To delete a photo on Facebook, open the photo, click Options, select Delete Photo, then click Delete to confirm. You can only delete photos you uploaded yourself, and Meta says once a photo is deleted, you won't be able to get it back.
That last line is why it pays to slow down. If your account has the newer Trash feature, moving a post to Trash gives you 30 days to change your mind, which the Delete Photo button doesn't.
Below are the steps for your own photos, old profile pictures, shared albums and photos someone else posted of you. The steps come from Meta's Help Center, read in October 2026.
How to delete a photo you uploaded to Facebook
- Go to the photo you want to delete.
- Click the photo to open it.
- Click Options and select Delete Photo.
- Click Delete to confirm.
Meta is clear that this only works on photos you uploaded. It's also final. Before you delete anything you might want later, save a copy first, and my guide to downloading your Facebook photos shows how.
If you can't see Delete Photo in the Options menu, the most likely reason is that someone else uploaded the photo, even if it's on your profile because you were tagged. For profile pictures, the option sits under Edit inside the Profile Pictures album, covered below.
Delete, Archive or Trash: which one to use
Meta's Help Center describes two softer options for posts, photos and videos you've shared. It also notes the feature isn't available to everyone yet.
| Option | Who can see it | Can you get it back? |
|---|---|---|
| Delete Photo | Nobody, it's gone | No, Meta says you won't be able to get it back |
| Move to Archive | Only you | Yes, restore it from your Activity log and it returns to the audience it had before |
| Move to Trash | Only you, while it's in Trash | Yes, for 30 days. After that it's deleted automatically |
To use Trash, go to the post, click Options in the top right, then Move to Trash. If you'd rather hide something without losing it, choose Move to Archive instead. My guide to Facebook Trash covers how to restore or empty it.
How to delete an old Facebook profile picture
Profile pictures live in their own album, so the route is slightly different.
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook, then click your name to go to your profile.
- Click Photos, then Albums.
- Select the Profile Pictures album.
- Click Edit in the top right of the photo you want to delete and select Delete Photo.
- Click Delete to confirm.
If it's your current profile picture you want gone, my guide to removing your Facebook profile picture covers that.
Photos in shared albums
Shared albums trip people up because more than one person adds to them. Meta's Help Center gives two rules.
- If you delete a photo on Facebook, it's removed from any shared albums it was added to, including shared albums you've left.
- If you leave a shared album, any photos or videos you added stay in the album.
So leaving isn't the same as taking your photos with you. Delete the photos you added first, then leave.
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To leave a shared album, go to your profile, click Photos, then Albums, click Options in the top right of the album, then click Remove as contributor. Depending on the album's privacy settings, you may not be able to see it after you leave.
Photos someone else posted of you
You can't delete a photo another person uploaded. Meta's advice is to ask the person who posted it to take it down. What you can do is remove your tag.
- Go to the photo.
- Click Options in the top right.
- Select Remove Tag.
- Click Ok to confirm.
Know what that does and doesn't do. Meta says the tag disappears from the photo, but the photo is still visible to the audience it was shared with, and people may still see it in Feed or search results. Removing the tag breaks the link to your profile, it doesn't hide the picture.
Can you delete a lot of photos at once?
Meta's photo help covers deleting one photo at a time. Its Archive and Trash help points to the Manage Activity section of your Activity log for managing some of your content, which is the place to look if you're clearing out a lot. Work through it a batch at a time and use Trash rather than Delete where you can, so a slip of the finger isn't permanent.
A quick checklist before you delete
- Is it a photo you uploaded? If not, remove your tag or ask the person who posted it.
- Do you want a copy? Download it first, because deleted photos can't come back.
- Is it in a shared album? Deleting removes it there too.
- Would hiding it do? Archive keeps it for you only, and Trash gives you 30 days.
My verdict
For a photo you're sure about, Delete Photo is quick and final. For anything you're less sure about, use Trash or Archive if your account has them, because the 30-day window is there for exactly that kind of second thought. And if the problem photo is one somebody else posted, remove your tag today and send them a polite message asking them to take it down. That's the only route Meta gives you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I delete a photo on Facebook?
Open the photo, click Options, select Delete Photo and click Delete to confirm. You can only delete photos you uploaded yourself.
Can I get a deleted Facebook photo back?
Not if you used Delete Photo. Meta says once a photo is deleted, you won't be able to get it back. Content moved to Trash can be restored for 30 days.
How do I delete a photo someone else posted of me on Facebook?
You can't delete it. Meta says to ask the person who posted it to take it down, and you can remove your tag by clicking Options and selecting Remove Tag.
Does leaving a shared album delete my photos from it?
No. Meta says photos or videos you added stay in the album after you leave. Deleting a photo removes it from any shared albums it was added to.
