You can edit a Facebook post up to one hour after you publish it
Facebook lets you change the text, photo, or link in any post you've made — but only within the first hour. After that window closes, you can still delete the post entirely, but you cannot edit the words. This matters because a typo or unclear wording stays visible to everyone who saw it unless you catch it quickly.
The edit button appears in a menu on the post itself. On a computer, look for three dots in the top right corner of your post. On a phone, swipe left on the post (iPhone) or press and hold it (Android) to reveal the menu. Either way, you'll see "Edit post" as one of the options.
Once you click "Edit post", Facebook opens the post in edit mode. You can change any text, swap out photos, or update a link. When you're done, click "Save" and the changes appear when ready. Anyone who saw the original post will see the new version — Facebook does not notify them that you made a change, and there is no "edited" label visible to other people.
Key Takeaways
- You have one hour from the time you publish to edit a post; after that, the edit option disappears.
- Find the edit button by clicking the three dots (computer) or swiping left or holding down (phone) on your post.
- You can change text, photos, or links, but you cannot edit a post after the one-hour window closes.
- Deleting a post removes it from your timeline and from other people's feeds, but screenshots taken before deletion will still exist.
- If you edit a post, people who already saw it will see the new version without any notification that you made changes.
How to find the edit button on different devices
On a desktop or laptop computer, open Facebook and find the post you want to change. Look at the top right corner of the post box — you'll see three horizontal dots (sometimes called a menu icon). Click those dots and a dropdown menu appears with several options, including "Edit post".
On an iPhone, open the Facebook app and find your post. Swipe left across the post from right to left with your finger. A menu slides in from the right side showing options including "Edit". Tap "Edit" to open the post for changes.
On an Android phone, find the post in the Facebook app and press and hold your finger on it for a second or two. A menu pops up with several choices. Look for "Edit post" in that menu and tap it.
If you don't see an edit option, the one-hour window has closed. At that point, your only choice is to delete the post and write a new one if you need to correct something.
What you can and cannot change in an edited post
You can edit the text of your post — fix typos, reword sentences, add or remove words, or change the tone entirely. You can also swap out a photo for a different one, or remove a photo altogether. If your post contains a link to a website or article, you can change that link or remove it.
You cannot change who the post is shared with (the privacy setting) after you publish it. If you posted something to "Public" and want it to be "Friends only", you'll need to delete it and post again with the correct setting. You also cannot change the date or time the post appears to have been made.
If your post is shared by other people, editing it does not change their copies. They will still see and share the original version you posted. This is why catching errors quickly matters — the longer a post stays up before you edit it, the more likely someone has already shared it.
How to delete a post if you cannot edit it
If more than an hour has passed, or if you want to remove the post entirely, use the delete option instead. On a computer, click the three dots in the top right corner of the post and select "Delete post". Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Delete" again and the post is removed from your timeline and from other people's feeds.
On a phone, use the same method you used to find the edit button (swipe left on iPhone, press and hold on Android), then look for "Delete" in the menu. Tap it and confirm when Facebook asks.
Deleting a post removes it from Facebook, but it does not remove screenshots or copies that other people may have taken before you deleted it. If someone shared your post before you deleted it, their share will still be visible on their timeline and in their friends' feeds — deleting your original post does not delete the shares.
When you might want to edit instead of delete
Edit a post when you've made a small mistake — a typo, a wrong date, a missing word — and the overall message is still what you meant to say. Editing keeps the post in place with its original timestamp, so people who saw it will see the corrected version without confusion about when it was posted.
Delete a post when you've changed your mind about sharing it, when it contains information that is no longer accurate, or when you realize it could be misunderstood. Deleting removes it from view entirely, which is cleaner than leaving a corrected version up if the original message was problematic.
If you edit a post and then realize the edit was wrong, you can edit it again — as long as you're still within the one-hour window. After that, you'll have to delete it and start over.
Why Facebook limits editing to one hour
Facebook's one-hour edit window exists to prevent people from changing posts after others have already seen and reacted to them. Without a time limit, someone could post something controversial, let it get shared and commented on, and then silently change the words to something completely different — making the comments and shares look out of context or misleading.
The one-hour window gives you time to catch and fix your own mistakes, but not enough time to substantially alter a post after it has spread. It's a balance between letting you correct typos and preventing misuse.
If you need to make a major change to something you posted more than an hour ago, the standard approach is to delete the old post and write a new one. You can reference the original post in your new one if context matters — for example, "I posted earlier about the community event, but I need to correct the time" — so people understand why you're posting again.
How to avoid needing to edit or delete posts
Read your post before you hit "Share". Take a few seconds to check for typos, make sure links are correct, and confirm that the privacy setting matches what you intended. This small step catches most mistakes before they go live.
If you're posting something important or sensitive, consider writing it in a text editor first, then copying and pasting it into Facebook. This lets you review it in a different context and catch errors you might miss when typing directly into Facebook.
Be aware of what you're sharing — not just the words, but the photo, the link, and who can see it. A few seconds of thought before you publish saves you from having to edit or delete later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can other people see that I edited a post?
No. When you edit a post, Facebook does not show a label saying "edited" or notify people that you made a change. They straightforward see the new version of the post. However, if someone saw the original version and noticed the change, they would know you edited it — Facebook just doesn't announce it.
What happens to comments and reactions when I edit a post?
Comments and reactions stay attached to the post and remain visible. If someone commented on the original version of your post, their comment will still be there after you edit the post text. This is why editing works best for small corrections — the context of the comments should still make sense with the edited version.
Can I edit a post that someone else shared?
No. You can only edit posts that you created yourself. If someone shared your post on their timeline, you cannot edit their copy — only they can edit or delete it. You can only edit the original post on your own timeline.
If I delete a post, can I get it back?
Facebook does not have an "undo delete" feature for posts. Once you confirm the deletion, the post is gone from your timeline and from other people's feeds. If you need that post back, you'll have to rewrite and repost it. Keep this in mind before you delete something you might want later.
Why can't I find the edit button on my post?
The most common reason is that more than one hour has passed since you published the post. After that window closes, the edit option disappears. Another possibility is that you're trying to edit someone else's post — you can only edit your own. If the post is very old or was shared by someone else, deletion and reposting is your only option.