Delete a photo you posted yourself

Open Facebook and go to your profile. Click or tap the photo you want to remove. In the top right corner of the photo, you'll see three dots (on mobile) or a small arrow (on desktop). Tap or click that, then select "Delete Photo" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Delete" again, and the photo is gone.

The photo disappears from your profile, from any albums, and from your friends' feeds. If someone shared or commented on it before you deleted it, those comments and shares disappear too. The deletion is permanent — Facebook does not keep a copy you can recover later.

Key Takeaways

  • Photos you posted yourself can be deleted from your profile in two taps or clicks by finding the three-dot menu on the photo itself.
  • Deleting a photo removes it from your profile, all albums, and your friends' feeds, but does not remove it from other people's devices if they downloaded it.
  • You can remove yourself from photos other people posted by untag­ging, which hides the photo from your profile but leaves it on theirs.
  • Photos in Facebook's trash folder stay there for 30 days before permanent deletion; you can restore them during that window.
  • If someone else posted a photo of you and refuses to remove it, you can report it to Facebook if it violates their policies.

Untag yourself from photos other people posted

When someone else posts a photo of you, you can remove yourself from it without deleting the photo from their account. Find the photo on Facebook, click or tap the three dots, and select "Remove Tag." The photo stays on their profile and in their album, but it no longer appears on your profile or in your timeline.

Untagging is useful when you want to control what shows up on your own profile without asking someone else to delete their photo. The person who posted it will not be notified that you untagged yourself, though they can still see the photo on their own account.

Restore a deleted photo within 30 days

If you delete a photo by mistake, you have 30 days to get it back. Go to your profile, click the three dots at the top, and select "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Your Facebook Information." Select "Deactivation and Deletion," then "Restore Your Account" if your account is deactivated, or scroll down to find "Recently Deleted" if your account is still active.

In the Recently Deleted section, you'll see photos and other content you removed in the last month. Click the photo you want back, then select "Restore." The photo returns to your profile and any albums it was in. After 30 days, Facebook permanently deletes the photo and you cannot restore it.

Report a photo if someone else posted it and it violates Facebook rules

If someone posted a photo of you that you believe breaks Facebook's policies — such as a nude image, an image shared without consent, or one that harasses or impersonates you — you can report it. Find the photo, click the three dots, and select "Report Photo." Choose the reason that best fits the situation, such as "It's inappropriate" or "It's harassment."

Facebook reviews reported photos within a few hours to a few days. If the photo violates their rules, they will remove it and may restrict the person who posted it. If it does not violate their policies, Facebook will deny your report and the photo stays up. Reporting does not may provide removal, especially if the photo is straightforward unflattering or embarrassing but not against their rules.

Bulk delete photos from an album

If you want to remove many photos at once, go to your profile and click "Photos." Select the album that holds the photos you want to delete. Click the three dots at the top right of the album, then select "Edit Album." Check the box next to each photo you want to remove, or click "Select All" to choose every photo in the album. At the bottom, click "Delete," then confirm.

This method works only for albums you created and photos you posted. You cannot bulk delete photos from albums other people created, even if you are in them. If you need to remove yourself from multiple photos in someone else's album, you will need to untag each one individually.

Understand what happens after you delete

When you delete a photo from Facebook, it disappears from the platform within minutes. However, deletion does not erase the photo from devices where someone already downloaded it, printed it, or took a screenshot. Facebook cannot control what people do with images after they see them.

If you are concerned about a photo spreading beyond Facebook, the best approach is to ask the person who posted it to remove it before many people see it. If they refuse and the photo violates Facebook's rules on harassment, nudity, or impersonation, report it. For photos that are straightforward embarrassing or unwanted but not against the rules, untagging yourself is often the most practical step — it removes the photo from your profile even if it stays on theirs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a photo someone else posted of me?

No, you cannot delete someone else's photo directly. You can untag yourself so it no longer appears on your profile, or you can ask them to delete it. If the photo violates Facebook's policies on harassment, nudity, or impersonation, you can report it and Facebook may remove it.

What if I deleted a photo more than 30 days ago?

After 30 days, Facebook permanently deletes photos and does not restore them. If you need the photo back, check if you have a backup on your computer, phone, or cloud storage. Some people keep copies of their photos outside Facebook for this reason.

Does the person who posted a photo know if I untag myself?

No, untagging is silent. The person who posted the photo will not receive a notification. They can still see the photo on their own profile and in their album, but it will no longer appear on your profile or timeline.

If I delete my profile, do all my photos disappear?

Yes, deactivating your account hides your profile and photos from others, and deleting your account permanently removes them from Facebook after 30 days. However, Facebook keeps a backup for a short time in case you change your mind. After that window, the deletion is permanent.