How to Find Recently Deleted Posts and Stories on Instagram
To find recently deleted posts on Instagram, go to your profile, tap the menu, then Your activity, then Recently deleted; tap an item, then Options, then Restore.
To find recently deleted posts on Instagram, go to your profile, tap the menu, then Your activity, then Recently deleted; tap an item, then Options, then Restore. Deleted posts and reels stay there for 30 days. Deleted stories stay for up to 24 hours unless they were in your story archive, in which case they also get 30 days. After that, they’re gone for good. This is one of the data tasks that start from downloading your Instagram data.
Recently deleted only holds your own content, and Instagram may ask you to confirm it’s you before restoring or permanently deleting. This guide covers the time limits, the steps and what to do when something isn’t there. Messages work differently and are covered in how to find deleted messages on Instagram.
Where Is Recently Deleted on Instagram?
Recently deleted is in Your activity, from the menu on your profile. Listed below are the 5 steps.
- Tap your profile picture, then the menu (three lines).
- Tap Your activity.
- Tap Recently deleted.
- Choose the type at the top: posts, reels or stories.
- Open the item, tap Options, then Restore.
How Long Does Instagram Keep Deleted Posts?
Deleted posts and reels stay in Recently deleted for 30 days; stories stay for up to 24 hours, or 30 days if they were saved in your story archive. The table sums up the windows.
| What you deleted | How long you can restore it |
|---|---|
| Posts and carousels | 30 days |
| Reels | 30 days |
| Stories saved in your story archive | 30 days |
| Stories not in your archive | Up to 24 hours |
Each item shows how many days are left before it’s removed permanently.
Why Isn’t a Deleted Post in Recently Deleted?
A post won’t be there if it was deleted more than 30 days ago, if you permanently deleted it from Recently deleted, or if it’s actually archived rather than deleted. Check your archive first: archived posts are hidden, not deleted. The steps are in how to find archived posts, old stories and highlights on Instagram.
| Where it might be | How to check |
|---|---|
| Archive | Profile, menu, Archive |
| Recently deleted | Profile, menu, Your activity, Recently deleted |
| Your data download | Only if you exported before deleting |
Can You Recover Posts Deleted More Than 30 Days Ago?
No, once the 30-day window passes, the post is removed and can’t be restored in the app. A data export you made before deleting may still contain it; see how to download your Instagram data.
Can You See Someone Else’s Deleted Posts?
No, Recently deleted only shows your own content, and other people’s deleted posts are removed for everyone. If you saved one of their posts, it disappears from your saved items too.
Questions people ask
Why does Instagram ask for a code to restore a post?
Instagram may ask you to confirm you're the account holder before restoring or permanently deleting, to protect accounts from being wiped by someone else.
Do deleted highlights go to Recently deleted?
Stories removed from highlights can be restored if they're still within their window.
Can you empty Recently deleted?
Yes, open an item and choose to delete it permanently.
Can you see Recently deleted on a computer?
Use the app; Your activity on instagram.com may not show every option.