Delete a post you no longer want visible
To delete a post on Facebook, open the post, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Delete." The post disappears when ready from your timeline and from other people's feeds. Once deleted, nobody can see it or comment on it, though Facebook keeps a record in case law enforcement requests it.
The three-dot menu appears on every post you created — whether it's a photo, status update, link, or video. If you don't see the dots, you're looking at someone else's post, which you can't delete (though you can ask them to remove it). The process takes about five seconds and works the same way on phones, tablets, and computers.
Deleted posts cannot be recovered through Facebook itself. If you think you might want the post back later, consider hiding it from your timeline instead — that keeps it in your archives but removes it from view. You can unhide it anytime.
Key Takeaways
- Tap or click the three dots on your own post and select "Delete" to remove it permanently from Facebook.
- Deletion happens when ready and prevents anyone from seeing, sharing, or commenting on the post going forward.
- You can only delete posts you created; to remove someone else's post, you must ask them or report it to Facebook if it violates their rules.
- If you might want the post later, hide it instead of deleting it — you can unhide it from your archives anytime.
- Deleted posts cannot be restored through Facebook, so double-check before you confirm the deletion.
Where to find the delete option on different devices
On a phone or tablet, open the Facebook app and find the post on your timeline. Look for three dots stacked vertically in the top right corner of the post — this is the menu button. Tap it and scroll down until you see "Delete." Tap "Delete" again to confirm.
On a computer, the three dots appear in the same spot. Click them once, and the menu drops down. Click "Delete" directly from that menu. You'll see a confirmation box asking if you're sure — click "Delete Post" to finish.
If you can't find the three dots, make sure you're looking at a post you created. Posts from other people show different options like "Hide," "Report," or "Unfollow," but not "Delete." You own only the posts on your own timeline, in your own albums, or in groups where you started the conversation.
The difference between deleting and hiding a post
Deleting removes the post completely. It no longer appears on your timeline, in search results, or in other people's feeds. Anyone who saw it before deletion won't see it anymore if they go back to look. Deletion is permanent — Facebook does not restore deleted posts through its website or app.
Hiding a post keeps it in your archives but removes it from your timeline. Other people cannot see it, and it doesn't show up when they visit your profile. You can unhide it later and it will reappear on your timeline. Hiding is useful if you're not sure whether you want to keep the post long-term.
Choose deletion if you want the post gone for good — for example, if it contains outdated information, an embarrassing photo, or something you no longer agree with. Choose hiding if you just want it off your timeline temporarily or if you think you might want to share it again later.
What happens to comments and reactions after you delete
When you delete a post, all comments and reactions disappear with it. People who commented on the post will no longer see their own comments or anyone else's. The post straightforward vanishes from the conversation. If someone had shared your post to their own timeline, their share remains — deleting your original post does not delete shares of it.
If you want to keep the post but remove specific comments, you don't have to delete the whole thing. Open the post, find the comment you want gone, tap or click the three dots next to that comment, and select "Delete Comment." This removes only that one comment while keeping your post and the other comments intact.
Deleting posts from groups and shared spaces
Posts you create in a Facebook group work the same way — tap or click the three dots and select "Delete." The post disappears from the group's feed. Group admins can also delete posts from other members if those posts break the group's rules, but regular members can only delete their own posts.
If you posted something in a group and want it gone, delete it the same way you would on your timeline. The group members will no longer see it. If you're a group admin and need to remove someone else's post, use the three-dot menu on their post and select "Delete" — you'll have that option because of your admin status.
Shared albums work differently. If you uploaded a photo to a shared album, you can delete it, but the album owner can also delete your photos. If you want to remove all your photos from someone else's shared album, delete them one at a time using the three-dot menu on each photo.
Recovering information if you deleted something by mistake
Facebook does not restore deleted posts through its app or website. Once you confirm deletion, the post is gone from your account. However, if you deleted a post very recently — within the last few minutes — you might see an "Undo" option appear at the bottom of your screen. Tap or click it when ready to bring the post back.
If you didn't see the undo option or it's been longer than a few minutes, the post cannot be recovered through Facebook. You can recreate it by retyping the text or re-uploading the photo, but you'll lose any comments or reactions it had.
If you deleted a post that contained important information — like a phone number, address, or event details — write down what you remember and create a new post with the correct information. Let people know in the new post that you're reposting because the earlier version had an error.
Why you might want to delete old posts
People delete posts for many reasons. You might remove a photo because you don't like how you look in it, delete a status because your opinion has changed, or remove a post with outdated information that could confuse people. Some people delete posts regularly to keep their timeline clean or to remove content they shared during a difficult time.
Deleting posts is also a privacy choice. The fewer posts visible on your profile, the less information strangers can see about you. If you're concerned about what employers, schools, or other people might find when they search your name, deleting old posts reduces what's publicly available.
You might also delete posts that no longer fit your current life — old relationship posts after a breakup, job-related posts after leaving a company, or photos from events you'd rather not be reminded of. There's no rule about how often you should delete; it's entirely up to what feels right for your timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone see a post I deleted if they screenshot it before I delete it?
Yes. Once someone has a screenshot, they have a copy of the image. Deleting the post from Facebook doesn't remove screenshots that other people took. If you're concerned about a post being shared, consider whether you want to post it in the first place.
If I delete a post, do the people who commented on it get notified?
No. People who commented won't receive a notification that the post was deleted. They'll straightforward notice it's gone if they go back to look for it. Their comments disappear along with the post.
Can I delete a post from someone else's timeline?
No, unless you're a Facebook admin or the post violates Facebook's rules. You can ask the person to delete it, or you can report it to Facebook if it contains harassment, hate speech, or other violations. You can also hide the post from your own view without deleting it from theirs.
What if I delete a post but someone shared it to their timeline first?
Their share remains on their timeline. Deleting your original post doesn't delete the shares other people made. If you want the content gone completely, you'd need to ask anyone who shared it to delete their share as well.
Does deleting a post remove it from Facebook's servers?
Facebook keeps records of deleted posts for legal and safety reasons, but the post is no longer visible to you or anyone else through the app or website. For practical purposes, it's gone — you can't recover it, and other users can't see it.