Accidentally delete an Instagram post, story, or reel? Don’t worry—you can still recover deleted Instagram posts, stories, and reels with just a few simple steps. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to quickly and easily restore your content.
Let’s get started!
What Happens When You Delete Something on Instagram
Before, when you deleted something on Instagram, it was gone forever, and you couldn’t get it back. But now, with the Recently Deleted feature, that’s changed. When you delete a post, story, or reel, it goes to a Recently Deleted folder. You can either restore it or delete it permanently from there.
Note: For safety, Instagram will ask you to verify your account before you can restore or permanently delete anything.
You can restore the following content:
- Photos and videos from Instagram posts
- Stories
- Reels
You have 30 days to restore deleted content. Each piece of content will show how much time is left before it’s permanently deleted. After 30 days, you won’t be able to restore it.
How to View Deleted Instagram Posts, Stories, and Reels
To find your deleted posts, stories, and reels, go to Instagram’s Recently Deleted folder. The steps are the same for all types of content unless noted otherwise.
Note: Before you begin, make sure your Instagram app is updated to the latest version on your Android or iPhone.
1. Open the Instagram App.
2. Tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner to access your profile page.
3. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top right corner.
4. In the menu, choose “Your Activity.”
5. Scroll down and select “Recently Deleted.” This folder contains all your deleted posts, stories, and reels.
6. Tap on the content you want to restore. You can choose to either restore it to your profile or delete it permanently.
Note: You have 30 days to restore deleted content before it’s permanently removed. Make sure your Instagram app is updated to the latest version for these steps to work smoothly.
How to Recover Deleted Instagram Posts, Stories, and Reels
If you’ve deleted a post, story, or reel on Instagram and want to get it back, you can recover it using the following steps:
1. Open the Instagram App.
2. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner to access your profile.
3. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top right corner.
4. From the menu options, tap on “Your Activity.”
5. Scroll down and choose “Recently Deleted.” This folder stores your deleted posts, stories, and reels.
6. Tap on the content you want to recover, then choose “Restore” to bring it back to your profile. If you decide not to keep it, you can also choose to delete it permanently.
Note: Deleted content can only be recovered within 30 days. After that, it’s permanently removed from your account. Make sure your Instagram app is up to date to use this feature.