Delete a post in three steps
To delete a Facebook post, open Facebook on your phone or computer, find the post you want to remove, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner of that post, and select Delete. Confirm when Facebook asks if you're sure. The post disappears when ready from your timeline and from other people's feeds.
The three dots appear on every post you've written. They won't show on posts other people have written on your timeline, only on posts you created yourself. If you're looking at your own profile, you can see all your posts and delete any of them.
On a phone, the three dots are usually in the upper right of the post box. On a computer, they appear when you hover your mouse over the post. If you don't see them right away, try scrolling slightly or moving your cursor over different parts of the post.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted posts disappear from your timeline and from your friends' feeds within seconds, but Facebook keeps a copy in your archive for 30 days in case you change your mind.
- If you want to hide a post instead of deleting it, you can use the Archive option, which removes it from your timeline but keeps it visible only to you.
- Deleting a post does not remove comments or reactions that other people left on it before you deleted it — those disappear along with the post itself.
- If someone shared your post before you deleted it, the shared version stays on their timeline even after you delete the original.
What happens to comments and shares when you delete
When you delete a post, all the comments and reactions attached to it vanish too. If your friend left a comment or liked the post, that comment and like disappear from their view and from your timeline. They won't see a notification that you deleted the post — it straightforward stops appearing in their feed.
However, if someone shared your post to their own timeline before you deleted it, that shared version remains on their timeline. You cannot delete someone else's share of your post. If you want it gone from their timeline, you would need to ask them to delete it themselves, or you can report it to Facebook if it violates your privacy or safety.
Archive instead of delete if you might want it back
Facebook offers an Archive option that hides a post from your timeline without permanently removing it. To archive a post, tap or click the three dots, select Archive, and the post disappears from view. Only you can see it — your friends cannot find it on your timeline or in search results.
Archived posts stay in a private section of your profile called "Your Activity" for 30 days after deletion. If you change your mind within that window, you can restore the post by going to your profile, clicking the menu icon, selecting Your Activity, finding the post, and choosing Restore. After 30 days, archived posts are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
Archive is useful if you're not sure whether you want to keep a post. It removes the post from public view when ready while giving you time to decide. Many people use it for posts they regret but might want to reference later, or for posts they want to hide temporarily.
Delete posts from your phone versus your computer
The process is nearly identical on phones and computers, but the location of the three-dot menu changes slightly. On the Facebook app for iPhone or Android, the three dots appear in the top right corner of the post. On a computer using Facebook's website, the three dots appear in the same spot, but you may need to hover your mouse over the post to see them clearly.
If you're using Facebook Messenger or viewing posts in a group, the delete option works the same way — find the three dots and select Delete. The steps are consistent across all Facebook surfaces.
Permanently delete your post from Facebook's servers
When you delete a post using the three-dot menu, Facebook removes it from public view when ready. However, Facebook's servers retain a copy of deleted posts for a limited time for technical and legal reasons. This copy is not visible to you or anyone else — it exists only in Facebook's backup systems.
You cannot force Facebook to erase this backup copy. If you want to remove all your data from Facebook entirely, you can read your information through Facebook's Settings & Privacy menu, then request account deletion. Account deletion takes about 30 days to process and removes your profile, posts, photos, and personal information from Facebook's public systems, though some data may remain in backups.
For most situations, deleting a post through the three-dot menu is sufficient. The post is gone from your timeline and from everyone else's view within seconds. The backup copy is not searchable and not accessible to other users.
What to do if you cannot find the delete option
If the three-dot menu does not appear on a post, check whether you actually wrote the post. You can only delete posts you created yourself. If someone else posted on your timeline, you can remove it from your timeline without deleting it from theirs — tap or click the three dots and select Remove from Timeline. The post stays on their profile but disappears from yours.
If you wrote the post but still cannot see the three dots, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app. Sometimes the menu takes a moment to load. On a computer, make sure you're hovering your mouse directly over the post. On a phone, make sure you're tapping the correct corner of the post box.
If the delete option is grayed out or missing entirely, the post may be too old or may have been shared in a way that prevents deletion. Very old posts sometimes have limited editing options. In rare cases, Facebook's systems may prevent deletion if the post is part of an active legal matter or investigation.
Delete multiple posts at once
Facebook does not have a built-in feature to delete many posts simultaneously. You must delete posts one at a time using the three-dot menu. If you want to remove a large number of posts, you can speed up the process by opening your timeline, finding each post, and deleting them in sequence.
If you want to hide many posts without deleting them, you can archive them instead. Archived posts are hidden from your timeline but remain in your "Your Activity" section. This is faster than deleting if you think you might want to restore some of them later.
If you want to delete all your posts and start fresh, the fastest method is to request a full account deletion through Facebook's settings. This removes your entire profile, all posts, and all associated data after a 30-day waiting period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people see that I deleted a post?
No. When you delete a post, it straightforward disappears from feeds and timelines. People who saw the post before you deleted it will notice it's gone, but Facebook does not send a notification saying "James deleted a post." If someone had commented on the post, they might wonder what happened to the conversation, but they won't receive an alert.
If I delete a post, does it delete comments other people made on it?
Yes. When you delete a post, all comments, likes, and reactions attached to it are deleted as well. Your friends' comments vanish along with the post. They will not receive a notification that their comment was deleted.
Can I delete a post someone else shared on my timeline?
You can remove it from your timeline so it no longer appears on your profile, but you cannot delete it from the other person's timeline. To remove it from your timeline, tap or click the three dots and select Remove from Timeline. To delete it from their timeline, you would need to ask them to delete it, or report it to Facebook if it violates your privacy.
What's the difference between deleting and archiving a post?
Deleting removes the post permanently after 30 days. Archiving hides it from your timeline when ready, but you can restore it within 30 days. Use archive if you're unsure, and delete if you're certain you don't want the post anymore.
If I delete a post, will it still show up in Facebook search results?
No. Once you delete a post, it will not appear in Facebook search results or in anyone's feed. The post is removed from all public-facing systems when ready.