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Edit, Delete or Recover a Facebook Post: Archive, Trash and the 30-Day Limit

You can edit any post you shared on Facebook, but not other people’s. To hide or delete posts, Meta’s Manage Activity tool in your activity log lets you move one or many posts to Archive (only you can see them) or Trash. Meta says Trash keeps posts for 30 days, so you can restore them, and then deletes them for good. This guide covers editing, archiving, deleting and restoring, plus how to find an old post and change its date.

Reviewed 10 min read 4 fixes Feed & notifications

Quick answer

Edit: go to your post, tap or click Options in the top right > Edit post > make your changes > Save. Delete or hide: open Activity Log (on a computer: profile picture > Settings & Privacy > Activity Log; in the app: your profile > Options > Activity Log), find the post, then Options next to it > Move to archive, Move to trash, Hide from profile or Delete. Recover: open Activity Log > Trash, tick the post and tap Restore. Meta says Trash is emptied automatically after 30 days, and after that the post can’t be restored. Meta says Delete from activity log is permanent straight away.

What do you want to do?

Does this match what you see?

  • There’s no Edit option on a post.
  • You can’t remove a photo from a post.
  • You deleted a post and want it back.
  • You want to clear out lots of old posts at once.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Editing steps are from Facebook’s Help Center for computer, iPhone, iPad and Android. Meta says the Manage Activity tool (selecting several items at once) is only in the iPhone, Android and Facebook Lite apps right now; on a computer you can still archive, trash, hide or delete items one at a time from Activity Log.

Why this happens: the possible causes

Why you might not be able to edit or delete a post, according to Meta.

Post problem and where to look
What’s happeningWhere to look
No Edit optionIt isn’t your post
Can’t remove a photoShared from an app or album
Can’t find Manage Activity on a computerUse Activity Log item by item
Deleted post missingCheck Trash within 30 days
  • It’s someone else’s postCheck this first

    Meta says you can only edit posts you shared. You can’t edit the text, photos or videos of posts shared by other people.

  • The photo came from another app or an albumPossible

    Meta says if you shared the post from a third-party app (for example Spotify or a news site) or from a photo album, you can’t remove photos from it.

  • You’re on a computerPossible

    Meta says Manage Activity, where you can select several items at once, is only in the iPhone, Android and Facebook Lite apps right now. On a computer, use each item’s Options in Activity Log.

  • More than 30 days have passedPossible

    Meta says content in Trash is deleted automatically after 30 days and can’t be restored.

Try these 60-second checks first

  • Make sure the post was shared by you, not by a friend.
  • Deleted something recently? Check Activity Log > Trash in the app before 30 days pass.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Fix 1: Edit a post you shared

Safe & reversible2 miniPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Meta says you can make changes to something you’ve shared by editing the post.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Go to your post and tap Options in the top right.
  2. Tap Edit Post and make your changes.
  3. To add photos or videos, tap Add media, choose the item and follow the on-screen instructions.
  4. To remove a photo or video, tap Remove in the top right of the photo. With several, tap the photo first, then Remove, then Done.
  5. Tap Save.

Android

  1. Go to your post and tap Options in the top right.
  2. Tap Edit post and make your changes.
  3. To add photos or videos, tap Add media, choose the item and follow the on-screen instructions.
  4. To remove a photo or video, tap Remove in the top right of the photo. With several, tap the photo first, then Remove, then Done.
  5. Tap SAVE.

Computer (browser)

  1. Go to your post and click Options in the top right, then Edit post.
  2. Make your changes. Click Add to your post to add things like a check-in, tags, or photos and videos.
  3. To add more photos to a post that already has some, hover over a photo and click Add Photos/Videos. To remove all photos, hover over them and click Remove; to remove one, click Edit All, hover over it and click Remove.
  4. Click Save.

Meta says some items can’t be added to a post that contains a different item. As you add items, the ones you can’t add are greyed out.

Did it work? The post shows your changes.

Fix 2: Hide posts without deleting them (Archive)

Safe & reversible3 miniPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Meta says content you move to Archive is only visible to you. If you restore it later, it’s visible again to the audience it had before.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Tap your profile picture in the top left to go to your profile.
  2. Tap Options below your profile picture, then Activity Log.
  3. Scroll down and tap what you want to review (for example Manage Your Posts). Tap Filters at the top to filter by Categories, Date or People.
  4. Tap Options on the right of the content, then Move to archive.

