You can edit the text and links in a Facebook post after you publish it, but you cannot change photos or videos
Facebook lets you change the words in any post you have written, including captions under photos or videos. You cannot swap out the image or video itself — if you need a different photo, you have to delete the post and create a new one. Edits appear with a small "Edited" label next to the timestamp, so anyone who saw the original version will know you changed something.
The edit window is unlimited. You can change a post from five minutes ago or five years ago. There is no important date, and Facebook does not notify people who liked or commented on the original version that you made a change.
Key Takeaways
- Click the three dots in the top right corner of your post, then select "Edit post" to change the text, links, or tags in any post you have written.
- Edited posts show an "Edited" label next to the timestamp, but Facebook does not notify people who saw the original version that you made a change.
- If you need to change the photo or video itself, you must delete the post and create a new one — editing only works on text and captions.
- Deleted posts disappear from your timeline and from other people's feeds, but comments and reactions may remain visible in some contexts.
- Posts you have shared from other people's timelines can be unshared from your timeline without affecting the original post.
How to edit the text in a post you wrote
Open the post on your timeline or in your feed. In the top right corner of the post, you will see three horizontal dots (sometimes called a menu icon). Click or tap those dots.
A menu will appear with several options. Select "Edit post." Facebook will open the post in edit mode, showing the text in a box you can change. Make your edits, then click "Save" at the bottom. The post will update when ready, and the "Edited" label will appear next to the timestamp.
This works the same way whether you are on a computer or a phone. On a phone, the three dots may appear in slightly different places depending on whether you are using the Facebook app or the mobile website, but the menu option is always there.
What you can and cannot change when you edit
You can change any text in the post, including the caption under a photo or video. You can also add or remove links, change who the post is tagged with, and adjust the privacy setting (who can see it). If you added a location or date to the post, you can edit those too.
You cannot replace the photo or video itself. If you want to use a different image, you must delete the post and create a new one. You also cannot change the order of multiple photos in a single post — if you uploaded five photos and want to rearrange them, deletion and reposting is your only option.
How to delete a post from your timeline
Click or tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post. Select "Delete post" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Delete" again, and the post will be removed from your timeline.
Once deleted, the post no longer appears on your profile or in your friends' feeds. However, if someone commented on the post or shared it before you deleted it, their comment or share may still be visible on their own timeline or in their friends' feeds. The original post will not appear in those contexts, but the fact that they engaged with it remains.
The difference between deleting and unsharing
If you shared someone else's post to your own timeline, you have two options: delete it from your timeline, or unshare it. Deleting removes it from your profile. Unsharing also removes it from your timeline, but it is a gentler action — it does not notify the original poster that you removed it.
To unshare, click the three dots on the post and select "Unshare." The post disappears from your timeline, but the original post on the other person's profile remains unchanged. This is useful if you want to remove something from your timeline without making a statement about it.
Why Facebook shows an "Edited" label
The "Edited" label is Facebook's way of being transparent. If someone saw your post before you changed it, the label tells them that the version they remember may not be the current version. It does not say what you changed — just that you changed something.
This label appears even if you made a tiny edit, like fixing a typo. There is no way to hide the fact that you edited a post, and there is no way to edit a post without the label appearing. If you want to change something without the label showing, your only option is to delete and repost.
What happens to comments and reactions when you edit or delete
If you edit a post, all the likes, comments, and shares stay attached to it. Editing the text does not erase the engagement. People can still see the comments they left, and the post still shows how many reactions it received.
If you delete a post, the comments and reactions disappear from that post. However, if someone commented on your post and that comment is visible on their own timeline, their comment remains on their timeline even after you delete the original post. They will see their own comment, but it will no longer link back to your post.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit a post after someone has commented on it?
Yes. Editing a post does not remove or hide the comments. All comments stay visible, and the post still shows how many reactions it has. The "Edited" label appears next to the timestamp so people know the text has changed.
If I edit a post, will my friends get a notification?
No. Facebook does not send notifications when you edit a post. People who saw the original version will only know you edited it if they visit the post again and see the "Edited" label.
Can I edit a post I shared from someone else's timeline?
No. You can only edit posts you originally wrote. If you shared someone else's post, you can unshare it or delete it from your timeline, but you cannot change the text. To change the text, you would need to delete it and write your own post instead.
What if I delete a post by accident?
Facebook does not have an undo button for deleted posts. Once you confirm the deletion, the post is gone. If you remember what it said, you can write a new post with the same content, but Facebook does not store a copy of deleted posts for you to recover.
Does editing a post change when it appears in people's feeds?
No. Editing a post does not bump it back to the top of anyone's feed or send it out again. It stays in the same position it was in before you edited it. Only new posts appear at the top of the feed.