Delete a photo you posted yourself
You can remove any photo you uploaded to Facebook at any time. The photo disappears from your timeline, from other people's feeds, and from Facebook's servers — though Facebook keeps a backup copy for 90 days in case you change your mind.
Go to your Facebook profile and find the photo you want to remove. Click or tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post. A menu appears with options including "Delete." Click "Delete" and confirm when Facebook asks if you're sure. The photo is gone from public view when ready.
If the photo is part of an album (like "Vacation 2024" or "Family Photos"), you can delete it the same way — from your profile or from inside the album itself. Removing a photo from an album removes it from Facebook entirely, not just from that album.
Key Takeaways
- Photos you posted yourself can be deleted from your profile by clicking the three dots on the post and selecting "Delete."
- Deleted photos disappear when ready from your timeline and other people's feeds, though Facebook keeps a backup for 90 days.
- Photos someone else posted of you can be removed from your timeline without deleting the original post.
- You cannot delete photos posted by other people from their timelines, but you can ask them to remove the photo or report it if it violates Facebook's rules.
- Bulk deletion tools let you remove multiple photos at once if you're clearing out your profile.
Remove photos others posted of you from your timeline
When someone else posts a photo and tags you in it, that photo appears on your timeline. You can remove it from your timeline without deleting the original post from their profile — the photo stays on their page, but visitors to your profile won't see it.
Go to your timeline and find the photo. Click the three dots in the top right corner and select "Remove from Timeline." The photo no longer shows on your profile, but the person who posted it can still see it on theirs, and their friends can still see it if they visit that person's page.
This is useful when someone posts an unflattering photo of you or one you straightforward don't want on your profile. The original poster isn't notified that you removed it from your timeline.
Ask someone to delete a photo they posted
If you want the photo gone entirely — not just from your timeline — you need to ask the person who posted it. There's no way to force deletion of someone else's post, but you can send them a message or comment on the photo asking them to take it down.
Be direct and specific: "Hi, could you delete the photo from the beach? I'd prefer it not be on Facebook." Most people will respect the request. If they don't and the photo violates Facebook's community standards — for example, it's sexually explicit, shows you without consent in a private moment, or includes your personal information — you can report it to Facebook.
To report a photo, click the three dots on the post and select "Report post." Choose the reason that best fits the situation. Facebook reviews reports and may remove the photo if it breaks their rules.
Delete multiple photos at once
If you're clearing out your profile and want to remove many photos, doing them one at a time takes a long time. Facebook doesn't have a built-in bulk delete tool, but you can speed up the process by going to your Photos section and deleting from there instead of from your timeline.
On your profile, click "Photos" to see all your albums and individual uploads. Open an album and you'll see all the photos in it. Click the three dots on each photo and select "Delete." This is faster than navigating back to your timeline for each one.
If you want to delete an entire album instead of individual photos, open the album, click the three dots at the top, and select "Delete album." All photos in that album are removed at once. Facebook will ask you to confirm before the deletion happens.
Understand what happens after you delete
When you delete a photo, it stops showing on Facebook when ready. Your friends won't see it in their feeds, people visiting your profile won't see it, and it won't appear in search results. However, Facebook keeps a copy of deleted photos for 90 days in case you want to restore it.
To restore a deleted photo within 90 days, go to your profile, click the three dots at the top, and select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Scroll down to "Your Facebook information" and click "Deactivation and deletion." You'll see an option to view recently deleted items. Select the photo and click "Restore."
After 90 days, the backup copy is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. If someone else downloaded or screenshotted your photo before you deleted it, they still have their copy — deletion only removes it from Facebook's platform.
Delete photos from your phone or computer
If you're using the Facebook app on your phone, the process is nearly identical. Open your profile, find the photo, tap the three dots, and select "Delete." On a computer, the steps are the same — click the three dots and choose "Delete."
The main difference is navigation: on a phone, you may need to scroll more to find older photos, while on a computer you can use the Photos section to browse by album. Either way, the photo is deleted from Facebook across all devices once you confirm the deletion.
Report photos that violate Facebook's rules
If a photo shows you in a way that breaks Facebook's community standards, you don't have to ask the person to delete it — you can report it directly to Facebook. This includes photos that are sexually explicit, show you in a private moment without consent, contain your personal information like your address or phone number, or depict harassment or hate speech.
Click the three dots on the photo and select "Report post." Facebook will ask you to choose the reason. Be specific: if it's a privacy violation, select that option; if it's harassment, select that. Facebook reviews the report and decides whether the photo breaks their rules. If it does, they remove it and may take action against the person who posted it.
Reporting doesn't notify the person who posted the photo that you reported them, though if Facebook removes the photo, they'll see that it was taken down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a photo someone else posted from their timeline?
No. You can only remove photos from your own timeline. If you want a photo deleted from someone else's timeline, you must ask them to delete it themselves or report it to Facebook if it violates their community standards.
What's the difference between removing a photo from my timeline and deleting it?
Removing a photo from your timeline takes it off your profile but leaves the original post on the other person's page. Deleting a photo removes it from Facebook entirely. You can only delete photos you posted yourself.
Can I recover a photo after I delete it?
Yes, for 90 days. Go to your profile settings, find "Your Facebook information," and look for recently deleted items. After 90 days, the photo is permanently gone and cannot be recovered.
What happens if I delete a photo that people have already commented on or liked?
When you delete the photo, all comments and likes disappear with it. The people who commented or liked won't be notified that the photo was deleted, but they won't see it in their activity history anymore.
Can Facebook see my deleted photos?
Facebook keeps a backup copy of deleted photos for 90 days. After that, they permanently delete it from their servers. During those 90 days, Facebook's systems can access it if needed for legal reasons, but it's not visible to you or other users.