Delete a post you created

To delete a post you wrote yourself, open Facebook and find the post on your timeline or in a group. Look for the three dots in the top right corner of the post — this menu appears when you hover over the post on desktop, or tap and hold on mobile. Tap or click those three dots, then select Delete from the menu that appears.

Facebook removes the post immediately. Anyone who saw it before deletion will no longer see it on your timeline, in their feed, or in search results. If you shared the post to a group or event, it disappears from there too. The post cannot be recovered after deletion, so make sure you want it gone before you confirm.

On mobile, the process is the same but the three-dot menu may appear in a different spot depending on your phone's screen size. If you don't see the dots right away, try swiping left on the post (iPhone) or long-pressing it (Android) to reveal the menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Find the three-dot menu on your own post and select Delete to remove it permanently from Facebook.
  • Deleted posts disappear from your timeline, other people's feeds, groups, and search results right away.
  • You can only delete posts you created yourself — you cannot delete someone else's post unless you are a group admin or page owner.
  • If you want to hide a post instead of deleting it, you can archive it so only you can see it on your timeline.
  • Deleting a post does not notify the people who saw it or commented on it.

Delete a post from your timeline that someone else wrote

If someone posted on your timeline and you want it gone, you can remove it without deleting their original post. Hover over or tap the post, click the three dots, and select Remove from Timeline. This takes the post off your timeline only — it still exists on their profile and in their friends' feeds.

The person who posted it will not receive a notification that you removed it. They can see it is no longer on your timeline if they visit your profile, but Facebook does not send them a message about the removal.

Delete comments on your posts

You can delete individual comments on any of your posts, even if someone else wrote them. Find the comment, hover over it or tap and hold, and look for the three dots or trash icon. Select Delete to remove just that comment.

Deleting a comment does not delete the entire post. If a post has many comments and you want to remove most of them, you will need to delete each one separately. If you want to stop people from commenting altogether, you can turn off comments for a specific post by clicking the three dots on the post itself and selecting Turn Off Commenting.

Archive a post instead of deleting it

If you are not sure whether you want to delete a post permanently, you can archive it instead. Archived posts stay on Facebook but disappear from your timeline and other people's view. Only you can see an archived post when you look at your own profile.

To archive a post, click the three dots on the post and select Archive. You can unarchive it later by going to your profile, clicking the menu icon, selecting Your Activity, finding the post, and choosing Unarchive. This option is useful if you want to keep the post but do not want it showing on your timeline right now.

Delete posts from a Facebook group or page you manage

If you are an admin or moderator of a group or page, you can delete posts that other members wrote. Find the post, click the three dots, and select Delete. The post is removed from the group or page immediately, and the person who posted it receives a notification that their post was deleted.

You can also hide a post from the group or page without deleting it by selecting Hide instead. This removes it from view but keeps it in Facebook's records. Hidden posts can be unhidden later if needed.

What happens when you delete a post

When you delete a post, Facebook removes it from your timeline, your friends' feeds, groups, and search results. Likes, comments, and shares on that post also disappear. If the post was shared by someone else, their share of it remains on their timeline — deleting your original post does not delete other people's shares of it.

Reactions and tags connected to the post are also removed. If you were tagged in someone else's post and you delete your comment on it, the comment goes away but the post itself stays. Facebook keeps some data about deleted posts for a limited time for security and legal reasons, but you cannot see or recover the post yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a post after someone has shared it?

Yes, you can delete your original post anytime. However, if someone else shared your post to their timeline or a group, that share will remain visible even after you delete the original. You cannot delete someone else's share — only they can remove it, or a group admin can remove it from the group.

Will people get notified if I delete a post?

No, Facebook does not send notifications when you delete a post. People who saw it, liked it, or commented on it will not receive a message. They will simply notice the post is gone if they look for it later.

Can I recover a post after I delete it?

No, deleted posts cannot be recovered. Once you confirm the deletion, the post is permanently removed. If you think you might want the post later, archive it instead of deleting it.

How do I delete multiple posts at once?

Facebook does not have a bulk delete feature. You must delete posts one at a time by finding each post and clicking the three-dot menu. If you want to remove many posts quickly, you can archive them instead, which hides them all from your timeline at once.

What is the difference between deleting and hiding a post?

Deleting removes the post completely from Facebook. Hiding (or archiving) keeps the post on Facebook but removes it from your timeline so only you can see it. Deleted posts cannot be recovered; hidden posts can be unhidden anytime.