You can delete a Reel you posted from your profile or from the Reel itself

To delete a Reel on Instagram, open the Reel on your profile, tap the three dots in the bottom right corner, and select "Delete." You can also delete from the Reel's own page by tapping the three dots at the top right and choosing "Delete." Either way, the Reel disappears from your profile and from anyone else's feed when ready. Instagram does not send a notification to people who already watched it — they straightforward won't see it anymore if they go back to look.

The process takes about 10 seconds. You don't need to wait for confirmation or go through multiple screens. Once you tap "Delete," the Reel is gone. If you change your mind within a few seconds, you can undo the action by tapping the "Undo" button that appears at the bottom of your screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Delete a Reel from your profile by opening it, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Delete" — the action is when ready and cannot be reversed after a few seconds.
  • You can also delete from the Reel's own page by tapping the three dots at the top right of the screen.
  • Deleted Reels disappear from your profile and from feeds, but Instagram does not notify people who already watched it.
  • If you want to keep the video but hide it from others, use the "Archive" option instead of "Delete" — archived Reels stay in your account but do not appear on your profile.

Delete from your profile page

Go to your Instagram profile and find the Reel you want to remove. Tap on the Reel to open it. In the bottom right corner of the video, you will see three dots arranged vertically. Tap those three dots.

A menu will appear with several options. Look for "Delete" in that menu and tap it. Instagram will ask you to confirm — tap "Delete" again. The Reel is now removed from your profile and will not appear in anyone's feed.

Delete from the Reel's own page

If you are already watching a Reel you posted, you can delete it without going back to your profile. Look at the top right corner of the screen, where you will see three dots. Tap those dots.

The same menu appears. Select "Delete" and confirm. This method is faster if you are already viewing the Reel and want to remove it right away.

Archive a Reel instead of deleting it

If you are not sure you want to delete a Reel permanently, you can archive it instead. Archived Reels stay in your account but do not show up on your profile or in anyone's feed. You can unarchive them later if you change your mind.

To archive, tap the three dots on the Reel and select "Archive" instead of "Delete." The Reel disappears from public view when ready. To see your archived Reels, go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select "Archive," and then choose "Reels." Your archived Reels are stored there and can be unarchived at any time by tapping the three dots and selecting "Unarchive."

What happens to comments and likes when you delete

When you delete a Reel, all comments and likes on that Reel disappear as well. People who commented on it will not see their comments anymore. If someone saved your Reel before you deleted it, they will still have it saved in their collection, but the link to the original Reel will no longer work.

If you want to keep the engagement history but hide the Reel from your profile, archiving is the better choice. Archived Reels keep their comments and likes, and you can restore them to your profile later.

Undo a deletion within seconds

If you delete a Reel by accident, you have a short window to undo it. when ready after you delete, a notification appears at the bottom of your screen with an "Undo" button. Tap "Undo" and your Reel will be restored to your profile with all its comments and likes intact.

This undo window lasts only a few seconds, so you need to act quickly. If you close the app or navigate away from the screen, you lose the chance to undo. After that, the Reel is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

Bulk delete multiple Reels

Instagram does not have a feature to delete multiple Reels at once. You must delete each Reel individually by opening it, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Delete." If you have many Reels to remove, this process takes time, but there is no faster way to do it through the app.

If you want to remove a large number of Reels, consider archiving them instead. You can archive one at a time just as you delete, but archiving gives you the option to restore them later if you change your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone see a Reel I deleted if they saved it before I removed it?

They can still see it in their saved collection, but the link to the original Reel will not work. If they try to visit your profile to see the Reel, it will not be there. They cannot share the saved Reel with others or send the link to friends.

Does Instagram notify people when I delete a Reel?

No. People who watched, liked, or commented on your Reel do not receive a notification that it has been deleted. They straightforward will not see it on your profile or in their feed anymore.

What is the difference between deleting and archiving?

Deleted Reels are gone permanently and cannot be recovered after the undo window closes. Archived Reels stay in your account but do not appear on your profile or in feeds. You can unarchive them anytime to restore them to your profile.

Can I delete a Reel someone else shared from my account?

You can only delete Reels you created yourself. If someone else posted a Reel on your profile (with your permission), you can remove it by tapping the three dots on that Reel and selecting "Delete," but the original Reel on their profile will remain.

Will deleting a Reel affect my follower count?

No. Deleting a Reel does not change your follower count or your overall engagement metrics. It only removes that specific video from public view.