How to Untag Yourself on Facebook (Posts and Photos)

Being tagged in a photo you'd rather not be in is one of Facebook's most common annoyances. Maybe it's an unflattering holiday snap, a work event you didn't want linked to your name, or a post from someone you've fallen out with. The good news is that you can take your own tag off, and you can switch on a setting so tags wait for your approval. I've followed Facebook's Help Centre articles on removing a tag and on reviewing tagged posts, and I'll say where menus vary by app version.

Untag yourself from a photo or post on your phone

1. Go to the photo or post you're tagged in.
2. Tap Options in the top right.
3. From the menu that appears, tap Remove tag.
4. Tap Confirm.

Facebook's second help article, on what to do if you don't like something you're tagged in, adds a useful extra step. After tapping Remove tag you can choose to remove the tag or ask the person who shared the photo to take it down. It also warns that for some types of tags you may need to go to the post on a desktop computer to remove it, though you can still hide any post from your timeline on a smartphone.

Untag yourself from a post or photo on a computer

Facebook gives separate steps for posts and photos on a computer.

• For a post: go to the post, click Options in the top right and click Remove tag.
• For a photo: go to the photo, click Options in the top right, select Remove tag, then click OK to confirm.

If you're struggling to find the item, Facebook suggests using your activity log to track it down.

What removing a Facebook tag does and doesn't do

This is the bit people misunderstand, so here's what the help page says:

• The tag will no longer appear on the post or photo.
• The post or photo is still visible to the audience it's shared with.
• People may still be able to view it in places such as Feed or search results.
• To remove it from Facebook altogether, you need to ask the person who posted it to take it down.
• If you remove a tag from someone else's story, the link to your profile is removed. Photos from previously shared stories may contain a sticker showing you were once tagged.

In other words, untagging cuts the link between your profile and the post. It doesn't delete anything, and it doesn't stop somebody tagging you again.

Ask someone on Facebook to take down a photo you're in

You can't delete somebody else's photo, but Facebook's own route is to ask the person who shared it. A short, friendly message usually works best. Something like 'I'd rather this wasn't online, would you mind taking it down?' avoids a row. If a post is abusive or breaks Facebook's rules, report it to Facebook through the post's options. If you ever feel you're in danger, contact the police as well.

Review tagged posts before they appear on your profile

Rather than removing tags after the fact, you can stop them landing on your profile in the first place. Facebook's help article explains that when a friend tags you in a post, it appears on your profile automatically, and that to review all posts (including friends' posts) first, you need to turn on a setting called Review posts you're tagged in.

1. On the app, tap Menu, scroll to Settings and privacy and tap Settings. On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right, then Settings and privacy, then Settings.
2. On the app, scroll to Audience and visibility and tap Profile and tagging. On a computer, click Profile and tagging in the left column.
3. Switch the toggle next to Review posts you're tagged in before the post appears on your profile? on.

Two details from Facebook's page are worth remembering. First, if someone you aren't friends with tags you in a post, you'll be prompted to review it before it appears on your profile, even without this setting. Second, the setting controls only what's allowed on your profile. Posts you're tagged in may still appear in search, Feed and other places on Facebook.

Dealing with someone who keeps tagging you on Facebook

If someone keeps tagging you after you've asked them to stop, turn on the review setting above and consider your other options. My guide to restricting someone on Facebook without unfriending them is a gentle first step, and blocking them on Facebook is there if it gets worse.

Untagging yourself as a business owner or Page admin

Business owners get tagged too, usually in customer photos or event posts. Facebook also has separate help for tagging on a Page, so if you're switched into a Page, check the Page's own tagging settings rather than your personal ones. And if you tag people yourself, it's worth reading my guide on how to tag someone on Facebook so you know what they'll see on their end.

If you can't untag yourself on Facebook

• You don't see Remove tag: the post may have been deleted, or the tag may already have been removed.
• You're on a phone: some types of tags can only be removed on a desktop computer, according to Facebook's help.
• You can't find the post: use your activity log to track it down.
• You just want it off your timeline: you can hide the post from your timeline even where the tag can't be removed.
• The tag is on a story: removing it takes away the link to your profile, but an old sticker may remain on photos that were already shared.

Frequently asked questions

How do I untag myself on Facebook?

Go to the post or photo, tap or click Options in the top right, choose Remove tag and confirm. Facebook's steps differ slightly between phone and computer.

Does untagging delete the photo?

No. Facebook says the post or photo stays visible to its audience, and to remove it you'd need to ask the person who posted it to take it down.

Can I stop tags appearing on my profile?

Yes. Turn on Review posts you're tagged in before the post appears on your profile? under Profile and tagging in your settings.

Will I still see tagged posts in search or Feed?

Facebook says the review setting controls only what's allowed on your profile, so posts you're tagged in may still appear in search, Feed and other places.

What if I can't remove a tag on my phone?

Facebook says for some types of tags you may need to use a desktop computer. You can still hide the post from your timeline on a phone.