How to Recover Deleted Reels on Facebook

That sinking feeling when you realize you've just deleted a Facebook Reel is all too real. Whether it was a top-performing video or a piece of content you spent hours editing, watching it vanish after an accidental tap can be incredibly frustrating. This guide walks you through the exact steps to check for recovery options and, more importantly, provides simple strategies to make sure you never lose your hard work again.

Can You Directly Recover a Deleted Facebook Reel?

Let's get the tough part out of the way first. Unlike some other platforms or content types, Facebook does not have a simple, universal "undelete" or "restore" button for Reels that have been permanently removed. Once a post is completely gone from their servers, it’s practically impossible to get it back directly. Many people assume there's a hidden feature for this, similar to your computer's recycle bin, but the reality is a bit more complicated.

However, this doesn't mean all hope is lost. Facebook has a built-in safety net that catches recently deleted content, giving you a limited window of opportunity. Your first move should be to check this specific location. If you act quickly, you might be in luck. If too much time has passed, we'll look at some alternative methods that focus on the source file rather than the published post.

The First Place to Look: The Facebook Trash Folder

When you delete a Reel (or most other types of posts) from your Facebook profile, it isn’t erased from existence instantly. Instead, Facebook moves it to a "Trash" folder (sometimes labeled "Recycle Bin") where it is held for 30 days. After this 30-day period, the content is permanently deleted and becomes unrecoverable. Think of it as a grace period. If you can get to it within this timeframe, restoring it is straightforward.

Here’s how to find the Trash folder and get your Reel back on both mobile and desktop.

Finding the Trash on the Facebook Mobile App (iOS & Android)

Most of us manage our social media from our phones, so this is the most likely place you'll be looking. The process is buried in your settings but is easy to follow once you know where to go.

• Step 1: Go to Your Profile. Open the Facebook app and navigate to your personal profile or business page where the Reel was posted.
• Step 2: Open Your Profile Settings. Tap the three-dot menu icon (...) located next to your "Edit Profile" button. This will open a list of your profile settings.
• Step 3: Access the Activity Log. From the menu, select "Activity Log." This is where Facebook keeps a record of almost everything you do on the platform, from likes and comments to posts you've made.
• Step 4: Find the Trash Folder. At the top of the Activity Log screen, you'll see a few options like "Your Posts" and "Tags." Tap the "Trash" button (it may also appear as "Recycle Bin"). If you don't see it immediately, it might be located under the "Archive" section.
• Step 5: Locate and Restore Your Reel. Scroll through the items in your Trash. The list is usually chronological, so your recently deleted Reel should be near the top. When you find it, you’ll see the content along with the remaining days before permanent deletion. Select the Reel you want to recover by tapping the checkbox next to it, then tap the "Restore" button at the bottom of the screen.

After you tap "Restore," Facebook will move the Reel back to its original place on your profile grid or Reels feed. It should reappear with its original caption, though you may want to refresh your profile for it to show up. Likes and comments that it had before deletion should also be restored.

Finding the Trash on a Desktop Computer

The process is similar on a desktop browser, though the menus look a little different. Many find it easier to navigate settings on a larger screen.

• Step 1: Go to Your Facebook Profile. Open your web browser, navigate to Facebook.com, and go to your profile.
• Step 2: Open Account Settings. Click the three-dot menu icon (...) located below your cover photo, on the right side of the navigation bar.
• Step 3: Select Activity Log. From the dropdown menu, choose "Activity Log."
• Step 4: Open the Trash. On the left-hand menu of the Activity Log screen, you'll see a list of content types and actions. Click on "Trash" (or "Recycle Bin").
• Step 5: Restore the Deleted Reel. Just like on mobile, you’ll see a list of your deleted content. Find the Reel you want to bring back, click the checkbox next to it, and then click the "Restore" button that appears at the top of the list. Confirm you want to restore it, and it will be moved back to your profile.

Remember, this 30-day window is firm. If the Reel you're looking for was deleted more than a month ago, it will not be in this folder.

