You can edit a Facebook post up to one year after you publish it
Facebook lets you change the text, links, or images in any post you've written, as long as the post is still on your timeline or in a group. You can fix typos, add information, remove a photo, or change your mind about what you said — all without deleting the original post. The edit happens in place, and anyone who saw the post before the change will see the updated version when they look again.
The one limit: you cannot edit a post more than one year after you published it. Facebook also won't let you edit posts in certain situations, like if the post is shared from a business page to your personal timeline, or if it's a live video that has already ended.
Key Takeaways
- Click the three dots in the top right corner of your post, then select "Edit post" to change the text, images, or links.
- A small pencil icon appears next to the timestamp of an edited post so other people know it was changed.
- You can edit posts you wrote on your own timeline, in groups you belong to, or on pages you manage.
- Editing a post does not change when it appears in people's feeds — it stays in the same position it was before.
How to edit a post on your own timeline
Open the post you want to change. Look for the three dots (called the menu icon) in the top right corner of the post, next to your name and the date. Tap or click those three dots.
A menu will appear with several options. Select "Edit post" from that menu. The post will now open in edit mode, and you can change the text, add or remove images, or modify any links. Make your changes, then click "Save" at the bottom. The post will update when ready, and the pencil icon next to the timestamp will show that it has been edited.
How to edit a post in a Facebook group
The process is the same in a group as it is on your timeline. Find the post you wrote, click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Edit post." Make your changes and click "Save."
Keep in mind that group members will see the pencil icon showing the post was edited, just as they would on your timeline. If you edited the post to remove something controversial or incorrect, the edit history itself is not visible to other group members — they only see the current version and the fact that it was changed.
How to edit a post on a page you manage
If you manage a Facebook business page or community page, you can edit posts the same way. Click the three dots on the post, select "Edit post," make your changes, and save. This works whether you posted as the page itself or as yourself with the page tagged.
Edited posts on pages work the same way as edited posts on timelines — the pencil icon shows the post was changed, but the edit history is not public. The post stays in the same position in the feed and does not get reshared or bumped to the top.
What the pencil icon means and who can see it
When you edit a post, Facebook adds a small pencil icon next to the timestamp. This icon tells anyone viewing the post that you have changed it since it was first published. The pencil icon appears for all posts you edit, whether on your timeline, in a group, or on a page.
Clicking or hovering over the pencil icon does not show what you changed — it only shows the date and time you made the edit. The full history of what was in the post before is not available to other people, only to you. This means you can edit a post to correct a mistake or remove information without worrying that people will see every version you tried.
When you cannot edit a post
Some posts cannot be edited, even if they are recent. If you shared a post from a business page or a public figure's page to your own timeline, you cannot edit that shared post — you can only delete it and share it again. Live videos that have already ended also cannot be edited, though you can delete them and upload a new video.
Posts that are very old (more than one year) cannot be edited, but you can still delete them. If a post was reported and removed by Facebook, or if it was posted by someone else and you are just a commenter, you cannot edit it — you can only delete your own comment or ask the original poster to make the change.
What happens to comments and reactions when you edit a post
When you edit a post, all the comments and reactions stay attached to it. People who commented before the edit will still see their comments, and the likes, loves, and other reactions do not change. The edit does not reset the post or move it to the top of the feed.
This is different from deleting and reposting, which would lose all the comments and reactions. If you want to keep the conversation that has already happened on a post, editing is the right choice. If you want to start fresh with a new post, you would need to delete the old one first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people see what I changed in my post?
No. Other people see only the current version of your post and a pencil icon showing it was edited. They cannot see what the post said before or what you removed. Only you can see the edit history of your own posts.
Does editing a post change when it appears in people's feeds?
No. Editing does not move the post to the top of the feed or make it appear as new. It stays in the same position it was before the edit. People who already saw it will see the updated version if they look at it again.
What if I edit a post and then want to undo the change?
Facebook does not have an undo button for edits. If you change your mind, you would need to edit the post again and restore the original text yourself. There is no way to revert to a previous version automatically.
Can I edit a post that someone else commented on or shared?
Yes. You can edit your own post even if other people have commented on it or shared it. The comments and shares stay attached to the post, and the people who shared it will see the updated version when they look at it again.
How long do I have to edit a post before it locks?
You can edit a post for up to one year after you publish it. After one year, the edit option disappears, but you can still delete the post if you want to remove it entirely.