How to delete a photo or video you posted on Instagram
To delete an image or video from your Instagram account, open the app or website, find the post, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner of that post, and select "Delete". Instagram removes it from your profile and feed when ready. The post will no longer appear to anyone — not your followers, not people who search for you, not archived versions of the web.
The process is the same whether you posted the image yesterday or years ago. Instagram does not limit how far back you can delete. Once you confirm the deletion, the image is gone from Instagram's public view, though the company keeps records of deleted content in its own systems for legal and safety reasons.
If you are deleting multiple images, you will need to repeat this step for each one. There is no bulk delete feature in Instagram's standard settings, so if you want to remove dozens of old photos, expect to spend time going through your profile one post at a time.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted Instagram posts disappear from your profile and feed when ready and cannot be recovered through Instagram's interface.
- You can delete posts from any time period — Instagram does not restrict deletion to recent uploads.
- Instagram keeps internal records of deleted content, so deletion removes the post from public view but not from the company's servers.
- If you want to hide a post without deleting it permanently, you can archive it instead, which removes it from your profile but keeps it in a private archive only you can see.
- Deleting a post also removes all comments, likes, and shares associated with that image.
The difference between deleting and archiving a post
Instagram offers two ways to remove a post from public view: delete and archive. Deleting removes the post entirely from your profile and the public feed. Archiving hides the post from your profile and from other people's feeds, but keeps it in a private section called "Archives" that only you can see.
Archive is useful if you are unsure whether you want to keep the post long-term, or if you want to clean up your profile without losing the image. You can unarchive a post at any time and it will return to your profile exactly as it was. Deleted posts cannot be recovered through Instagram — once you confirm deletion, the choice is final.
To archive a post instead of deleting it, tap or click the three dots on the post and select "Archive" rather than "Delete". Your archived posts live in a separate section of your profile that visitors cannot see.
What happens to comments and likes when you delete a post
When you delete an Instagram post, all comments, likes, and shares attached to that post disappear as well. People who commented on the post will not receive a notification that the post is gone — they will straightforward notice it is no longer on your profile if they look for it.
If someone shared your post to their own story or feed before you deleted it, that shared version remains on their account. Deleting your original post does not delete copies or shares that other people have made. If you want to remove a post that someone else has shared, you would need to contact that person directly and ask them to delete their share.
Removing images from Instagram on mobile versus desktop
The steps to delete a post are nearly identical on Instagram's mobile app and on the desktop website. On mobile, open the Instagram app, find the post on your profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post, and tap "Delete". On desktop, visit Instagram.com, navigate to your profile, find the post, click the three dots, and click "Delete".
Some people find it easier to manage their profile on desktop because the larger screen makes it simpler to see multiple posts at once and navigate between them. Mobile is faster if you are deleting just one or two posts. Either method works — use whichever feels more comfortable for you.
Deleting posts from a shared or business account
If you manage an Instagram account that is shared with other people — such as a business account where multiple team members post — you can only delete posts that you personally created. You cannot delete posts made by other account managers, even if you have admin access to the account.
If you need to remove a post created by someone else on a shared account, ask that person to delete it themselves, or ask the account owner to change permissions so you can manage other people's posts. Some business accounts use Instagram's "Collaborators" feature, which lets multiple people post to the same account but still tracks who created each post.
Why you might want to delete old posts
People delete Instagram posts for different reasons. Some want to clean up their profile and remove images that no longer represent who they are. Others delete posts because they contain personal information they no longer want public, or because they are concerned about what old photos reveal about their location, habits, or relationships.
Deleting old posts is one way to reduce the amount of personal information available about you online. The more images and details you have posted over time, the more a stranger or data broker could learn about you by scrolling through your account. Removing posts you regret or that feel outdated is a reasonable privacy choice.
Keep in mind that people may have already screenshotted or downloaded your images before you delete them. Deletion removes the post from Instagram, but does not remove copies that other people have saved. If you are concerned about a specific image, consider whether anyone you know might have already saved it before you delete the Instagram version.
What to do if you cannot find a post to delete
If you cannot locate a post on your profile, it may have been removed by Instagram for violating the platform's community guidelines, or it may have been archived. Check your Archives section first — tap your profile picture, select "Archives", and look for the post there. If it is archived, you can unarchive it or delete it from the archive.
If the post is not in your Archives and you cannot find it on your profile, Instagram may have removed it. This happens when posts contain nudity, hate speech, misinformation, or other content that violates Instagram's rules. If you believe Instagram removed a post by mistake, you can appeal the decision through Instagram's help center, though appeals are not always successful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a post after I delete it?
No. Once you confirm deletion on Instagram, the post is gone and cannot be recovered through the app or website. If you have a copy of the image saved on your phone or computer, you can re-upload it, but Instagram does not restore deleted posts.
Will people know I deleted a post?
People will not receive a notification that you deleted a post. However, if someone was following your account and saw the post before you deleted it, they may notice it is gone if they look at your profile again. There is no way to hide the fact that a post was deleted from people who saw it.
Does deleting a post remove it from Google search results?
Deleting a post from Instagram removes it from Instagram's platform, but it may take time for Google and other search engines to stop showing it in results. If you want to speed up removal from search results, you can use Google Search Console to request removal, though this is a separate process from deleting the post on Instagram itself.
What if I delete a post but someone else has already shared it?
Your deletion does not affect copies or shares that other people have made. If someone shared your post to their story, feed, or another platform before you deleted it, that version stays on their account. You would need to contact that person and ask them to delete their share.
Can I delete all my posts at once?
Instagram does not have a feature to delete all posts simultaneously. You must delete each post individually by tapping the three dots and selecting "Delete". If you want to remove your entire account instead of just individual posts, you can deactivate or permanently delete your Instagram account through your account settings.