through your timeline. This takes longer but keeps your account security in your own hands.

What you cannot undo after deleting

Once you delete a tweet, you cannot get it back. Twitter does not have an undo button or a trash folder. If you delete something by accident, you will have to rewrite and repost it.

For this reason, if you are deleting a tweet that had important information — a link, a date, a quote — take a screenshot or copy the text before you delete it. That way you have a record if you need to post it again.

Deleting a tweet also does not remove it from people's memories or devices. If someone bookmarked it, screenshotted it, or quoted it, that copy stays with them.

Protecting your account while managing tweets

When you delete tweets, make sure you are logged into your own account and not someone else's. If you share a device with other people, log out of Twitter after you finish, so no one else can delete your tweets by accident.

If your account has been hacked or compromised, delete any tweets the hacker posted, then change your password and review your login history. Twitter's security settings let you see which devices and locations have accessed your account.

Regularly reviewing and deleting old tweets is also a way to keep your account clean. Many people delete tweets older than a year or two to remove outdated information or past opinions they no longer hold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a tweet if someone retweeted it?

Yes. Deleting your original tweet removes it from your profile and search results, but the retweet stays on the other person's account. They will see that the original tweet is no longer available when they click on their retweet.

What if I delete a tweet by accident?

Twitter does not have an undo or recovery option. You will need to rewrite and repost the tweet if you want it back. This is why it helps to copy important text before deleting.

Does deleting a tweet notify people who liked or replied to it?

No. People do not receive a notification that you deleted a tweet. They will only notice it is gone if they try to view it or click on a link to it.

Can I delete tweets from other people's accounts?

No. You can only delete tweets you posted yourself. If someone else's tweet bothers you, you can mute their account, block them, or report the tweet to Twitter.

Will deleting my tweets improve my privacy?

Deleting tweets removes them from public view, but it does not erase copies people already made. For stronger privacy, review what you post before tweeting, use private accounts, or limit who can see your tweets in your privacy settings.