How to Delete Reels on Facebook

Posted a Facebook Reel that isn’t quite hitting the mark? It happens, and removing it is straightforward. This guide will show you exactly how to delete any Reel from your Facebook profile, and we’ll also look at a few alternatives to permanently deleting your content. You'll learn how to get it done on both a mobile device and a desktop computer, and understand what happens once it’s gone.

Why You Might Want to Delete a Facebook Reel

While the goal is always to post content that resonates, there are plenty of valid reasons why a Reel might need to come down. Thinking about why you’re deleting a post is a great habit for sharpening your content strategy. Identifying the reason helps you learn and make better content in the future. Here are a few common scenarios where deleting a Reel makes sense:

• It Just Didn't Perform: Sometimes, a creative idea just doesn't land with your audience. If a Reel has extremely low views, minimal engagement, and isn’t contributing to your goals, removing it can help clean up your profile so your best-performing content stands out.
• There's a Mistake: Did you spot a typo in the on-screen text after you posted? Is there an audio glitch or an awkward jump cut you missed? Deleting the Reel to re-upload a corrected version is often the best move for maintaining a professional appearance.
• The Content is Outdated: Maybe the Reel was about a limited-time promotion that has since ended, shared information that's no longer accurate, or featured a product you no longer sell. Removing old or irrelevant content keeps your profile current and prevents confusion for new followers.
• A Shift in Brand Strategy: Your brand is always evolving. A Reel from six months ago might not reflect your current voice, visual style, or marketing goals. Deleting content that no longer aligns with your brand identity helps maintain consistency and strengthens your message.
• You Simply Changed Your Mind: It’s your profile, and you have complete creative control. If a piece of content no longer feels right for any reason - personal or professional - that’s reason enough to take it down.

Before You Delete: Alternatives Worth Considering

Deleting a Reel is permanent. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good, along with any likes, comments, and shares it received. Before you hit that final delete button, consider if one of these less-permanent options might work better for your situation.

Option 1: Change the Audience to "Only Me"

Instagram has an "Archive" feature that hides a post from your profile without permanently deleting it. While Facebook Reels doesn't have a direct archive button, you can achieve a similar result by changing the post’s audience settings. This effectively pulls the Reel from public view while keeping it stored in your account should you ever want to make it public again.

How to make a Reel private:

1. Find the Reel you want to hide and tap the three-dot menu (...).
2. Select "Edit audience."
3. Change the setting from "Public" or "Friends" to "Only me."

The Reel will vanish from your profile feed but will remain accessible to you. It's the perfect solution for content you're not sure about deleting forever.

Option 2: Download Your Reel for Safekeeping

If you're deleting a Reel because of a mistake but you still like the raw video, make sure to save a copy first. You might want to repurpose the footage later or simply keep a record of your work. Most of the time, Facebook provides an option to download your own Reel directly to your device.

How to download your Reel:

1. Open the Reel you want to save.
2. Tap the three-dot menu (...).
3. Look for the "Download Reel" option and tap it. The video will save to your phone's camera roll or gallery.

Note: If you used copyrighted music from Facebook's audio library, the download option may not be available or the downloaded video might not have sound. In that case, you'll need the original file from your device.

Option 3: Pin a Better-Performing Reel

If you're worried about an underwhelming Reel being the first thing new visitors see, you don't necessarily have to delete it. Instead, you can "pin" a different, high-performing Reel to the top of your profile's Reels tab. This pushes the less-than-stellar content further down, ensuring your best work makes the first impression. Pinning up to three of your top Reels is a great way to curate your profile without losing any content.

How to Delete a Reel on Facebook (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you’ve decided that deleting is the right path, the process is quick and easy. The steps are slightly different depending on whether you’re using your phone or a computer.

How to Delete a Facebook Reel on a Mobile Device (iOS & Android)

Most people manage their Facebook content through the mobile app, where deleting a Reel only takes a few taps.

1. Open the Facebook App: Launch the app and log into your account.
2. Navigate to Your Profile: Tap your profile picture at the top left of the home feed or in the bottom menu to go to your personal profile.
3. Find the Reels Tab: On your profile, you'll see several tabs like "Posts," "About," and "Photos." Swipe over until you find the "Reels" tab and tap on it. This shows you a grid of all the Reels you've posted.
4. Select the Reel to Delete: Scroll through your grid and tap on the Reel you wish to remove. It will open up in the full-screen Reel viewer.
5. Open the Menu: Look for the three-dot icon (...) on the right side of the screen. Tap it to open a menu of options.
6. Tap "Delete": In the pop-up menu, you’ll see the "Delete" option, usually marked with a trash can icon. Tap it.
7. Confirm the Deletion: Facebook will ask you to confirm that you want to permanently delete the Reel. Tap "Delete" one more time to finish the process. The Reel is now gone for good.

How to Delete a Facebook Reel from a Desktop Computer

You can also manage and delete your Reels using a web browser on a laptop or desktop computer.

1. Go to Facebook.com: Open your web browser and navigate to the Facebook website. Log in if you aren't already.
2. Go to Your Profile: Click your name or profile picture in the top left corner to go to your profile page.
3. Find Your Reel: On desktop, Reels might appear in your main feed or in a dedicated "Reels" section. An easy way to find it is by clicking the "More" tab under your name, then selecting "Reels" from the dropdown menu.
4. Open the Reel: Click on the thumbnail of the Reel you want to delete. It will open in the theater view, which overlays your screen.
5. Access the Options Menu: In the top right corner of the Reel viewer, find and click the three-dot icon (...).
6. Select "Delete Reel": A small menu will appear. Click on "Delete Reel."
7. Confirm Your Choice: A final confirmation box will pop up, reminding you that this action is irreversible. Click the blue "Delete" button to remove the Reel permanently.

What Happens After You Delete a Facebook Reel?

Understanding the consequences of deleting content helps you make informed decisions about your social media strategy. Here’s what happens when a Reel is removed:

• It's a Permanent Action: There is no "undo" button or "recycle bin" for deleted Facebook content. Once a Reel is deleted, it cannot be restored. This is the main reason why downloading it or changing the audience to "Only Me" are good alternatives to consider.
• All Engagement is Lost: Every like, comment, share, and save associated with that Reel will be permanently removed along with the video. You won't be able to access that data again.
• The URL Becomes a Dead Link: If the Reel was shared anywhere else (in a message, on another website, etc.), that link will now lead to an error page.

Deleting underperforming content isn’t necessarily bad for your account. In fact, removing posts that received very poor engagement can sometimes help improve the overall health of your profile by ensuring that your average engagement rate is calculated based on your better-performing content. However, consistently posting and deleting content can be a sign that your content strategy needs a bit of fine-tuning.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to delete a Facebook Reel gives you complete control over the content representing your brand or personality online. The process is simple and fast, but because it's irreversible, it’s always wise to pause and consider alternatives like changing the audience or pinning better content first.

Preventing the need to delete starts with having a solid plan. At Postbase, we designed our visual content calendar specifically to address this. Planning out your Reels, visuals, and captions ahead of time means you can catch mistakes, align your content with your strategy, and see the big picture before anything goes live. Building a seamless workflow helps you create content with confidence, so you can spend less time removing old posts and more time engaging with your audience.