You can delete your own comments in seconds, but Instagram's options depend on whether you posted the comment or someone else did
If you posted a comment on Instagram and want to remove it, you can delete it directly from your phone or computer. Instagram lets you delete comments you wrote on any post — yours or someone else's — in just a few taps. The process is the same whether you're using the mobile app or the web version. If someone else posted a comment on your content and you want it gone, that's a different action called removing a comment, which only the post owner can do.
This guide covers how to delete comments you wrote, how to remove comments from your own posts, and what happens after you delete.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete any comment you wrote by tapping the three dots next to it and selecting Delete, which removes it permanently within seconds.
- Only the person who posted a comment can delete it, but the post owner can remove it from their own posts using the same three-dot menu.
- Deleted comments disappear from the post immediately and cannot be recovered, so double-check before you confirm.
- If you delete a comment, the person who posted it will not receive a notification, but they may notice it is gone if they look at their own comment history.
How to delete a comment you wrote on Instagram
Open the Instagram app or go to Instagram.com on your browser. Find the post that contains your comment. Scroll down to your comment in the comments section. Tap or hover over your comment until you see three dots (the menu icon) appear to the right of it.
Tap the three dots. A menu will pop up with options. Select Delete. Instagram will ask you to confirm — tap Delete again. Your comment is now gone from the post. This works the same way on the mobile app and on a computer browser.
Removing comments from your own posts
If someone else posted a comment on your photo or video and you want it removed, you have that power as the post owner. Go to the post on your profile or feed. Find the comment you want to remove and tap or hover over the three dots next to it. Select Delete from the menu.
The comment disappears immediately. The person who wrote it will not get a notification that you removed it, but they may see it is missing if they go back to look at their own comments. You can remove as many comments as you want from your posts — there is no limit.
What happens after you delete a comment
Once you delete a comment, it is gone permanently. Instagram does not keep a record of deleted comments, and you cannot undo the deletion. The comment will not appear on the post anymore, and it will not show up in anyone's notifications or comment history.
If your comment had replies from other people, those replies will also disappear when you delete the parent comment. This is important to know if your comment was part of a conversation — deleting it will remove the entire thread below it.
Deleting comments on the Instagram web version
The process on Instagram.com is nearly identical to the mobile app. Log into your account and find the post with your comment. Hover your mouse over your comment until the three dots appear on the right side. Click the three dots and select Delete from the dropdown menu. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Some older browsers may display the menu slightly differently, but the three-dot icon is always the way to access comment options on the web version. If you do not see the three dots, try refreshing the page or using a different browser.
When you cannot delete a comment
You can only delete comments you wrote yourself. If someone else wrote a comment on a post that is not yours, you cannot delete it — only they can, or the post owner can remove it. If you are the post owner, you can remove any comment from your own posts, but you cannot delete comments from other people's posts unless you are an admin or moderator of a shared account.
If a comment violates Instagram's community guidelines, you can report it instead of trying to delete it. Tap the three dots, select Report, and choose the reason. Instagram's team will review it, though they may not take action if it does not break their rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit a comment instead of deleting it?
No, Instagram does not have an edit feature for comments. If you want to change what you said, you must delete the original comment and post a new one. This means the timestamp will be different, and anyone who already saw your comment will notice it is gone.
Will the person know if I delete my comment?
They will not get a notification that you deleted it. However, if they look at the post or their own comment history, they may notice your comment is no longer there. There is no way to delete a comment without the other person potentially seeing that it is gone.
What if I delete a comment with lots of likes?
The likes disappear along with the comment. Once you delete, everything attached to that comment — likes, replies, timestamps — is removed. You cannot recover the comment or its engagement after deletion.
Can I delete comments on someone else's post if I am a close friend?
No. Only the person who wrote the comment, the post owner, or an account admin can delete comments. Being a close friend does not give you deletion rights on other people's posts.
Does deleting a comment delete the replies to it?
Yes. When you delete a comment, all replies to that comment are deleted as well. If your comment started a conversation with multiple people, the entire thread disappears when you delete the original comment.