You can delete your own Instagram photos in three taps from your phone or computer
To remove a photo you posted, open Instagram and go to your profile. Find the photo you want to delete, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post, and select "Delete." Instagram will ask you to confirm — tap "Delete" again, and the photo is gone. The same process works on a computer: click the three dots, choose "Delete," and confirm.
Once you delete a photo, it disappears from your profile, your followers' feeds, and Instagram's search results. People who saw it before deletion may remember it, but they cannot find it on Instagram anymore. The photo is removed from Instagram's servers, though Instagram may keep a backup copy for a limited time for technical reasons.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted photos are gone from your profile and feeds within seconds, but Instagram may retain backups for internal use.
- You can only delete photos you posted yourself — you cannot remove photos someone else tagged you in.
- Deleting a photo removes all the likes, comments, and shares attached to it.
- If you want to hide a photo without deleting it, you can archive it instead, which keeps it private but lets you restore it later.
How to delete a photo on your phone
Open the Instagram app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right. Scroll to find the photo you want to remove. Once you see it, tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner of that post.
A menu will appear with several options. Tap "Delete" near the bottom of the menu. Instagram will show a confirmation message asking "Delete post?" — tap "Delete" again to confirm. The photo will disappear from your profile and your followers' feeds immediately.
How to delete a photo on a computer or web browser
Go to Instagram.com and log in to your account. Click your profile icon in the top right, then click "Profile" from the dropdown menu. Find the photo you want to delete and hover your mouse over it.
Three dots will appear in the top right corner of the photo. Click those dots, then click "Delete" from the menu that opens. Instagram will ask you to confirm — click "Delete" again, and the photo is removed.
What happens to likes, comments, and shares when you delete a photo
When you delete a photo, all the likes, comments, and shares on that post disappear along with it. People who commented on the photo will not see their comments anymore. If someone had saved the photo to their Instagram collection, it will no longer appear there.
Followers who saw the photo in their feed before you deleted it may still remember it, but they cannot find it by searching or by visiting your profile. If the photo was shared outside Instagram — for example, someone took a screenshot or shared it on another social media platform — that copy will still exist elsewhere, but Instagram has no control over it.
The difference between deleting and archiving a photo
Deleting removes a photo permanently from Instagram (though Instagram keeps internal backups). Archiving hides a photo from your profile and your followers' feeds, but you can restore it later if you change your mind.
To archive a photo instead of deleting it, tap the three dots on the post and select "Archive." The photo will move to a private archive section that only you can see. You can find archived photos by going to your profile, tapping the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and selecting "Archive." From there, you can restore the photo to your profile or delete it permanently.
You cannot delete photos other people posted of you
If someone else posted a photo and tagged you in it, you cannot delete that photo from Instagram. You can only remove the tag so the photo no longer appears on your profile. To do this, go to the photo, tap the three dots, and select "Remove me from post." The photo stays on the other person's profile, but it is no longer linked to you.
If a photo of you violates Instagram's community guidelines — for example, if it contains harassment or explicit content — you can report it to Instagram. Tap the three dots on the post and select "Report." Choose the reason the photo should be removed, and Instagram will review it. If Instagram agrees the photo breaks its rules, the platform will delete it.
What to know about Instagram's backup and data retention
When you delete a photo, it disappears from Instagram's public servers and your profile within seconds. However, Instagram may keep backup copies of deleted content for a limited time for technical and legal reasons. These backups are not visible to you or other users — they exist only on Instagram's internal systems.
If you want to permanently remove all your data from Instagram, you can deactivate or delete your entire account. Deactivating hides your profile but keeps your data; deleting your account removes your profile, photos, and most of your data after 30 days. Go to Settings, select "Account," and choose "Deactivate Account" or "Delete Account" depending on what you want to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a photo after I delete it?
No, once you delete a photo from Instagram, you cannot recover it through the app. If you have the original photo file on your phone or computer, you can re-upload it, but Instagram does not restore deleted posts. Archive your photos instead if you think you might want them back later.
Does deleting a photo notify the people who liked or commented on it?
Instagram does not send a notification when you delete a post. People who liked or commented on the photo will not receive an alert, but they will notice the post is gone if they try to find it on your profile.
If I delete a photo, can people still see it in their saved collection?
No. When you delete a photo, it disappears from everyone's saved collections. If someone had saved your photo to their collection, it will no longer appear there once you delete it.
What if I delete a photo by accident?
Instagram does not have an undo feature for deleted photos. If you deleted a photo by mistake, your only option is to re-upload it if you still have the original file. In the future, use the archive feature instead of delete if you are unsure.
Does Instagram tell me when someone screenshots my photo before I delete it?
No. Instagram does not notify you when someone takes a screenshot of your photo, whether you delete it later or not. If you are concerned about a photo being shared, deleting it from Instagram will not remove copies that already exist elsewhere.