Thinking Outside the Box: When the Trash Folder Is Empty

So, you checked the Trash and your Reel isn't there. This likely means it was deleted more than 30 days ago or it was permanently deleted from the trash folder itself. At this point, you can't restore the posted Reel, but you can still potentially save the content. Here are the next best steps to recover your video file so you can repost it.

1. Check Your Phone's Camera Roll and Folders

This is the most obvious yet often overlooked solution. Did you save the final video to your device before uploading it? Most creators either record their videos using their phone’s native camera app or export the final version from editing software like CapCut, InShot, or Premiere Rush. Check your camera roll or gallery immediately. Look in your "Videos" album or search for folders created by your editing apps.

If you find the video, you’re in great shape. You'll lose the original engagements (likes, comments, views), but you've saved the content itself, which is the most important part. You can simply re-upload it.

2. Search Your Cloud Storage (Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox)

If you have automatic cloud backups enabled for your phone, there's a strong chance your video is safe and sound in the cloud. Services like Google Photos, iCloud Drive, and Dropbox often sync your camera roll automatically.

• Google Photos: Open the app and use the search bar. You can search by date, location, or even objects in the video (e.g., "dog" or "beach").
• iCloud: On your iPhone, go to the Photos app and look in your albums. On a computer, log into iCloud.com to see if it synced.
• Dropbox/OneDrive: If you use these services for camera uploads, log in and check the "Camera Uploads" folder.

3. Request Your Data from Facebook

This is a longer shot, but it's a worthwhile attempt if the Reel was extremely valuable. Facebook allows you to download a complete archive of your information, which sometimes includes content that is no longer visible on your profile.

To do this, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy > Your Facebook Information > Download Your Information. Here, you can request a copy of your data. To make the process faster, you can choose to only download your "Posts" or "Videos" within a specific date range. Facebook will compile the files and send you a notification when your download is ready, which can take several hours or even a day. When it arrives, check the files to see if your deleted Reel video is included.

A Word of Caution: Avoid "Recovery" Scams

In your search for a solution, you might encounter websites or third-party apps that claim an ability to recover permanently deleted Facebook data. Be extremely wary of these. They often ask for your account login information, which poses a massive security risk to your account.

There are no "magic" tools that can access Facebook’s internal servers to retrieve deleted data. They cannot get back what Facebook itself has already permanently removed. The best-case scenario is that they don’t work, the worst case is they're a scam designed to steal your personal information.

The Best Solution: A Proactive Prevention Strategy

Recovering content is stressful because it's reactive. The real solution is moving to a proactive workflow that protects your content from being lost in the first place. You don't have to live in fear of the delete button.

Tip #1: Always Save a Master Copy

Make it a rule: always save the final, edited version of your Reel to a safe place before you even think about uploading. Don't rely on the app to be your only storage location. Create a dedicated folder in cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) or on an external hard drive. A simple naming convention like YYYY-MM-DD_Reel-Topic.mp4 will make it easy to find videos later.

Tip #2: Use "Archive" Instead of "Delete"

If you're tidying up your profile feed and want to hide a Reel without getting rid of it forever, use the "Archive" feature. Archiving removes the post from public view but saves it in a private folder with all its original engagement intact. You can easily unarchive it at any time to make it visible again. Go to your Activity Log > Archive to see and manage your archived posts.

Final Thoughts

While the dread of deleting a Reel is real, there is a clear path forward. Your primary method for recovery is Facebook's Trash folder, which holds content for 30 days, but your true safeguard is having a backup of the original video file. By shifting your focus toward a more proactive content management system, you can effectively eliminate this problem from your workflow.

At Postbase, we believe a great workflow is the best defense against mistakes like accidental deletions. When you use our visual calendar to plan and schedule your content, your source video files are often uploaded directly into the platform as you build out your posting schedule. Having a centralized hub where you can see all your content organized and ready for publishing means you inherently create a backup of your work. This systematic approach to content planning transforms a chaotic process into an organized one, reducing the chances of panicked errors and ensuring your valuable work is always accounted for.