Delete a photo from your own Facebook profile
You can remove any photo you posted to your own profile or timeline. Facebook keeps the photo in your account for 30 days after deletion — during that time, you can restore it if you change your mind. After 30 days, the photo is gone permanently.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on a computer or phone, but the process takes less than a minute either way. You don't need to contact Facebook support or wait for approval.
Key Takeaways
- Photos you delete stay in your trash folder for 30 days, so you can restore them if you delete by mistake.
- On a computer, click the three dots on the photo, then select "Delete" from the menu that appears.
- On a phone, tap the three dots on the photo, then tap "Delete Photo" from the options.
- Deleting a photo removes it from your timeline and from any albums, but comments and reactions to that photo will also disappear.
- If someone else posted a photo of you, you can ask them to delete it, or report it to Facebook if it violates their rules.
Delete a photo on a computer
Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your name in the top left corner. Find the photo you want to delete — you can scroll through your timeline or click "Photos" in the left menu to see all your photos organized by date.
Click on the photo to open it in full view. In the top right corner of the photo, you'll see three dots (called a menu button). Click those three dots, and a dropdown menu will appear. Select "Delete" from that menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Delete Photo" again, and the photo is removed from your timeline.
Delete a photo on a phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right. Tap "Photos" to see all the photos you've posted. Find the photo you want to delete and tap it to open it.
At the top right of the photo, tap the three dots. A menu will pop up with several options. Tap "Delete Photo." Facebook will ask you to confirm — tap "Delete" again, and the photo is removed.
Restore a deleted photo within 30 days
If you delete a photo by mistake, you have 30 days to bring it back. Go to your profile and click the three dots in the top right corner of your profile card (on a computer) or tap the menu icon (on a phone). Look for an option called "Settings & Privacy" or just "Settings."
Scroll down and tap or click "Trash" or "Recently Deleted." You'll see photos you've deleted in the last 30 days. Find the one you want to restore, click or tap it, and select "Restore." The photo goes back to your timeline in the same place it was before.
What happens when you delete a photo
When you delete a photo, it disappears from your timeline and from any albums you put it in. Any comments people left on that photo will also disappear, along with reactions (likes, hearts, etc.). The people who commented won't receive a notification that the photo was deleted — they'll just notice it's no longer there if they look for it.
If you were tagged in the photo (meaning someone identified you in it), the tag is removed too. However, if the photo was shared by someone else, deleting your copy doesn't remove it from their timeline or from the timelines of people who shared it.
Remove a photo someone else posted of you
If another person posted a photo of you and you want it gone, you have two options. The first is to ask them directly — send them a message or call and explain why you'd prefer the photo not be public. Many people will delete it if you ask politely.
If they refuse or if you can't reach them, you can report the photo to Facebook. Click the three dots on the photo, select "Report Photo," and choose a reason — for example, "It's a photo of me that I don't want shared" or "It's inappropriate." Facebook reviews reports and may remove photos that violate their rules, though they won't remove a photo just because you don't like it. If the photo shows you in a way that's harmful, illegal, or violates Facebook's community standards, your report is more likely to result in removal.
Delete multiple photos at once
Facebook doesn't have a built-in tool to delete many photos in one action. If you want to remove several photos, you'll need to delete them one at a time using the steps above. The process takes about a minute per photo.
If you're trying to delete a large number of photos — for example, because you're closing your account or removing old content — consider whether you want to read them first. You can request a copy of all your photos and data from Facebook before you delete anything. Go to Settings, click "Your Information," and select "read Your Information." Facebook will prepare a file with copies of your photos that you can save to your computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a photo if someone else is tagged in it?
Yes. You can delete any photo you posted, even if other people are tagged in it. The photo disappears from everyone's view, and the tags are removed. The people tagged won't be notified that you deleted it.
What if I delete a photo by accident and it's been more than 30 days?
After 30 days, Facebook permanently deletes the photo and you cannot restore it. If you have a backup copy saved on your computer or phone, you can re-upload it to your profile, but it will appear as a new post with today's date.
Does deleting a photo remove it from other people's devices?
No. If someone downloaded the photo, saved it, or screenshotted it before you deleted it, they still have a copy on their device. Deleting from Facebook only removes it from Facebook's servers and from your timeline.
Can I delete a photo from an album without deleting the whole album?
Yes. Open the album, find the photo, click the three dots on it, and select "Delete." The photo is removed from the album, but the album itself stays. If the photo was only in that one album, it's deleted entirely.
What's the difference between deleting a photo and hiding it?
Deleting removes the photo completely from your timeline and Facebook's servers (after 30 days). Hiding (or archiving) keeps the photo on Facebook but removes it from your timeline so only you can see it. To hide a photo instead of deleting it, click the three dots and select "Hide from Timeline."