You can delete your own photos one at a time, or delete entire albums at once
Facebook lets you remove photos you posted yourself through your phone app or a web browser. The process takes less than a minute per photo. If you posted many photos in one album — say, from a vacation or event — you can delete the whole album instead, which removes all the photos in it at once. Photos that other people posted of you stay on their accounts unless you untag yourself or ask them to take the photo down.
Deleted photos disappear from your timeline, from other people's feeds, and from Facebook's search. However, Facebook keeps a backup copy for a limited time in case you change your mind. You can restore a deleted photo within 30 days by going to your trash folder.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete individual photos from your phone or computer by opening the photo, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting delete.
- Deleting an entire album removes all photos in that album at once, but you cannot undo this after 30 days.
- Photos other people posted of you are not deleted when you untag yourself — only your name is removed from the photo.
- Facebook keeps deleted photos in your trash for 30 days; after that, they are permanently gone.
- If someone else posted a photo of you and you want it removed, you must ask them directly or report it to Facebook.
How to delete a single photo from your phone
Open the Facebook app and go to your profile by tapping your name at the bottom of the screen. Tap "Photos" to see all the photos you have posted. Find the photo you want to delete and tap it to open it in full size.
Tap the three dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the photo. A menu will appear with several options. Tap "Delete Photo." Facebook will ask you to confirm — tap "Delete" again. The photo is now removed from your timeline and from other people's feeds.
How to delete a single photo from a computer
Go to your Facebook profile and click "Photos" in the left menu. Click "Your Photos" to see all the photos you posted. Find the photo you want to delete and click on it to open it.
Look for the three dots in the top right corner of the photo and click them. Select "Delete Photo" from the menu. Click "Delete" to confirm. The photo will be removed when ready.
How to delete an entire album
Go to your profile and click "Photos," then click "Albums." Find the album you want to delete and hover your mouse over it. Three dots will appear in the top right corner of the album thumbnail. Click the three dots and select "Delete Album."
Facebook will warn you that deleting an album removes all photos in it. Click "Delete" to confirm. All photos in that album will be removed from your timeline at once. This action cannot be undone after 30 days, so make sure you want to delete every photo in the album before you confirm.
How to restore a deleted photo within 30 days
If you deleted a photo by mistake, you can bring it back within 30 days. Go to your profile and click the three dots next to your name. Select "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." In the left menu, click "Your Facebook Information."
Click "Trash" to see photos and posts you deleted in the last 30 days. Find the photo you want to restore and click the three dots next to it. Select "Restore." The photo will go back to your timeline in the same place it was before you deleted it.
What happens when you untag yourself from someone else's photo
When someone else posts a photo of you, your name appears in a tag under the photo. Untagging yourself removes your name from the photo, so it no longer appears on your profile or in your tagged photos. However, the photo itself stays on the other person's account — they can still see it and other people can still view it if they visit that person's profile.
To untag yourself, open the photo and look for your name in the tag. Click your name and select "Remove Tag." Your name disappears from the photo, but the photo remains. If you want the photo deleted entirely, you need to ask the person who posted it to delete it themselves, or you can report it to Facebook if it violates Facebook's rules.
How to report a photo you want removed
If someone posted a photo of you that you want taken down and they will not delete it, you can report it to Facebook. Open the photo and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select "Report Photo."
Facebook will ask why you are reporting it. Choose the reason that fits — for example, "It's a photo of me that I don't want shared" or "It's harassment or bullying." Describe what is wrong with the photo in the text box. Facebook reviews reports and may remove the photo if it breaks their rules, but they may also decide to leave it up. You will receive a message telling you what they decided.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a photo after more than 30 days?
Yes. The 30-day window only applies to restoring deleted photos from your trash. You can delete any photo you posted at any time, even years later. Once you delete it and the 30 days pass, it cannot be restored.
If I delete a photo, do the comments on it disappear too?
Yes. When you delete a photo, all comments, likes, and reactions to that photo are deleted as well. The comments do not stay on people's profiles or in their activity logs.
What if someone keeps posting photos of me that I do not want shared?
You can untag yourself from each photo, but that only removes your name. If the person continues posting unwanted photos, you can block them, which prevents them from seeing your profile and posting on your timeline. You can also report the photos to Facebook if they are harassing or bullying.
Does deleting a photo delete it from Facebook's servers completely?
Facebook keeps backup copies of deleted content for a limited time for technical reasons. After 30 days, your deleted photo is removed from the trash and is no longer recoverable by you. Facebook may keep server copies longer for their own records, but you cannot restore it.