Android

  1. Tap your profile picture in the top left to go to your profile.
  2. Tap Options below your profile picture, then Activity Log.
  3. Scroll down and tap what you want to review (for example Manage Your Posts). Tap Filters at the top to filter by Categories, Date or People.
  4. Tap Options on the right of the content, then Move to archive. Depending on the content, you may also see Hide from profile, Delete or Move to trash.
  5. Facebook Lite: in Activity Log, tap Manage Activity at the top, tap the circle next to the content, then Archive at the bottom.

Computer (browser)

  1. Click your profile picture in the top right, select Settings & Privacy, then Activity Log.
  2. On the left, click the category to review. Filter by Date or Activity Type (for example Your Facebook activity > Posts > Your posts, photos and videos).
  3. Click Options on the right of the content, then Move to archive. You may also see Hide from profile.

Meta says you can select one or more pieces of content at a time. Not everything in your activity log can be archived: Manage Activity only shows what you’re able to move.

Did it work? The post appears under Archive at the top of your activity log, and only you can see it.

Fix 3: Delete posts (Move to Trash)

Read first: can remove data3 miniPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Meta says content you move to Trash stays there, visible only to you, until it’s deleted automatically 30 days later.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Go to your profile, tap Options below your profile picture, then Activity Log.
  2. Scroll down and tap Manage Your Posts (or other content). Use Filters to narrow it down.
  3. Tap Options on the right of the content, then Move to trash, and Move to trash again to confirm.
  4. To delete it straight away instead of waiting 30 days: open Trash, tick the box next to it, tap Delete, then Delete again.

Android

  1. Go to your profile, tap Options below your profile picture, then Activity Log.
  2. Scroll down and tap Manage Your Posts (or other content). Use Filters to narrow it down.
  3. Tap Options on the right of the content, then Move to trash, and Move to trash again to confirm.
  4. Facebook Lite: in Activity Log, tap Manage Activity, tap the circle next to the content, then Trash at the bottom.
  5. To delete it straight away instead of waiting 30 days: open Trash, tick the box next to it, tap Delete, then Delete again.

Computer (browser)

  1. Click your profile picture in the top right, select Settings & Privacy, then Activity Log.
  2. On the left, click the category to review, and filter by Date or Activity Type.
  3. Click Options on the right of the content, then Move to trash. Or choose Delete to remove it permanently straight away.

Meta says Delete from activity log removes the content from Facebook and it can’t be restored, while Move to trash gives you 30 days. Selecting several items at once (Manage Activity) is only in the apps right now. On iPad, Meta’s activity-log steps (Menu in the bottom right > your name > Options > Activity Log) only list Hide from profile and Delete, so you may not see Archive or Trash there. You can also move archived content to Trash: in Archive, tick the box, tap Trash at the bottom, then Move to Trash.

Did it work? The post appears in Trash at the top of your activity log.

Fix 4: Get back a deleted or archived post

Safe & reversible2 miniPhone & iPadAndroid

Meta says during the 30 days you can restore content from Trash to where you originally posted it, with the audience it had before.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Go to your profile, tap Options below your profile picture, then Activity Log.
  2. At the top, tap Trash (for deleted posts) or Archive (for archived ones).
  3. Tick the box next to the content, tap Restore, then Restore again to confirm. Can’t see it in Archive? Tap Filters and filter by date.

Android

  1. Go to your profile, tap Options below your profile picture, then Activity Log.
  2. At the top, tap Trash (for deleted posts) or Archive (for archived ones).
  3. Tick the box (in Lite, the circle) next to the content, tap Restore, then confirm if asked. Can’t see it in Archive? Tap Filters and filter by date.

Meta says after 30 days in Trash, content is deleted automatically and can’t be restored. From Trash you can also move content to Archive instead.

Did it work? The post is back on your profile, or in Archive.

Why you can’t edit a post or remove a photo

  • It’s not your post. Meta says you can only edit posts you shared, not the text, photos or videos of posts by other people. If you’re tagged in it, you can remove the tag.
  • Shared from another app or an album. Meta says you can’t remove photos from a post shared from a third-party app (such as Spotify or a news site) or from a photo album.
  • Items that can’t be combined. Meta says some items can’t be added to a post that already contains a different item; those options are greyed out.

To change who can see a post instead, see Change who can see a post you’ve already shared.

