To remove a Facebook post you created, open the three-dot menu on the post and choose Delete post. For posts from friends on your timeline, select Hide from profile instead.
If you’ve ever tried to clean up your Facebook timeline, you’ve probably wondered whether the post disappears entirely or just hides from view. Facebook gives you several options depending on who posted it and what you want to happen. This article covers the exact steps for deleting your own posts, hiding posts from others, and handling tagged content.
What Does ‘Hide from Profile’ Actually Do?
Hiding a post removes it from your timeline but does not delete the post from Facebook. The original post remains visible to friends on their News Feeds, in groups, and on the poster’s own timeline. The option is useful when you want to declutter your profile without removing content entirely.
How to Remove a Facebook Post on Desktop and Mobile
Delete your own post (desktop)
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook to go to your profile.
- Find the post you want to erase and click the three dots in the top right corner of the post.
- Select Delete post and confirm your choice. The post is removed from Facebook permanently.
For posts that appear on your timeline but were created by a friend, the delete option is not available. Instead, you can hide the post from your profile.
Hide a friend’s post from your timeline (desktop)
- Navigate to your profile and find the post.
- Click the three dots on the post.
- Choose Hide from profile. The post disappears from your timeline but remains elsewhere on Facebook.
Mobile App: The Newer ‘Move to Trash’ Flow
Facebook’s mobile app now offers a two-step deletion process using a Trash folder. This gives you a chance to undo removal within 30 days. Here’s how it works:
- Open the Facebook app and go to your profile.
- Find the post, tap the three dots on the post.
- Tap Move to trash and confirm with Move.
- To permanently delete, go to Menu → Settings & privacy → Settings → Activity Log → Trash. Select the post and tap Delete again to confirm.
This two-step flow is also available on desktop via the Activity Log, but the mobile app makes it more visible.
Can You Delete a Post You Didn’t Write?
No, you cannot delete a post created by someone else. Facebook’s settings only allow you to remove content you posted yourself. For posts friends share on your timeline, you can hide them from your profile or remove the tag if you’re tagged. To remove the tag: open the post, tap or click the tag, and select Remove tag. This removes the post from your timeline but not from Facebook’s search or feeds.
According to Facebook’s official help center, removing a tag does not delete the original post — it only prevents it from appearing on your profile. Facebook’s help article on removing posts outlines these limitations clearly.
Common Mistakes When Erasing Facebook Posts
| Mistake | Why It Happens | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing Hide instead of Delete | The two options are close together; users tap the wrong one. | Check your profile to confirm the post is still there — if it’s hidden, you can unhide it from the Activity Log, then delete properly. |
| Forgetting items in Trash | The Move to trash flow doesn’t permanently delete immediately. | Visit Activity Log → Trash within 30 days and delete permanently. After 30 days, items auto-delete. |
| Thinking tag removal deletes the post | Many users assume untagging removes the post from all of Facebook. | Understand that untagging only removes the link from your profile. The post remains visible to the audience it was shared with. |
| Looking for delete option on a friend’s post | Users expect a delete button on every post they see on their timeline. | Only the post’s author can delete. You can hide or report the post instead. |
| Assuming ‘Hide from profile’ hides from everyone | The term “hide” suggests global removal. | The post remains visible in News Feed and search. Use this only for decluttering your own profile. |
| Using third-party tools without caution | Browser extensions promise bulk deletion but may violate Facebook’s terms. | Stick to Facebook’s built-in controls. Official methods are safe and reliable. |
Permanently Deleting a Post from Trash
If you used the Move to trash option, the post is not gone until you permanently delete it. Follow these steps on the Facebook mobile app or desktop Activity Log:
- Open Menu → Settings & privacy → Activity Log.
- Tap Trash.
- Find the post you want to erase, tap the three dots next to it, and choose Delete.
- Confirm. The post is permanently removed and cannot be recovered.
Steps to Erase a Facebook Post
- For your own post (desktop): three dots → Delete post
- For your own post (mobile): three dots → Move to trash → later delete from Trash
- For a friend’s post on your timeline: three dots → Hide from profile
- For posts you’re tagged in: remove the tag to hide from your profile
References & Sources
- Facebook Help Center. “Remove a Post from Your Timeline” Official steps for deleting, hiding, and untagging posts.