How to Recover Deleted Instagram Posts and Stories

Can You Recover Deleted Instagram Posts?

Yes — Instagram has a "Recently Deleted" folder that stores deleted content for 30 days. After 30 days, content is permanently deleted.

Using the Recently Deleted Folder

How to Access

• Go to your Instagram profile
• Tap the menu (three lines)
• Go to Your Activity
• Select "Recently Deleted"
• Browse your deleted content

What's in Recently Deleted

• Deleted photos and videos
• Deleted stories (for 24 hours after deletion)
• Deleted reels
• Deleted IGTV videos

How to Restore

• Find the content you want to restore
• Tap on it
• Select "Restore" to put it back on your profile
• The post returns to its original position in your grid

Recovery Timeframes

• Feed posts: Available for 30 days
• Stories: Available for 24 hours
• Reels: Available for 30 days
• IGTV: Available for 30 days
• After these periods: Permanently deleted

If Recently Deleted Doesn't Work

Check Your Archive

• Instagram archives posts instead of deleting them if you chose "Archive"
• Go to Profile > Menu > Archive
• Browse archived posts
• Unarchive to restore to your profile

Check Data Download

• Request a data download from Settings
• Instagram sends a file with all your content
• This includes deleted content if it hasn't been permanently removed

Use StoriesFly Story Archive

If you viewed the story through StoriesFly before deleting it, it may still be in the story archive (for public accounts). For more details, see our guide on view stories anonymously. For more details, see our guide on how long Instagram stories last.

Prevention Tips

• Archive posts instead of deleting them
• Download your content regularly
• Use Instagram's data download feature periodically
• Enable story archive in settings
• Think twice before deleting — use archive instead
• Keep backups of important content on your device