Which comments cannot be deleted
You know why Meta refuses some deletions, and what to do instead.
On this page
Before you start
- A refusal is reported, with the reason.
- Hiding often works where deleting does not.
- A disconnected page can act on nothing.
Read the reason on the row or the task.
The row, or the task details
You will see The exact refusal, per comment.
Try hiding instead.
The hide icon on the row
You will see It leaves the public view.
Fix the connection if that is the cause.
SettingsPagesReconnect Facebook
You will see Actions work again once reconnected.
If something is off
- Object does not exist
- The comment or post was already removed.
- Meta action block
- A temporary page limit; it clears on its own.
- It worked for other comments in the same job
- Refusals are per comment; use Retry failed.
Common questions
Where do I see why a comment could not be deleted?
On the row, or in the task details for a bulk job: a failed action keeps what Meta said, per comment, rather than a generic failure. Open Tasks to read it for a bulk job.
If Meta refuses to delete a comment, can I still hide it?
Often, yes. Hiding is accepted in many cases where deletion is refused; use the hide icon on the row and the comment leaves the public view even though it could not be removed.
Why can't I delete or hide anything on one of my pages?
Because its connection has expired. A page reading Disconnected on Settings, Pages cannot act at all until it is reconnected with Reconnect Facebook; actions work again once the page is connected.
Can comments under an ad that has stopped running be deleted?
Not always. One of the reasons Meta refuses a deletion is that the ad has stopped running; the row keeps the reason, and hiding often works instead.
For agents: plain text of this guide · all guides
For agents
Guide: Which comments cannot be deleted
This page: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/platforms/which-comments-cannot-be-deleted
Topic: How Facebook and Instagram behave
Time: about 2 minutes
Who can do it: Anyone on your team
Author: https://anantgupta.xyz (Anant Gupta, founder of CommentWatchDog)
Start in the app: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox
Result when done: You know why Meta refuses some deletions, and what to do instead.
Context: Most comments can be removed. A few cannot, and the reason is always on Meta side: the comment or its post is gone, the ad has stopped running, or the connection lost access to the page.
Before you start
1. A refusal is reported rather than hidden: the row keeps the reason.
2. Hiding often works where deleting does not.
3. A page whose connection expired can act on nothing until it is reconnected.
Steps
Step 1 of 3: Read the reason on the row or the task.
Where: A failed action keeps what Meta said. In a bulk job, open the task to see it per comment.
Link: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/tools/tasks (Open Tasks)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/tasks-detail.en.webp (Failed, with the reason, on the task.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/tasks-detail-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The exact refusal, rather than a generic failure.
Step 2 of 3: Try hiding instead.
Where: The hide icon on the row. Hiding is accepted in many cases where deletion is refused.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/inbox.en.webp (Hide, instead.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/inbox-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The comment leaves the public view even though it could not be removed.
Step 3 of 3: Fix the connection if that is the cause.
Where: Settings, Pages. A page reading Disconnected cannot act at all until it is reconnected.
Link: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/settings/pages (Open Settings, Pages)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/pages.en.webp (Reconnect Facebook, when the connection is the cause.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/pages-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: Actions work again once the page is connected.
If something is off
Problem: Object does not exist
Fix: The comment or the post was already removed on the platform.
Problem: Meta action block
Fix: The page is temporarily limited. It clears on its own; queued work resumes.
Problem: It worked for other comments in the same job
Fix: Refusals are per comment. Retry failed runs only those.
Common questions
Question: Where do I see why a comment could not be deleted?
Answer: On the row, or in the task details for a bulk job: a failed action keeps what Meta said, per comment, rather than a generic failure. Open Tasks to read it for a bulk job.
Question: If Meta refuses to delete a comment, can I still hide it?
Answer: Often, yes. Hiding is accepted in many cases where deletion is refused; use the hide icon on the row and the comment leaves the public view even though it could not be removed.
Question: Why can't I delete or hide anything on one of my pages?
Answer: Because its connection has expired. A page reading Disconnected on Settings, Pages cannot act at all until it is reconnected with Reconnect Facebook; actions work again once the page is connected.
Question: Can comments under an ad that has stopped running be deleted?
Answer: Not always. One of the reasons Meta refuses a deletion is that the ad has stopped running; the row keeps the reason, and hiding often works instead.
Related guides
Delete a comment, and what the Bin keeps: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/inbox/delete-a-comment-and-what-the-bin-keeps
Meta rate limit and action block: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/troubleshooting/meta-rate-limit-and-action-block
Follow a task: pause, resume, stop and retry: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/post-cleanup/follow-a-task-pause-resume-stop-and-retry
Plain text of this guide: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/platforms/which-comments-cannot-be-deleted.md
All guides for assistants: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/llms.txt