Finding and managing draft posts on Facebook’s iPhone app can be a bit tricky compared to the desktop version. Drafts don’t have their own dedicated section within the app, but they are still accessible if you know where to look.
Quick Answer
To view draft posts on Facebook’s iPhone app:
- Go to your profile page
- Tap the 3 horizontal lines menu icon in the top right
- Select “Saved”
- Here you will see your draft posts along with other saved content
You can then open draft posts to edit and publish them or delete them. There is no separate drafts folder, but drafts can be accessed in the Saved section along with other unfinished content.
Where to Find Drafts in the Facebook App
Unlike the Facebook website which has a specific Drafts section, the Facebook mobile app does not have a dedicated place for drafts. However, it does still save them so you can come back and work on unfinished posts later.
Here is how to access draft posts on Facebook for iPhone:
- Go to your profile page within the Facebook app
- Tap the 3 horizontal line menu button in the top right corner
- Select “Saved” from the menu
- This will open your Saved section, where drafts are stored
You’ll see your draft posts mixed in with other saved content like videos, links, and more. You can scroll through and look for any posts that say “Draft” underneath them.
How to Publish or Delete Drafts
When you’ve located a draft post in your Saved section that you want to share, open it and hit “Edit” to access the post composer. This will allow you to add any finishing touches before publishing your post live to Facebook.
If you have an unwanted draft, you can delete it permanently by swiping left on it in your Saved items and selecting “Delete”. This will remove it from your drafts so it is no longer saved.
Why Drafts Go to Saved Instead of Your Timeline
You may be wondering why Facebook stores drafts in your Saved section rather than just putting them on your timeline in an unpublished state. There are a few reasons for this.
- It prevents unfinished thoughts and accidental posts from appearing publicly on your profile
- It allows you to work on drafts without cluttering up your main timeline
- The separate Saved section helps keep organized all your drafts, notes, and other works-in-progress
Overall, the Saved section is meant to be a place to store content that isn’t ready for public sharing yet. It keeps your timeline clean while giving you a private place to access unfinished posts.
Managing Multiple Drafts
If you tend to write and save many drafts, your Saved section can start to get cluttered. Here are some tips for managing multiple draft posts:
- Review old drafts regularly and delete any you no longer need
- You can also download drafts you want to keep before deleting them from Facebook
- Use keywords or phrases when saving draft titles to make them easier to search
- Organize your Saved folder into sections like Drafts, Videos, Links to keep things tidy
Taking the time to occasionally declutter your drafts will make it much easier to navigate your Saved section and find what you need.
Sharing Drafts With Friends or Followers
If you want to get input from friends or followers before officially publishing a post, there are couple ways you can share drafts on Facebook:
- Copy and paste the text of the draft into a new post and share it privately with specific people
- Take a screenshot of the draft and share the screenshot in a post or Facebook message
- Use the Share button within a draft to send it to someone’s inbox on Messenger
This allows you to get feedback on a post without making it live on your timeline right away. Just don’t forget to delete any temporary share posts later!
Recovering Deleted Drafts
Have you accidentally deleted a draft before you were ready to get rid of it? Luckily Facebook still gives you a couple options to try and recover deleted draft posts:
- If deleted recently, reload your Saved section and look for a “Undo” option
- Go to your Activity Log and search for deleted posts you may be able to restore
- However, there is no guarantee a draft can be recovered once permanently deleted
To ensure you don’t lose any drafts you want to keep, download them or back them up outside of Facebook periodically.
Drafts on Facebook’s Desktop Site
Facebook’s desktop website takes a different approach to drafts than the mobile app. On the desktop version of Facebook:
- There is a dedicated Drafts section where unpublished posts are stored
- It is located in the left sidebar navigation menu
- Drafts are separated from your other saved content
This can make it quicker and easier to locate drafts, but the mobile app simply doesn’t have room in its interface for a separate Drafts section.
Troubleshooting Draft Issues
Here are some common issues that can come up with Facebook drafts and how to fix them:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Draft posts disappearing | Don’t save drafts as you write – only save once finished writing |
| Can’t find drafts | Check Saved section and Activity Log |
| Drafts not saving properly | Try force quitting and reopening the Facebook app |
| Unable to restore deleted drafts | Cannot recover drafts once permanently deleted |
Following best practices like writing first before saving drafts can help avoid common issues. But overall Facebook’s system of storing drafts under Saved rather than on your timeline takes some adjusting to.
Conclusion
Facebook’s iPhone app does not have a dedicated drafts folder, but unpublished posts are saved in the Saved section along with your other unfinished content. While not as visible as the desktop site’s drafts system, this does keep them private while giving you access to make changes before posting. Getting in the habit of checking Saved for your drafts allows you to manage and publish draft posts on the go from your iOS device.