We’ve all been there: you’re not paying full attention, and before you know it, something is online that you’d rather have kept to yourself. Fortunately, Facebook offers a simple way to quickly and quietly remove stories you’ve accidentally posted — even before they automatically disappear after 24 hours.
Facebook’s story feature has become a popular way to share short snapshots, thoughts, or images. Just like on Instagram, these stories vanish after a day. You can dress them up with colorful backgrounds, playful emojis, or a personal message. But sometimes you share too quickly — or with the wrong audience.
Luckily, you have full control. You can delete a story instantly, even before anyone has seen it. How you do that depends on the device you’re using.
Deleting Stories on iPhone and Android
If you’re using an iPhone, first open the Facebook app and log in if you haven’t already. At the top of the homepage, you’ll see an overview of your stories. Tap the story you want to remove, then tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner and select “Delete Photo” or “Delete Video.” Confirm your choice, and the story will immediately disappear from your profile and other users’ news feeds.
Want to remove an older story that has already been archived? That’s possible too. Go to your profile, open “Your Stories,” go to “Archive,” and follow the same steps.
Deleting Stories via Facebook’s Website
Are you on your laptop or PC and want to delete your story from there? Go to the official Facebook website and log in. Open the story you want to delete, click the three dots in the top right of the screen, and select “Delete Photo” or “Delete Video.” After a moment, you’ll receive confirmation that the post has been removed.
Before posting a story, you can choose who can see it. Click on “Privacy” when creating a story and choose this option carefully. You can share your story with all your friends, a specific group, or make it completely public. Note that if you select the “Public” option, it will be visible to everyone — even people outside your friends list on Facebook or Messenger.
