Delete your own comment in three taps
To remove a comment you wrote on Instagram, open the post, find your comment, and tap the three dots next to it. Select Delete from the menu that appears. The comment disappears immediately — no one else can see it, and Instagram does not keep a record of deleted comments visible to other users.
This works the same way whether you commented on a photo, video, Reel, or carousel post. The three-dot menu appears only next to comments you wrote yourself. If you are looking at someone else's comment, you will see different options instead.
Deleted comments cannot be recovered. If you change your mind after deleting, you would need to write the comment again from scratch.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the three dots next to your comment and select Delete to remove it permanently.
- Only you can delete comments you wrote — you cannot delete other people's comments unless you own the post.
- The three-dot menu appears only on your own comments, not on comments from other users.
- Deleted comments disappear immediately and cannot be restored.
- If you own the post, you can delete anyone's comment by tapping the three dots next to theirs.
Where to find the three-dot menu on different post types
The delete option works the same way across all Instagram content, but the menu location can vary slightly depending on what you are viewing. On a standard photo or video post, tap the comment itself or look for the three dots to the right of your username. On a Reel, the comment appears in the same format — find your comment in the thread and tap the three dots.
If you are viewing comments on a carousel post (multiple photos or videos in one post), each comment has its own three-dot menu. Tap the dots next to the specific comment you want to remove. The process is identical whether the post has one image or ten.
On mobile, the three dots appear when you tap and hold on your comment, or they may be visible to the right of your comment already. On Instagram's web version, hover over your comment to reveal the three-dot menu.
Delete comments on posts you own
If you posted the original photo, video, or Reel, you can delete any comment on that post — not just your own. This is useful if someone leaves a comment you find offensive, spam, or otherwise unwanted. Tap the three dots next to their comment and select Delete. The comment is removed, and they will not receive a notification that you deleted it.
Deleting someone else's comment does not send them a message or alert. They may notice their comment is gone if they return to the post, but Instagram does not tell them you removed it. This is different from blocking or restricting a user, which they may discover through other means.
You can also turn off comments entirely on a post you own. Go to the post, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select Turn off commenting. This prevents anyone from adding new comments, though existing comments remain visible unless you delete them individually.
Reasons to delete a comment
You might delete your own comment because you made a typo, changed your mind about what you wanted to say, or realized the comment was unclear. Deleting and rewriting is faster than editing, since Instagram does not have a built-in comment edit feature. You can write a new comment immediately after deleting the old one.
Some people delete comments to manage their public presence or remove comments that no longer reflect their views. Others delete comments that received negative responses or that they worry might be misunderstood. There is no penalty for deleting your own comments — it is a normal part of managing your account.
If you own a post and want to delete someone else's comment, you might do so because it is spam, contains misinformation, is rude to you or other commenters, or simply does not fit the tone of your post. You have full control over the comments on content you create.
What happens after you delete a comment
Once deleted, your comment is gone from the post permanently. Anyone viewing the post will not see it. If someone had already liked your comment or replied to it, those interactions disappear too. The replies to your comment are removed along with it.
The person who liked your comment will not receive a notification that the comment is gone. If they try to find it later, they will simply see that it is no longer there. There is no notification system that tells people "this comment was deleted."
The post's total comment count may decrease by one after you delete your comment, depending on how Instagram counts. Some users notice the number changes immediately, while others report a slight delay. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
If you cannot find the delete option
Make sure you are looking at a comment you actually wrote. The three-dot menu only appears next to your own comments. If you are trying to delete someone else's comment and you do not own the post, you cannot remove it — only the post owner or Instagram can delete it if it violates community guidelines.
If the three-dot menu is not appearing next to your comment, try closing and reopening the Instagram app. Sometimes the menu does not load properly on the first try. On mobile, make sure you are tapping directly on the comment or the area to the right of your username.
If you are using Instagram on a web browser, make sure you are hovering over the comment with your mouse. The three-dot menu appears on hover on desktop but may not be visible until you move your cursor over the comment area. If the menu still does not appear, try refreshing the page or logging out and back in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone see that I deleted my comment?
No. When you delete a comment, it simply disappears from the post. There is no notification sent to anyone, and no record visible to other users that a comment was deleted. If someone was reading the thread and you delete your comment, they will just see it is gone — they will not know you deleted it versus it never existing.
What if I delete a comment and then want to say the same thing again?
You can write a new comment immediately after deleting the old one. There is no waiting period or limit on how many times you can comment on the same post. Just tap the comment box and type your new comment as usual.
If I delete my comment, do the people who replied to it get notified?
No. People who replied to your comment will not receive a notification that you deleted it. If they go back to the post and look for the thread, they will see their reply is gone along with your original comment, but Instagram does not send them an alert about this.
Can I delete comments on someone else's post?
You can only delete comments you wrote yourself. If you want a comment removed from someone else's post, you would need to ask them to delete it. The only exception is if the comment violates Instagram's community guidelines — you can report it to Instagram, but you cannot delete it directly.
Does deleting a comment affect my follower count or engagement?
No. Deleting your own comment does not change your follower count, and it does not affect your overall engagement metrics in any visible way. The like count on that specific comment disappears, but your account statistics remain the same.