You can delete comments on your own posts, and Instagram gives you tools to remove comments from others too
Instagram lets you delete any comment on a post you made, whether it came from you or someone else. You can also delete your own comments on other people's posts. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using the app or a browser, and whether the comment is on your post or someone else's.
Deleting comments is useful when you want to remove spam, offensive language, or just clean up a conversation. Unlike editing, which Instagram doesn't allow for comments, deletion is permanent — the comment disappears from the post entirely and the person who wrote it gets a notification that you removed it.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete any comment on your own posts by tapping the three dots next to the comment and selecting delete.
- You can delete your own comments on other people's posts the same way, but you cannot delete someone else's comment from their post.
- On Instagram's web version, right-click the comment to see the delete option instead of tapping three dots.
- The person whose comment you deleted will see a notification that you removed it, but they can post again.
- Blocking or restricting a user prevents their future comments from appearing on your posts without deleting past ones.
How to delete a comment on your own post using the app
Open Instagram and go to the post where you want to remove a comment. Scroll through the comments until you find the one you want to delete. Tap the three dots (or three horizontal lines) that appear to the right of the comment text — you may need to swipe left on the comment first to see them.
A menu will pop up with options including "Delete". Tap "Delete" and the comment disappears when ready. The person who wrote the comment will receive a notification that you deleted it, but the notification does not say why.
How to delete your own comment on someone else's post
Find the post where you left the comment. Scroll to your comment and tap the three dots next to it. Select "Delete" from the menu. Your comment is removed, and the post owner can see in their activity that a comment was deleted, though they won't know it was yours unless they were already following the thread.
If you want to remove a comment but keep the conversation going, you can also edit the text before posting — but once a comment is live, Instagram does not let you edit it. Deletion is your only option to change what's visible.
Deleting comments on Instagram's web version
If you're using Instagram in a browser on a computer, the process is slightly different. Open the post and find the comment you want to remove. Right-click directly on the comment text. A menu will appear with a "Delete" option at the bottom. Click it and the comment is gone.
If right-clicking doesn't work, look for a three-dot menu icon that appears when you hover your mouse over the comment. Click those dots and select "Delete" from the dropdown menu. The result is the same as on the app — the comment disappears and the author gets a notification.
What happens when you delete a comment
When you delete a comment, it vanishes from the post when ready. Anyone viewing the post after deletion will not see it. The comment count on the post decreases by one. If there were replies to that comment, those replies disappear too.
The person who wrote the comment receives a notification saying their comment was deleted, but not who deleted it or why. If they wrote a comment on your post, they'll know it was you. If you deleted your own comment on their post, they may not realize it was you unless they were actively reading the thread.
Preventing unwanted comments without deleting them
If you find yourself deleting comments from the same person repeatedly, consider restricting or blocking them instead. Restricting a user means their future comments on your posts will only be visible to them — you won't see them, and neither will anyone else. Blocking prevents them from seeing your profile or posts at all.
To restrict someone, go to their profile, tap the three dots in the top right, and select "Restrict". To block them, tap the three dots and select "Block". Both actions can be undone later from your settings. Restricting is gentler if you want to discourage someone without a hard break; blocking is stronger if you need them off your account entirely.
Why someone might not see their comment after posting
Sometimes a comment disappears not because you deleted it, but because Instagram's automated systems removed it. Instagram filters comments for spam, hate speech, and other violations of its community guidelines. If a comment triggers these filters, it may be hidden or deleted automatically without your action.
You can also turn on comment filters in your settings to automatically hide comments containing certain words or phrases. Go to Settings, then Privacy, then Comments, and add words to your filter list. Comments with those words will be hidden from your post, though the person who wrote them won't know they're hidden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person see that I deleted their comment?
Yes, they get a notification that their comment was deleted. The notification does not say who deleted it or why, just that it's gone. If it was on your post, they'll assume it was you.
Can I delete comments on a post I'm tagged in but didn't create?
No. You can only delete comments on posts you created. If someone tags you in a post and leaves a comment, only the post owner can delete that comment. You can delete your own comments on their post, but not anyone else's.
What if I delete a comment by accident?
Instagram does not have an undo button for deleted comments. Once it's gone, it's gone. You cannot recover it. If you need to restore the conversation, you would have to ask the person to repost their comment.
Does deleting a comment delete the replies to it?
Yes. When you delete a comment, all replies to that comment disappear too. If someone replied to a comment you deleted, their reply is also removed from the post.
Can I delete comments on a post I made if my account is private?
Yes, the privacy setting of your account does not change how comment deletion works. You can delete comments on your posts whether your account is public or private.