You can delete your own videos from Facebook in a few taps, and the process is the same whether you posted them years ago or yesterday
Facebook keeps videos you upload in your profile or on your timeline until you remove them. Deleting a video removes it from your profile, from other people's feeds, and from Facebook's servers — though Facebook may keep a backup copy for a limited time for legal reasons. You can delete videos you posted yourself, but you cannot delete videos someone else posted, even if you appear in them. If you want a video removed that someone else posted, you can ask them to delete it, or you can report it to Facebook if it violates their policies.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using Facebook on a computer or a phone, but both routes take less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- You can only delete videos you posted yourself, not videos other people posted of you.
- On a computer, go to your profile, find the video, click the three dots, and select "Delete."
- On a phone, tap your profile picture, go to Videos, find the video, tap the three dots, and select "Delete."
- Once you delete a video, it disappears from your timeline and from other people's feeds when ready, though Facebook may retain a copy temporarily.
- If someone else posted a video of you that you want removed, you can ask them directly or report it to Facebook if it breaks their rules.
How to delete a video on a computer
Open Facebook in your web browser and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top left. Scroll down to find the video you want to delete. You can search your timeline manually or use the search bar at the top of your profile to type in keywords from the video title.
Once you find the video, hover your mouse over it. A three-dot menu icon will appear in the top right corner of the video. Click the three dots and select "Delete" from the dropdown menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Delete" again. The video is now removed from your profile and from Facebook.
How to delete a video on a phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Tap "Videos" to see all the videos you have posted. Scroll through the list to find the video you want to delete.
Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the video. A menu will appear with several options. Tap "Delete" and then confirm by tapping "Delete" again. The video will be removed when ready.
What happens after you delete a video
Once you delete a video, it stops appearing on your timeline and in your friends' feeds right away. People who saw the video before you deleted it may remember it, but they will not be able to find it on Facebook or watch it again. Comments and reactions on the video also disappear.
If the video was shared by someone else (meaning they reposted it to their own timeline), deleting your original video does not remove their copy. You would need to ask them to delete their version, or report it to Facebook if it violates their policies.
Deleting videos someone else posted of you
You cannot delete a video that someone else posted, even if you are the main person in it. Your options are to ask the person who posted it to delete it themselves, or to report it to Facebook if it breaks their community standards.
To report a video, click the three dots on the video and select "Report." Choose the reason — for example, "It's abusive or harmful" or "It's private information" — and Facebook will review it. If the video violates their rules, they may remove it. If it does not violate their policies, Facebook will not take action, but the person who posted it may choose to delete it if you ask them directly.
Recovering a deleted video
Once you delete a video from Facebook, you cannot recover it through the Facebook app or website. However, if you have a copy of the video file saved on your computer or phone, you can re-upload it to Facebook at any time.
Facebook does not provide a way to read your own videos after deletion, so if you think you might want the video again in the future, save a copy to your device before you delete it from Facebook. You can read videos you posted by going to your profile, clicking the three dots on the video, and selecting "read" (if that option appears — not all videos can be downloaded depending on your privacy settings and the video source).
Privacy and permanence: what you should know
Deleting a video from Facebook removes it from public view, but Facebook's servers may retain a copy for a period of time for backup and legal purposes. This is standard practice for all social media platforms. If you are concerned about a video for privacy or safety reasons, deletion is still the right step — it removes the video from circulation and from people's ability to find it or share it further.
If a video contains sensitive personal information, consider whether you want to delete it entirely or straightforward change who can see it. You can adjust privacy settings on videos you have already posted by clicking the three dots and selecting "Edit Privacy" instead of deleting. This lets you make the video visible only to you, to friends, or to a custom list of people, without losing the video itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a video I posted years ago?
Yes. Go to your profile, find the video in your timeline (you may need to scroll far back or use the search function), click the three dots, and select "Delete." The age of the video does not matter — you can delete any video you posted yourself at any time.
What if I delete a video but someone already downloaded it?
Deleting a video from Facebook does not remove copies that other people have already saved to their devices. If you are concerned about a video spreading, deletion stops it from being shared further on Facebook, but it cannot undo downloads that already happened. For sensitive content, consider your privacy settings before posting.
Can I delete comments or reactions on a video without deleting the whole video?
Yes. You can delete individual comments by clicking the three dots on the comment and selecting "Delete." You cannot delete reactions (likes, loves, etc.), but you can hide comments from your video by clicking the three dots on the comment and selecting "Hide." This removes it from view without deleting it entirely.
If I delete a video, will my friends still see it in their memories or on-this-day posts?
No. Once you delete a video, Facebook removes it from memories, on-this-day notifications, and any other places it appeared. Your friends will not see it in their feeds or in their memory suggestions.
What is the difference between deleting a video and making it private?
Deleting removes the video entirely from Facebook. Making it private (by clicking the three dots and selecting "Edit Privacy") keeps the video on your profile but hides it from everyone except you. Use privacy settings if you want to keep the video but do not want others to see it.