Twitter lets you edit a tweet for up to 30 minutes after you post it

When you post a tweet, you can change the text, add or remove images, or delete it entirely within 30 minutes. After that window closes, the tweet is locked and cannot be edited — you can only delete it. This feature exists on Twitter's web version, mobile app for iPhone and Android, and third-party apps that support it. The edit button appears in the same menu where you would normally delete a tweet.

Editing is useful when you catch a typo, want to add missing context, or realize you phrased something poorly. Deleting is the right choice if you posted by mistake, shared something you no longer want public, or need to remove the tweet entirely. Both actions are permanent once you confirm them, so take a moment to review what you are about to do.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 30 minutes from the time you post a tweet to edit or delete it; after that, editing is no longer possible.
  • To edit a tweet, tap or click the three-dot menu on the tweet, select "Edit tweet", make your changes, and tap "Save".
  • Deleting a tweet removes it from your profile and from other people's feeds, but people who saw it before deletion may have taken screenshots.
  • When you edit a tweet, it shows a label saying "Edited" with a timestamp so other users know the tweet was changed.
  • If you edit a tweet that people have already liked or retweeted, those interactions stay attached to the edited version.

How to edit a tweet on the web or mobile app

Open the tweet you want to change. Look for the three dots (called the "more" menu) in the top right corner of the tweet. On a phone, tap those three dots. On a computer, hover over the tweet and click the three dots. A menu will appear with several options.

Select "Edit tweet" from that menu. The tweet will open in edit mode, and you can now change the text, add or remove images, or adjust any other part of the tweet. Make your changes carefully — you cannot undo them once you save. When you are done, tap or click the "Save" button. The tweet will update when ready, and a small "Edited" label will appear below it showing when the change was made.

How to delete a tweet

Open the tweet you want to remove. Tap or click the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Select "Delete" from the menu. Twitter will ask you to confirm — it will say something like "This can't be undone." Click or tap "Delete" again to confirm. The tweet will disappear from your profile and from other people's feeds right away.

Keep in mind that deletion is not truly permanent. People who saw the tweet before you deleted it may have taken screenshots, copied the text, or shared it elsewhere. If the tweet was public and visible for a while, it may have been captured by web archives or other services. Deletion removes it from Twitter itself, but not from the broader internet.

What happens when you edit a tweet

When you edit a tweet, the new version replaces the old one. Anyone who clicks on the tweet after the edit will see only the new text and images. However, Twitter adds an "Edited" label with a timestamp so people know the tweet was changed. If you click that label, you can see the previous versions of the tweet and when each edit was made.

Likes, retweets, and replies stay attached to the edited tweet. If someone liked your original tweet before you edited it, that like remains on the new version. This is different from deleting and reposting, which would lose all those interactions. For this reason, editing is better than deleting and reposting if you want to keep the engagement your tweet has already received.

Why the 30-minute window exists

Twitter set the 30-minute edit window to prevent misuse. If you could edit tweets indefinitely, someone could post a tweet, let it get thousands of likes and retweets, and then change it to say something completely different — misleading everyone who interacted with it. The 30-minute limit gives you time to catch mistakes and make small corrections, but not enough time to change the meaning of a tweet after it has spread.

After 30 minutes, your only option is to delete the tweet and post a new one. If you need to correct something that is older than 30 minutes, you can delete the original tweet and post a corrected version. You can also reply to your own tweet with a correction or clarification, which is often a good approach because it keeps the conversation visible.

Editing tweets on third-party apps

If you use a third-party app to post to Twitter — such as Hootsuite, Buffer, or TweetDeck — check whether that app supports editing. Some third-party apps do not have edit features, even though Twitter's own app and website do. If your app does not support editing, you will need to open Twitter's website or mobile app to edit the tweet.

When you edit a tweet through a third-party app that does support it, the process is usually similar: find the tweet, look for an edit option, make your changes, and save. The 30-minute window still applies, so you cannot edit a tweet after that time has passed, no matter which app you use.

When you should delete instead of edit

Edit a tweet when you have made a small mistake — a typo, a missing word, or a link that did not work. Delete a tweet when the content itself is wrong, when you posted by mistake, or when you no longer want the tweet public. If you realize you posted something offensive, inaccurate, or that you regret, deletion is usually the better choice than trying to fix it with an edit.

You should also consider deleting if the tweet is part of a larger conversation that has moved on. Editing an old tweet in a thread can confuse people who are reading the conversation in order. In those cases, it is often clearer to delete the tweet and post a new one with the correct information, or to reply with a correction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit a tweet after 30 minutes?

No. Once 30 minutes have passed, the edit option disappears and you can only delete the tweet. If you need to correct something older than 30 minutes, delete it and post a new tweet with the correct information, or reply to the original tweet with a correction.

Do people get notified when I edit a tweet?

No, Twitter does not send a notification to people who liked or retweeted your tweet when you edit it. However, the "Edited" label is visible on the tweet itself, so anyone who looks at it after the edit will see that it was changed.

What if I delete a tweet by accident?

Twitter does not have an undo feature for deleted tweets. Once you confirm the deletion, the tweet is gone. If you need to post the same content again, you will have to type or paste it back in and repost it.

Can I edit a retweet or a quote tweet?

You cannot edit a retweet (a straight share of someone else's tweet). You can only delete it and retweet again. For quote tweets (where you add your own comment to someone else's tweet), you can edit your added text within 30 minutes, but not the original tweet you are quoting.

Will editing a tweet change when it appears in my followers' feeds?

No. Editing does not bump the tweet back to the top of anyone's feed. The tweet stays in the same position it was before, and only people who visit your profile or see the tweet directly will notice the edit.