To find old posts on Facebook, open your profile and go to your Activity log. It lists what you've done on Facebook in chronological order, and you can filter it by category, so you can jump straight to your own posts, your likes or your comments instead of scrolling your whole profile.
Here's the bit most people miss. Facebook's help page on the activity log says only you can see your activity log, but the posts and other content in it may still appear in other places on Facebook, such as on your profile, in Search or in your friends' Feeds. So finding an old post in the log is private. The post itself might not be.
That matters if you're digging up old posts to tidy your profile before a new job, a client pitch or a rebrand. The log is your search tool. It isn't a sign that nobody else can see what's in it.
What you remember and the fastest way to find it
Start with what you remember about the post. That tells you where to look, because not everything old lives in the same place.
| What you remember | Fastest way to find it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| A post you wrote yourself | Activity log, then the category Your activity across Facebook, which covers posts you've created | It may still show on your profile, in Search or in Feeds |
| A post someone else put up that involves you | Activity log; the left column lists types of activity, including posts by others | If you want your name off it, removing a tag is a separate job |
| Something you liked | Activity log, under Your activity across Facebook, which includes likes and other interactions | Everything runs in date order, so older likes sit further down |
| A comment you left | Activity log; comments are one of the activity types in the left column | Filter first, then scroll, or you'll wade through everything else |
| A post you hid from your profile | Activity log; Facebook's help page on hidden information sends you there | Hidden from your profile isn't the same as deleted |
| A post you archived | Your archive | Archive is a different feature from the activity log |
| A post from someone else you saved | Your saved items | Saving isn't something you posted, so look there first |
| A place you visited or something you searched | Activity log, under Logged information, which covers things like location and search history | Only useful if that history was being logged |
How to open your activity log
Facebook's help pages describe the route like this. I've kept it to what Facebook itself spells out, so you aren't hunting for a button name that isn't on your screen.
- Open your profile.
- Open Activity log. Facebook's help page points you to the area just below your profile picture. If it isn't there as a button, look through the options on your own profile for Activity log.
- Pick a category. For old posts you wrote, that's Your activity across Facebook.
- Filter, then review. Facebook's guide to finding specific content in your activity log says to select the category, then review what's listed. Items run in chronological order.
- Open the item. The log lets you review and manage what you share, so you can deal with it from there.
What each activity log category holds
These are the categories Facebook lists. Knowing them saves you opening the wrong one three times.
| Category | What's in it | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Your activity across Facebook | Posts you've created, likes and other interactions | You're hunting for something you posted, liked or reacted to |
| Personal information | Details about you held on your account | You want to check what's stored, not find a post |
| Connections | Your connections on Facebook; Facebook says the log includes actions such as adding or removing friends | You're trying to work out when you added or removed someone |
| Security and login information | Account security and login activity | You're checking account access, not content |
| Apps and websites off of Facebook | Activity linked to apps and sites outside Facebook | You're reviewing what's connected to your account |
| Preferences | Your settings and choices | You're reviewing how your account is set up |
| Logged information | Things like location and search history | You remember searching for something or being somewhere |
Why you still can't find it
If you've checked the log and the post isn't where you expected, it's usually one of these.
- You hid it. Facebook has a help page on using the activity log to view hidden information, and it confirms the log is where things you've hidden from your profile show up.
- You archived it. Archived posts are a different feature, so check your archive rather than the log.
- Someone else posted it. Look under the activity types in the left column, such as posts by others, not under your own posts.
- You're in the wrong category. A like or a comment isn't a post you created, so it sits under a different filter.
My advice
Go to the Activity log first, every time. Scrolling your profile is the slow way and it only shows what's still visible there. Filter by category before you scroll, because the log is in date order and an old post can be a long way down.
And if you're looking for old posts because you want them gone or hidden, remember Facebook's own warning: the log is private, the posts aren't. Check each one where other people would see it, on your profile and in Search, before you decide you've cleaned up.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the activity log on Facebook?
Open your profile. Facebook's help page places Activity log just below your profile picture. If you don't see it as a button, look through the options on your profile.
Can anyone else see my activity log?
No. Facebook says only you can see your activity log, but the posts and other content in it may appear elsewhere, such as on your profile, in Search or in your friends' Feeds.
Can I find posts I've hidden from my profile?
Yes. Facebook says to go to your activity log to view things you've hidden from your profile.
How do I find posts other people made that involve me?
Open your activity log and use the activity types in the left column, which include posts by others.
Can I jump straight to a specific date?
Facebook's help pages describe filtering by category and say the log runs in chronological order. Pick the category first, then scroll back to the period you want.
Are archived posts in the activity log?
Archive is a separate feature. If you archived a post, check your archive rather than the activity log.
