Facebook allows users to upload photos and videos to share with friends or post publicly. You may later decide you want to remove a photo or video from a post for privacy or other reasons. Facebook does not delete photos or videos you upload, but you can remove them from posts and adjust privacy settings to limit who can see them.
Can I delete photos or videos I’ve uploaded to Facebook?
No, Facebook does not allow users to delete photos or videos from Facebook completely once they are uploaded. The photos and videos will still be stored by Facebook regardless of whether they are attached to a post.
However, you can remove photos and videos from specific posts and adjust the privacy settings on the uploads. This prevents the media from being visible in your profile or News Feed without deleting it entirely from Facebook’s servers.
How do I remove a photo or video from a Facebook post?
If you want to remove a photo or video from a specific post you’ve shared on Facebook, follow these steps:
- Go to the post you want to edit.
- Click the three dots icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Edit post” from the dropdown menu.
- Hover over the photo or video you want to remove.
- Click the “X” icon that appears over the photo or video.
- Click “Save” to remove the media from the post.
This will detach the photo or video from that post, but it will still exist on Facebook’s servers and may be visible in other places like your profile or Facebook Photos section.
How do I delete a video I’m tagged in on Facebook?
If someone tags you in a video on Facebook that you want removed, you can untag yourself to disassociate from the video. However, this will not delete the video. Here’s how to untag yourself:
- Go to the video post you’re tagged in.
- Click on your name in the post or in the list of tagged people.
- Select “Remove tag from video.”
The person who uploaded the video can also remove your tag. Communicate with them if you do not want to be associated with the content.
Can I delete a photo or video I’m tagged in by someone else?
No, only the person who uploaded a photo or video can delete it from Facebook. If someone else tags you in their upload, you can untag yourself but you cannot delete the actual media.
To remove the tag, go to the photo or video, click on your name in the post, and select “Remove tag.” This will disassociate you from the content.
If the photo or video appears on your profile after being tagged, you can remove it using the steps below for adjusting privacy settings.
How do I limit who can see a photo or video I posted?
If you do not want to delete a photo or video completely, you can adjust the privacy settings to limit who is able to view it:
- Click the three dots above the post and select “Edit privacy.”
- Click “Custom” and select who can view the post.
- Click “Save Changes.”
You can choose options like “Public,” “Friends Except [specific people],” or “Only Me” to control visibility.
How do I hide photos of myself on Facebook?
If you do not want certain photos of yourself to appear on Facebook, you have a few options:
- Untag yourself from any posts where someone else tagged you.
- If the photo appears on your own profile, click the three dots icon and select “Hide from Timeline.”
- Adjust privacy settings on your own posts to limit visibility.
- Use the “Limit Past Posts” tool to hide old posts from your profile.
Keep in mind you cannot delete photos uploaded by someone else. Untagging and adjusting privacy are your best options for removing visibility of photos posted by others.
Can I delete a Facebook post and photo together?
Yes, when you delete a Facebook post, any photos, videos or other media attached to that post will be removed as well. Follow these steps:
- Go to the post you want to delete.
- Click the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Select “Delete post” from the menu.
- Confirm you want to delete the post when prompted.
The entire post along with all photos, videos or other media will be deleted. However, any media will still exist in Facebook’s system even if it is removed from your profile or Feed.
Can I delete a photo or video from Facebook Messenger?
If you sent a photo or video in a Facebook Messenger chat that you want to remove, you have a few options:
- In the chat, tap and hold the message to open options, then select “Remove for Everyone” to delete the media from the chat for all participants.
- Block the recipient to delete the message and media from the chat on your end only.
- Report the message to Facebook for removal if it violates policies.
However, the recipient may have already saved the photo or video outside of Messenger, in which case deleting it from the chat itself will not remove it completely.
What happens when I delete a photo or video on Facebook?
When you delete a photo or video from Facebook, here’s what happens:
- The media is removed from your profile, News Feed, and any posts it was attached to.
- It is no longer visible to other users on Facebook.
- It still exists on Facebook’s servers, but is disassociated from your account.
- The photo or video could still appear if it was shared externally or reposted by others.
Essentially, deleting a photo or video from Facebook only removes its visibility and your connection to it. The media continues to exist in Facebook’s storage unless you request permanent deletion.
How do I request permanent deletion of photos or videos from Facebook?
If you want your media to be permanently deleted from Facebook’s servers, you must submit a deletion request:
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Click “Your Facebook Information” in the left column.
- Select “Delete Things You’ve Posted.”
- Click “Photos/Videos” and select the media you want deleted.
- Click “Continue” and confirm the request.
Facebook will review your request and permanently delete the media if it does not conflict with legal obligations to retain data. This process may take up to 90 days.
Can I retrieve a photo or video after deleting from Facebook?
If you delete a photo or video from Facebook and then change your mind, there are a couple of options to try to retrieve it:
- If it was deleted recently, check your Trash folder on desktop by going to Settings & Privacy > Trash.
- Use a third party data recovery tool designed for Facebook data.
- Ask friends if they have a copy of the photo or video you can re-upload.
However, there is no guarantee you will be able to get the media back once deleted. To be safe, back up any important photos before removing them from Facebook.
Conclusion
While photos and videos cannot be permanently erased from Facebook upon upload, users do have control over their visibility. You can remove media from your profile, posts, and Feed with just a few clicks. Adjusting privacy settings and untagging yourself also limits exposure of unwanted photos. If you need media permanently deleted, you can submit a request to Facebook for full removal. Just be aware that once deleted, retrieval can be difficult or impossible.