How to Delete Facebook Comments (Yours and Other People's)

A comment you wrote in a hurry, a reply that came out wrong, or a stranger's remark under your post: sooner or later everyone wants one gone. The good news is that Facebook makes this quick, but the steps change depending on who wrote the comment and where it sits.

I run pages and groups for my own work, so I'm used to cleaning up comment sections. Everything below follows what Facebook's help centre says, and I've split it by situation so you can jump to the one that fits.

Deleting your own Facebook comment on a computer

According to Facebook's help centre, this is the route when you're using Facebook in a browser:

1. Find the post that holds your comment and scroll to the comment.
2. Click Options next to the comment you'd like to delete.
3. Select Delete.
4. Click Delete again to confirm.

The Options control is the three dots that appear beside the comment when you hover over it. If you don't see it, move your mouse over the comment itself.

Deleting your own Facebook comment on Android or iPhone

The steps are the same on both phones, and Facebook's help centre words them like this:

1. Tap the post that contains your comment.
2. Tap and hold the comment.
3. Select Delete, then tap Delete to confirm.

That's the whole job. The comment is removed from the post straight away. Menus can look slightly different between app versions, but the tap-and-hold gesture is the part to remember.

Deleting someone else's comment from a post on your Facebook profile

You can't remove a stranger's comment from a post that isn't yours, but you can on your own posts. Facebook says that when you delete a comment from a post on your profile, it's removed from the post.

On a computer, go to the post, click Options to the right of the comment and select Delete. On the phone app, go to the post, tap and hold the comment, select Delete and tap Delete again to confirm.

Facebook adds a handy tip: if the comment came from a profile or Page that keeps causing trouble, you can block it by going directly to that profile or Page.

Hiding a Facebook comment instead of deleting it

Deleting isn't always the best move. Facebook's help centre describes a gentler option called hiding, and the difference matters:

• A hidden comment is still visible to the person who wrote it and their friends, which can help prevent more unwanted comments.
• It's hidden for everyone else you chose to share the post with.
• Replies to the hidden comment are hidden too. If you only want to hide certain replies, you hide each one separately.

On a computer you hover over Options next to the comment and click Hide comment. On the phone app you tap and hold the comment and tap Hide comment. To bring it back, use Unhide, or tap and hold the hidden comment and select Unhide comment.

I like hiding when someone's being rude but I don't want an argument. The writer carries on thinking their comment is live, so there's nothing to react to.

Deleting Facebook comments on a Page you manage

If you run a business Page, the rules differ slightly. Facebook says that when you delete a comment from a post on your Page, the comment is removed from the post. Hiding works much the same as on a profile, with a couple of Page-specific points:

• If you have Facebook access to a Page, you can switch into the Page and hide comments on its posts.
• If you only have task access to a Page, you can't hide comments on Page posts.
• The Hidden by this Page view is only available from a computer or the Facebook app for Android at this time.

That last point trips people up. If you can't find hidden comments on an iPhone, try a computer. I'd also keep a quick note of any comment you hide for a customer complaint, because hidden comments can be hard to find again once you've moved on.

Deleting your Facebook comments inside a group

Comments you leave in groups sit in your activity history, which makes them easy to remove in bulk. On Android, Facebook's steps are:

1. Tap Menu in the top left of Facebook, then tap your name.
2. On your profile, tap Options below your name and select Activity log.
3. Tap Your Facebook activity, then tap Groups.
4. Tap Group posts and comments.
5. Scroll to the comment, tap Options and select Delete.

There's also a way to remove everything you've shared in one group at once. Go to Your group membership activity, pick the group, tap Options and select Delete your activity, then confirm and re-enter your password when asked. Facebook notes this won't cover things like reactions or group event activity.

If you're building a presence in groups for your business, my list of Facebook groups worth joining as a marketer is a good place to see where comments really count.

What happens after you delete a Facebook comment

The help centre confirms the comment is removed from the post. It doesn't spell out every knock-on effect, such as notifications someone may already have received, so I wouldn't promise anyone that a deleted comment was never seen.

If you want to keep a record of what was said, for a complaint or a customer dispute, take a screenshot before you delete. Once it's gone you can't get it back through the comment itself.

If you can't find the Facebook delete option

• Make sure you've opened the actual post. Comments in a preview or notification may not show the same controls.
• Check it's your own comment, or that the post belongs to your profile or Page. You can't delete other people's comments on posts that aren't yours.
• Update the Facebook app, close it and open it again, then try the tap-and-hold gesture once more.
• On a computer, hover over the comment to reveal Options, or try a different browser.

If a post has vanished from where you expected it, my guide to finding archived Facebook posts explains where older content can hide.

Reporting a Facebook comment instead of deleting it

For a comment that breaks Facebook's Community Standards, Facebook says you can also report it after you've hidden it. Use the Options menu next to the comment and choose the report option. If someone is threatening you, report it on Facebook and, if you're in danger, contact the police.

This guide is part of my Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete a Facebook comment I wrote?

On a computer, click Options next to your comment, select Delete and confirm. On Android or iPhone, tap and hold the comment, select Delete and confirm.

Can I delete someone else's comment on Facebook?

Only on posts that are yours, such as a post on your profile or a post on a Page you manage. Facebook's help centre says the comment is then removed from the post.

What's the difference between hiding and deleting a Facebook comment?

A hidden comment stays visible to the person who wrote it and their friends, but it's hidden from everyone else. A deleted comment is removed from the post.

Can I delete all my comments in a Facebook group at once?

Yes. Facebook's help centre says you can find your group in your activity log under Your group membership activity and select Delete your activity, though it won't cover every type of activity.

Why can't I hide a comment on my Facebook Page?

Facebook says hiding needs Facebook access to the Page. If you only have task access, you can't hide comments on Page posts.