Delete a post you no longer want visible

To remove a post from your Instagram profile, open the app and find the post you want to delete. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post — this opens a menu with options. Select "Delete" from that menu, then confirm when Instagram asks if you're sure. The post disappears when ready from your profile, your followers' feeds, and search results.

Deleting a post removes it completely. Anyone who saw it before will no longer be able to find it on your profile or through Instagram search. If someone saved a screenshot or shared it elsewhere, that copy stays with them — Instagram cannot remove posts from outside its platform.

The process is the same whether you're deleting a photo, video, carousel (multiple images in one post), or Reel. You can delete your own posts anytime. You cannot delete someone else's post unless you are the account owner or have admin access to a shared business account.

Key Takeaways

  • Find the post on your profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Delete" to remove it permanently.
  • Deleted posts disappear from your profile, your followers' feeds, and Instagram search within seconds.
  • Screenshots or shares of your post that exist outside Instagram remain — deletion only affects what Instagram itself displays.
  • You can delete your own posts anytime, but cannot delete posts from other accounts unless you manage that account.
  • If you want to hide a post without deleting it, you can archive it instead, which removes it from your profile but keeps it in a private folder.

Delete a post from your profile page

The easiest way to delete a post is directly from your profile. Open Instagram and tap your profile icon at the bottom right. Scroll through your posts until you find the one you want to remove. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of that post — they appear when you hover over or tap the post itself.

A menu will pop up with several options. Look for "Delete" near the bottom of the menu. Tap it. Instagram will ask you to confirm: "Delete post?" Tap "Delete" again. The post is gone when ready. Your follower count does not change, and no notification goes to people who liked or commented on it.

Delete a post from your feed or someone else's profile

You can also delete your own posts when you see them in your feed while scrolling. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of your post, then select "Delete." The same confirmation screen appears. Tap "Delete" to confirm.

If you are looking at someone else's profile and see a post you made on their page (such as a comment you turned into a post, or a post they tagged you in), you cannot delete it from there. You can only delete posts that appear on your own profile. To remove a post someone else made that includes you, you can ask them to delete it, or you can untag yourself from it by tapping the three dots and selecting "Remove me from post."

Archive a post instead of deleting it

If you are unsure about deleting a post permanently, Instagram offers an alternative: archiving. When you archive a post, it disappears from your profile and your followers cannot see it, but you keep a copy in a private folder that only you can access. You can unarchive it later to put it back on your profile.

To archive a post, tap the three dots in the top right corner and select "Archive" instead of "Delete." The post when ready disappears from your profile view. To see your archived posts, go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select "Archive," and then choose "Posts." Your archived posts appear there. Tap any post and select "Unarchive" to put it back on your profile.

Archiving is useful if you want to clean up your profile temporarily — for example, removing old photos during a rebrand — but might want them back later. Deleted posts cannot be recovered, so archive first if you are not completely certain.

What happens after you delete a post

Once you delete a post, it is gone from Instagram's servers. The post no longer appears on your profile, in your followers' feeds, in hashtag searches, or in location tags. If someone tries to find the post by searching for it or clicking an old link to it, they will see an error message saying the post no longer exists.

Likes and comments on the post disappear as well. People who liked or commented do not receive a notification that the post was deleted — they straightforward notice it is no longer there if they try to find it. Your follower count and engagement metrics are not affected by deleting a post.

Instagram does not notify your followers that you deleted something. If you posted something controversial or made a mistake, deleting it removes it from public view, but people who saw it before may have already taken screenshots or shared it. Deletion only controls what appears on Instagram itself.

Delete multiple posts at once

Instagram does not have a built-in feature to delete multiple posts in one action. You must delete each post individually by tapping the three dots and selecting "Delete." If you want to remove many posts — for example, cleaning up your entire profile — you will need to go through them one by one.

To make this faster, go to your profile and start at the oldest posts. Work your way forward, deleting as you go. On a phone, this takes a few seconds per post. If you have hundreds of posts to remove, the process takes time, but there is no shortcut within the Instagram app itself.

Troubleshooting: Post won't delete

If you tap "Delete" and the post does not disappear, first check your internet connection. A weak connection can prevent the deletion from going through. Close the Instagram app completely and reopen it. If the post is still there, try again.

If you are using an older version of the Instagram app, update it from your phone's app store. Outdated versions sometimes have bugs that prevent deletions. After updating, try deleting the post again.

If the post still will not delete and you are certain it is your own post, try logging out and logging back in. This refreshes your session and sometimes fixes technical glitches. If none of these steps work, the issue may be a temporary server problem on Instagram's end — wait a few hours and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a post after I delete it?

No. Once you delete a post, Instagram does not keep a backup. The post is permanently removed and cannot be recovered. If you think you might want a post back later, archive it instead of deleting it. You can unarchive it anytime to restore it to your profile.

Does deleting a post remove the likes and comments too?

Yes. When you delete a post, all likes, comments, and shares associated with it disappear as well. People who commented do not receive a notification that their comments were deleted — they straightforward see that the post no longer exists when they look for it.

Will my followers know I deleted a post?

Instagram does not send a notification to your followers when you delete a post. However, if someone was following your activity closely or had liked or commented on the post, they may notice it is gone. Deletion is silent on Instagram's end.

Can I delete a post someone else made that I'm tagged in?

No, you cannot delete a post made by someone else, even if you are tagged in it. You can only remove yourself from the post by untag yourself. To do this, tap the three dots on the post and select "Remove me from post." The post stays on their profile, but your name is no longer attached to it.

What's the difference between deleting and archiving?

Deleting removes a post permanently and it cannot be recovered. Archiving hides a post from your profile and your followers, but you keep a private copy that only you can see. You can unarchive an archived post anytime to put it back on your profile. Use archiving if you are unsure about permanent deletion.