You can edit a Facebook post after you publish it, but only the text — not photos, videos, or who can see it
Facebook lets you change the words in a post anytime after you publish it. You cannot change the image, video, or privacy setting once it is live. If you need to swap out a photo or change who can see the post, you will need to delete it and post again.
The edit option appears in a menu on the post itself. On a computer, look for three dots in the top right corner of your post. On a phone, swipe left on the post (iPhone) or long-press it (Android) to reveal the menu. Tap or click "Edit post" and make your changes to the text. Facebook keeps a version history, so anyone who saw the original can see that you edited it — the post will show "Edited" with a timestamp.
Key Takeaways
- You can edit the text of a post anytime after publishing, but the edit will be visible to anyone who saw the original post.
- Photos, videos, and privacy settings cannot be changed after posting — you must delete and repost if you need to change these.
- Deleting a post removes it from your timeline and from other people's feeds, but people who saw it may remember it.
- Comments and reactions stay on a post even after you edit the text, so editing does not erase responses from others.
- Posts shared to a group or page follow the same edit rules as posts to your timeline, but group admins may have additional controls.
How to edit text in a post on computer
Open the post you want to change. In the top right corner, you will see three horizontal dots (sometimes called a menu icon). Click on it. A dropdown menu appears with several options. Select "Edit post." The text box opens and you can now change the words. Click outside the text box or press Enter to save your changes. The post updates when ready, and "Edited" appears below the timestamp.
If you cannot find the three dots, make sure you are looking at your own post or a post on a page you manage. You can only edit posts you created. Comments on other people's posts can be edited the same way — find the three dots on the comment itself.
How to edit text in a post on iPhone or Android
On iPhone, open your post and swipe left across it. A menu slides in from the right side with options including "Edit." Tap "Edit," change the text, and tap "Save." On Android, long-press the post (hold your finger on it for a moment) until a menu appears. Tap "Edit post," make your changes, and tap "Save."
The process is the same whether the post is on your timeline, in a group, or on a page you manage. If you do not see an edit option, you may not have permission to edit that post — for example, if it was posted by someone else or if the group has restricted editing.
What happens when you delete a post
Deleting a post removes it from your timeline and from the feeds of people who follow you. It also removes it from search results and from any group or page where it was posted. The post disappears when ready — there is no waiting period or undo option after you confirm the deletion.
People who saw the post before you deleted it may still remember it or have taken a screenshot. Deleting does not erase it from their memory or from any copies they made. If the post had comments or reactions, those disappear with the post, but the people who commented or reacted will still see it in their own activity history.
When to delete instead of edit
Delete a post if you want to change the photo or video, change who can see it, or remove it entirely. You cannot edit these things after posting. Delete also makes sense if the post contains a mistake so serious that editing the text is not enough — for example, if you tagged the wrong person or shared the wrong link.
Edit a post if you only need to fix a typo, add a sentence, or clarify what you meant. Editing keeps the post in place with its comments and reactions intact, so people who engaged with it can still see their own activity. Deleting and reposting starts fresh, which can feel like you are hiding something even if you are just correcting a small error.
How to delete a post
Find the post you want to remove. Click or tap the three dots in the top right corner. Select "Delete post" from the menu. A confirmation box appears asking "Remove this post?" Click or tap "Delete" to confirm. The post is gone when ready.
You can delete your own posts anytime. If you are a page admin or group admin, you can also delete posts made by others on that page or group. Regular members cannot delete other people's posts, but they can report them to the admin if they violate group rules.
Editing posts in groups and on pages you manage
The edit and delete process is the same for posts on a group timeline or a page you manage. Find the three dots on the post, select "Edit post," change the text, and save. The "Edited" label appears just as it does on your personal timeline.
Group admins have extra power: they can delete or edit posts made by other members. If you are an admin and you edit someone else's post, that person will see that it was edited, but they may not know you were the one who changed it. Some groups use this to remove spam or fix mistakes; others ask members to edit their own posts first. If you manage a group, be clear in your rules about when admins will edit or delete member posts.
What you cannot change after posting
Facebook does not let you change the photo or video in a post after you publish it. If you posted the wrong image or want to swap it for a better one, delete the post and create a new one. The same goes for video — you cannot replace it or trim it after posting.
You also cannot change the privacy setting after posting. If you posted something as "Public" and want it to be "Friends only," you must delete it and post again with the correct setting. You can change who is tagged in a post after publishing, and you can turn comments off or on, but the core audience setting is locked once the post goes live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people see that I edited a post?
Yes. Facebook shows "Edited" with a timestamp below your post whenever you change the text. Anyone who saw the original post can see that you edited it, though they have to click on the timestamp to view the edit history. This is by design — Facebook wants to prevent people from secretly changing posts to spread misinformation.
What if I delete a post but someone already shared it?
If someone shared your post to their own timeline or to a group, deleting your original post does not remove their share. Their copy stays on their timeline. You cannot delete someone else's share of your post, but you can ask them to remove it or report it if it violates Facebook's rules.
Can I edit a post I made years ago?
Yes. There is no time limit on editing your own posts. You can edit something you posted last week or five years ago. The "Edited" label will show the current date and time, not the original post date, so people will know it was changed recently.
What happens to comments when I edit a post?
Comments stay on the post even after you edit the text. If you change the wording significantly, a comment that made sense before might seem out of place, but Facebook does not remove or hide it. The person who commented will still see their comment in their activity history.
Can I undo a deletion?
No. Once you confirm the deletion, the post is gone. Facebook does not have an undo button or a trash folder where deleted posts sit temporarily. If you deleted something important, your only option is to recreate it from memory or from a screenshot you saved.