Delete a comment by finding it, opening the menu, and selecting delete
On every major social platform, you can remove a comment you wrote. The steps are nearly identical across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube: find the comment, tap or click the three dots or menu icon next to it, and select delete. The comment disappears when ready, though the person who posted the original content may still see it in their notifications for a few minutes.
You can delete your own comments anytime, from any device. You cannot delete someone else's comment on your post — only the original poster can do that, or a page administrator if it is a group or business account. If someone else's comment bothers you, you can hide it, report it, or ask them to take it down, but deletion is not your choice.
Deleting a comment does not notify the other person. They will not receive a message saying you removed it, though they may notice it is gone if they look back at the conversation.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete only comments you wrote yourself, not comments others left on your posts.
- Find your comment, tap the three-dot menu icon next to it, and select delete — the process takes seconds and works the same way on all platforms.
- Deleted comments disappear from the thread when ready, though the original poster may see the deletion in their notifications briefly.
- The person who wrote the original post can also delete your comment from their post, even if you do not delete it yourself.
How to delete a comment on Facebook
On Facebook, hover your mouse over the comment you wrote (on desktop) or swipe left on the comment (on mobile). A three-dot menu icon will appear. Click or tap it, then select Delete. The comment is gone.
If you are on a phone and swiping does not work, try pressing and holding the comment for a moment — a menu should pop up with delete as an option. On desktop, if you do not see the three dots, move your cursor directly over the comment text itself.
How to delete a comment on Instagram
Find the comment you wrote on the post. Tap the three dots to the right of your comment (on mobile) or hover over it to reveal the dots (on desktop). Select Delete from the menu that appears.
On Instagram, you can also swipe left on your comment on a phone to reveal the delete option. If the comment is a reply to someone else's comment, the process is the same — find it, tap the three dots, and delete.
How to delete a comment on TikTok
Tap the comment you want to delete to open it. A menu icon (three dots) will appear in the top right corner of the comment. Tap it and select Delete. The comment is removed from the video.
You can also long-press the comment directly — on some versions of TikTok, this brings up a menu with delete as an option. If you cannot find the three dots, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the app.
How to delete a comment on X (Twitter)
Click or tap the three dots in the top right corner of your post or reply. Select Delete from the dropdown menu. On X, this removes the entire post or reply from the platform.
X does not distinguish between a "post" and a "comment" the way other platforms do — a reply to someone else's post is still a post you wrote, and you delete it the same way. Once deleted, it cannot be recovered.
How to delete a comment on YouTube
Find the comment you wrote. Click or tap the three dots to the right of your comment. Select Delete comment from the menu. The comment disappears from the video.
On mobile, you may need to swipe left on the comment to see the three-dot menu. On desktop, the dots appear when you hover over the comment. YouTube does not send a notification to the video creator or other commenters when you delete your comment.
What happens when you delete a comment
The comment is removed from public view when ready. Anyone looking at the post will no longer see your comment in the thread. The person who posted the original content may still see a notification that you commented, but the comment itself will not be there if they click through to read it.
Deleted comments cannot be recovered. If you change your mind, you will have to write the comment again. Some platforms keep deleted content in their servers for a short time for technical reasons, but you have no way to restore it yourself.
If your comment had replies from other people, those replies may remain visible on some platforms even after you delete your original comment. The replies will appear as responses to a deleted comment, which looks odd but is how most platforms handle it. You cannot delete someone else's reply to your comment.
When you might want to delete a comment
You might delete a comment because you made a typo or said something you did not mean to say. You might delete it because you changed your mind about the topic, or because you realize the comment was not appropriate for the audience. You might delete it because someone pointed out that the information was wrong.
You might also delete a comment if it contains personal information you do not want public — a phone number, address, or name you shared by accident. In that case, delete it as soon as you notice, though keep in mind that someone may have already seen it or taken a screenshot.
Deleting a comment does not erase it from someone's memory or from screenshots they may have taken. If the comment was offensive or harmful, deletion removes it from the platform but does not undo the harm. Consider whether you want to add a follow-up comment explaining your change of mind, or whether silence is better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a comment someone else left on my post?
No, you cannot delete comments other people wrote. You can hide the comment so only the person who wrote it can see it, or you can report it if it violates the platform's rules. Only the person who wrote the comment or a page administrator can delete it.
Will the person know I deleted my comment?
They will not receive a notification that you deleted it. However, if they look back at the post or conversation, they will notice the comment is gone. On some platforms, a deleted comment may show as "[deleted]" or "[removed]" rather than disappearing entirely.
Can I edit a comment instead of deleting it?
Most platforms allow you to edit a comment you wrote. Look for an edit option in the three-dot menu next to your comment. Editing is often better than deleting if you just made a typo or want to add clarification, because it keeps the conversation thread intact.
What if I delete a comment and then want it back?
You cannot recover a deleted comment. You will have to write it again if you want it to appear on the post. This is why some people take screenshots of important comments before deleting them.
Does deleting a comment remove the likes or replies it had?
Yes, when you delete a comment, any likes it received disappear. Replies to your comment may remain visible as responses to a deleted comment, depending on the platform. You cannot delete someone else's reply to your comment.