How to remove your ex from Instagram posts

Instagram makes it easy to archive, hide, or delete a post. What it doesn't let you do is swap the photo in an existing post. If you want your ex out of the picture—literally—you have three options: archive the post and move on, delete it entirely, or edit the photo and repost. Here's how each one works and when it makes sense.

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After AI-edited

You can't swap the photo in an existing post

Instagram lets you edit captions, tags, location, and alt text after posting. It does not let you replace the photo or video itself. This has been true for years and hasn't changed. If you want a different image in your feed, you need to post it as a new post.

Stories disappear after 24 hours, so if your ex is in a Story, waiting it out is an option. Highlights can be edited by removing individual Stories. For feed posts, the photo is permanent unless you archive or delete the whole post.

Option 1: archive the post

Archiving hides a post from your profile and from others. The post stays saved, with its likes and comments, so you can restore it anytime. Archiving makes sense when:

• You're not ready to delete, but you don't want the post visible.
• The photo has meaning to you even if your ex is in it.
• You might want to restore it later.

To archive a post:

1. Open the post on your profile.
2. Tap the three dots in the top right.
3. Tap Archive.

Archived posts appear in your Archive (tap the menu icon on your profile, then Archive). To restore one, open it, tap the three dots, and tap Show on Profile.

Option 2: delete the post

Deleting removes the post permanently. Likes and comments go with it. This makes sense when:

• You don't want any version of the post saved.
• You plan to repost with an edited photo and don't want duplicates.
• The photo has no sentimental value anymore.

To delete a post:

1. Open the post on your profile.
2. Tap the three dots in the top right.
3. Tap Delete, then confirm.

Option 3: edit the photo and repost

If you want to keep the moment but lose your ex, you can edit the photo outside Instagram and post the edited version as a new post. You'll lose the original post's likes, comments, and date, but you'll have a photo that shows what you want people to see.

Free phone tools like iPhone Clean Up, Google Photos Magic Eraser, and Samsung Object Eraser can remove a person by brushing over them. They work best when the person is small or off to one side. When your ex is right beside you—arms around each other, heads together—these tools often leave smudges or miss edges.

Remove Your Ex takes a different approach. Instead of brushing, you describe who should go—"the man on the left in the black jacket," for example. The AI figures out who you mean and removes them. It works in the browser on your phone or computer, so there's nothing to install.

Each photo costs 1 credit and includes a free second edit. Credits cost $2.99 for 1 photo, $4.99 for 5 (the Starter Pack), $9.99 for 15, or $24.99 for 50. There's no subscription—buy once, and credits never expire. See the pricing page for details.

How to repost after editing

1. Edit the photo. Use your phone's eraser, an online tool, or Remove Your Ex to remove your ex from the image. Save the edited version to your camera roll.
2. Delete or archive the original post. If you want a clean feed, delete. If you want to keep a backup, archive.
3. Create a new post. Upload the edited photo, write a new caption if you like, and post.

The new post will have a current date and start with zero likes and comments. For many people, that tradeoff is worth it to have a photo that reflects life as it is now.

Stop your ex from appearing in Memories

Even if you archive or delete posts, your ex might still pop up in Instagram's Memories feature. You can mute or hide a person so posts with them stop appearing in Memories suggestions. That doesn't edit the photos—it just stops Instagram from surfacing them.

For a deeper look at hiding your ex from Memories across Instagram, Facebook, Google Photos, and iPhone, see how to stop seeing your ex in photo memories.

Which option fits you?

• Not ready to decide: archive. The post hides, but you can restore it later.
• Done with the photo: delete. No backup, no clutter.
• Want the moment without the ex: edit and repost. Use a free tool for easy removals, or Remove Your Ex when they're right beside you.

More on the decision itself in should you delete photos of your ex? and step-by-step editing in how to remove your ex from a photo.