What Meta says about Archive and Trash

  • Archive: only you can see it. Restore it and it goes back to its previous audience.
  • Trash: only you can see it while it’s there. It’s deleted automatically after 30 days, unless you delete it sooner.
  • Delete: Meta says deleting from activity log removes the content from Facebook straight away, and it can’t be restored.
  • Hide from profile: people visiting your profile won’t see it, but Meta says it may still be visible to its audience elsewhere, such as in Feed and Search.
  • Other options: depending on the content, you may see Edit Privacy, or Remove Reaction / Unlike for things you reacted to.
  • Not everything can be moved. Manage Activity only shows content you’re able to archive or delete.
  • Other things you can archive: Meta lists your Facebook Stories, messages on Facebook for the computer, and messages in Messenger.
  • Terms still apply: Meta says content in Trash isn’t deleted right away, and during those 30 days it remains subject to Meta’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Find an old post with your activity log

Meta says your activity log shows your Facebook activity in date order, and only you can see it.

  • Computer: profile picture (top right) > Settings & Privacy > Activity Log > Activity history on the left. Filter by Date (choose a year, then a month, and Save Changes) or by Activity Type (for example Your activity across Facebook).
  • iPhone and Android: Menu (top left; on iPhone, then tap your name) > Options below your profile picture > Activity Log. Tap a category, then Filters to filter by Categories or Date (start and end date, then Done).

Meta notes that content in your activity log may still appear elsewhere on Facebook, such as on your timeline, in Search or in friends’ Feeds.

Change the date of a post

Meta says you can change the date of posts on your timeline, including life events and photos and videos you post or are tagged in. This moves the post to a new spot on your timeline. You can only change the date of something you posted, and only to an earlier day.

  1. On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right, then your name.
  2. Click Options in the top right of the post.
  3. Select Edit date, enter the new date, and click Done.

Meta notes that friends you tagged can also change the date when they see the post on their timelines, and you can change it back.

How to know it worked

  • Edited posts show your changes.
  • Archived or deleted posts appear under Archive or Trash in your activity log.

Still not working? Your next steps

  1. Want fewer people to see a post instead? See Who can see my Facebook posts?
  2. Facebook removed your post? See Facebook removed my content.
  3. Can’t upload a photo to a post? See Can’t upload photos to Facebook.

Official help routes

SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.

Frequently asked questions

Can I recover a deleted Facebook post?

If you moved it to Trash, yes, for 30 days. In the app, go to Activity Log > Trash, tick the post and tap Restore. Meta says after 30 days it’s deleted automatically and can’t be restored.

Where is the Facebook recycle bin?

Meta calls it Trash. In the iPhone, Android or Lite app, go to your profile > Options > Activity Log, then tap Trash at the top.

What’s the difference between Delete and Move to trash?

Meta says Delete from activity log removes content from Facebook straight away and it can’t be restored. Move to trash keeps it for 30 days, so you can restore it.

Can I delete lots of Facebook posts at once?

Meta says Manage Activity in your activity log lets you select one or more pieces of content at a time and move them to Archive or Trash. It’s only in the iPhone, Android and Lite apps right now. On a computer, you can move items one at a time from Activity Log.

Why can’t I edit a post on Facebook?

Meta says you can only edit posts you shared. You can’t edit other people’s posts, and you can’t remove photos from posts shared from a third-party app or a photo album.

What’s the difference between Archive and Trash?

Meta says archived content is only visible to you, and restoring it returns it to its previous audience. Trash is also only visible to you, but it’s deleted automatically after 30 days.

Can I change the date of a Facebook post?

Yes, for your own posts. Meta says you can only move the date to an earlier day: Options > Edit date > Done.

Sources and how we checked this guide

We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.

  1. Edit your post on Facebook (external site, opens in a new tab)Facebook Help Center · checked 21 October 2026
  2. Use Manage Activity in your Activity Log to archive or delete content (external site, opens in a new tab)Facebook Help Center · checked 21 October 2026
  3. How to use activity log on Facebook to find specific content (external site, opens in a new tab)Facebook Help Center · checked 21 October 2026
  4. Change the date of a post on your Facebook timeline (external site, opens in a new tab)Facebook Help Center · checked 21 October 2026
  5. How to use activity log on Facebook to manage content (external site, opens in a new tab)Facebook Help Center · checked 21 October 2026

Last reviewed 28 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 28 April 2027. How we write and review guides.

What changed
  • 28 October 2026: First published.

SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or Facebook. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.