Delete a photo you posted yourself

To remove a photo you uploaded to Instagram, open the app and go to your profile. Find the post you want to delete, tap the three dots in the top right corner of that post, and select "Delete." Instagram will ask you to confirm — tap "Delete" again, and the photo is gone permanently. The entire post disappears, including any captions, likes, and comments.

If you are on a computer instead of the app, the process is the same: go to your profile, find the post, click the three dots, and choose "Delete Post." You cannot undo this action after you confirm, so make sure you want the photo gone before you tap the final delete button.

Key Takeaways

  • You can delete your own photos by tapping the three dots on the post and selecting "Delete" from the menu.
  • Deleting a photo removes the entire post, including captions, likes, and all comments — this action cannot be undone.
  • You cannot delete photos that other people posted, but you can ask them to remove it or report it if it violates Instagram's rules.
  • If you want to keep the photo but hide it from your profile, you can archive the post instead of deleting it.
  • Archived posts stay on Instagram but do not show on your profile grid or in your followers' feeds.

Archive a photo instead of deleting it

If you are not sure whether you want to delete a photo permanently, you can archive it instead. Tap the three dots on the post, select "Archive," and the photo disappears from your profile and your followers' feeds. The post still exists in your account — you can find it by going to your profile, tapping the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and selecting "Archive."

Archived posts are private to you. No one else can see them, and they do not appear in your profile grid or in the feeds of people who follow you. You can unarchive a post at any time by going to your archive, finding the post, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Unarchive." The photo will return to your profile exactly where it was before.

What to do if someone else posted a photo of you

You cannot delete a photo that another person posted, even if it is a photo of you. However, you have two options: you can ask the person to delete it themselves, or you can report it to Instagram if it breaks the platform's rules.

To report a photo, tap the three dots on the post and select "Report." Instagram will ask why you are reporting it — choose the reason that fits (such as "It's inappropriate" or "It's spam"). If the photo shows your face and you did not consent to it being posted, you can also report it as a privacy violation. Instagram reviews reports and may remove the post if it violates their community guidelines, but they do not remove photos simply because you do not like them.

Remove photos from a specific album or collection

If you organized your photos into albums or collections within Instagram, you can remove a photo from that album without deleting the original post. Go to the album, find the photo, tap the three dots, and select "Remove from Album." The photo stays on your profile and in your feed, but it no longer appears in that particular collection.

This is useful if you want to reorganize your profile or remove a photo from a themed collection without losing it entirely. The original post remains exactly as it was.

Bulk delete multiple photos at once

Instagram does not have a built-in tool to delete many photos at the same time. You have to delete each post individually by tapping the three dots and selecting "Delete." If you want to remove a large number of photos, you will need to go through them one by one.

Some third-party apps claim to let you delete multiple posts faster, but Instagram does not officially support these tools, and using them can put your account at risk. The safest approach is to delete posts manually through the Instagram app or website, even if it takes longer.

Recover a deleted photo

Once you delete a photo from Instagram, it is gone for good — Instagram does not keep a trash folder or recovery option. You cannot get the post back after you confirm the deletion. If you think you might want the photo later, archive it instead of deleting it.

If you have the original photo file saved on your phone or computer, you can always upload it again as a new post. However, the original post with its comments, likes, and timestamp will not return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a photo remove all the comments and likes?

Yes. When you delete a post, Instagram removes the entire post along with every comment, like, and share associated with it. There is no way to keep the comments while deleting the photo.

Can I delete just the caption without deleting the photo?

Yes. Tap the three dots on the post, select "Edit," and delete the text in the caption field. Tap "Done" to save. The photo stays on your profile, but the caption text disappears.

What happens to a photo if I deactivate my Instagram account?

If you deactivate your account temporarily, your photos are hidden but not deleted — they come back if you reactivate. If you permanently delete your account, all your photos are removed from Instagram within 90 days, though Instagram may keep copies for legal reasons.

Can I delete a photo from someone else's story?

No. You cannot delete photos or videos from other people's stories. If a story violates Instagram's rules, you can report it, but only the person who posted it can delete their own story.

Will the person who liked my photo know I deleted it?

People who liked your photo will see that the post is gone, but Instagram does not send them a notification saying you deleted it. They will simply notice the post no longer appears on your profile or in their feed.