How to Delete a Photo from Facebook

Permanently remove pictures from your Facebook profile

What to Know

  • Select the photo > tap three-dots > Delete.
  • To delete an album, go to Albums tab > select album > select three-dots > choose Delete.
  • You also can hide images without removing them.

This article discusses the types of photos on Facebook and how to delete them using Facebook's website.

Lifewire / Theresa Chiechi

How to Delete Your Profile picture

Your profile picture is the image that appears at the top of your profile page and as a small icon next to your messages, status updates, likes, and comments. Here's how to delete it.

  1. Go to your profile page on Facebook and click your profile image.

    Deleting a Facebook profile picture.
  2. Select View Profile Picture.

    Deleting a Facebook profile picture.

    If you want to change your profile image without deleting it, select Update Profile Picture. You can choose an image you already have on Facebook or upload a new one from your computer.

  3. Click the three-dot menu next to your name.

    Deleting a Facebook profile picture.
  4. Select Delete Photo.

    Deleting a Facebook profile picture.

How to Delete Your Cover Photo

The Cover Photo is the large horizontal banner image you can display on the top of your profile page. Your profile picture is inset into the center or bottom left of the cover photo.

It's easy to delete your Facebook cover photo:

  1. On your profile page, click your cover photo (the large one behind your profile image).

    If you want to change your cover photo but not delete it, go to your profile page and click Edit Cover Photo. Click Select Photo to pick a image already in your account. If you want to upload one from your computer instead, select Upload Photo.

  2. Click the three-dot menu next to your name.

    Deleting a Facebook cover photo.
  3. Select Delete Photo.

    Deleting a Facebook cover photo.

How to Delete Photo Albums

These are collections of photos that you have created and are accessible from your profile page. Others can browse them when they visit your page, provided you have not set the photos as private.

You can't delete albums that were created by Facebook like the Profile Pictures, Cover Photos, and Mobile Uploads albums. You can, however, delete individual pictures inside those albums by opening the picture to its full size, clicking the three-dot menu next to the date, and choosing Delete Photo.

  1. Select Photos on your profile page.

    Deleting a Facebook album.
  2. Click the Albums tab and select the album you want to delete.

    Deleting a Facebook album.
  3. Click the three horizontal dots next to the Grid View and Feed View buttons.

    Deleting an album on Facebook.
  4. Choose Delete Album.

    Deleting an album on Facebook.
  5. Confirm by pressing Delete Album again.

    Deleting an album on Facebook.

Hide Photos On Your Timeline and Delete Photo Tags

You can hide photos you've been tagged in to prevent people from seeing them on your news feed.

If you don't want people to easily find photos you've been tagged in, you can untag yourself. Removing tags with your name does not delete those photos but instead removes reference to you from the photo.

You can find all the photos you've been tagged in by clicking Activity Log that appears on your profile page in the lower right of your cover photo. In the left side pane, click Photo Review.

  1. On the menu bar at the top of Facebook, click the small down arrow on the upper right. Select Settings & Privacy.

    Viewing an Activity Log on Facebook.
  2. Select Activity Log.

    Viewing an Activity Log on Facebook.
  3. Click Filter on the left.

    Viewing an Activity Log on Facebook.
  4. Select Photos You're Tagged In, and then Save Changes.

    Viewing an Activity Log on Facebook.
  5. Select the menu button next to the post you want to hide. Choose Hide from Timeline or Report/Remove Tag.

    Viewing an Activity Log on Facebook.
FAQ
  • How do I make photos private on Facebook?

    To make Facebook photos private, upload your photo as usual and then select post audience and select Friends, Friends except, Specific friends, or Only me. For previously published photos, select More (three dots) > Edit Post Privacy, and choose new privacy settings.

  • How do I add photos to an album on Facebook?

    To add photos to an existing album on the Facebook app, navigate to your photos and select an existing album. Select Add Photos/Videos, select a picture, and tap Done > Upload. On a computer, select Add to album > Upload Photos or Videos.

  • Why are photos disappearing on Facebook?

    If enough people reported the photos as inappropriate, Facebook may have removed the photos. Or you may also have experienced upload issues when uploading your photos; for example, faulty Wi-Fi can stop a Facebook upload from completing.

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