Delete multiple messages by selecting them one at a time
On Messenger, you can remove multiple messages without deleting your entire conversation. The process differs slightly depending on whether you use the mobile app or desktop version, but both let you select and delete several messages at once.
On your phone, open the conversation containing the messages you want to remove. Press and hold on the first message until a checkmark appears next to it. Then tap each additional message you want to delete — each one will show a checkmark when selected. Once you've chosen all the messages, tap the trash icon or delete button that appears at the bottom of the screen.
On desktop, right-click the first message you want to delete. A menu will appear with a delete option. Unfortunately, the desktop version does not support selecting multiple messages at once the way the mobile app does, so you'll need to delete them individually by right-clicking each one.
Key Takeaways
- On mobile, press and hold a message until a checkmark appears, then tap other messages to select multiple ones before deleting them together.
- On desktop, you must right-click and delete each message individually because the web version does not support batch selection.
- Deleted messages disappear from your view but may still be visible to the other person in the conversation unless you unsend them.
- Deleting a message removes it from your chat history but does not affect the rest of the conversation or the other person's copy of the chat.
The difference between deleting and unsending
Messenger offers two ways to remove messages: delete and unsend. When you delete a message, it vanishes from your own chat history, but the other person can still see it in their conversation with you. This is useful if you want to clean up your own inbox without affecting what the other person sees.
When you unsend a message, it disappears for both you and the recipient. The other person will see a notification that you unsent a message, but they won't be able to read what it said. Unsending is the better choice if you sent something by mistake or want to remove a message from both sides of the conversation.
To unsend instead of delete, look for the "unsend" option when you press and hold a message on mobile, or right-click on desktop. Not all older messages can be unsent — Messenger typically limits unsending to messages sent within a certain timeframe, though the exact window varies.
Selecting messages on iPhone versus Android
The selection process works the same way on both iPhone and Android, but the visual cues are slightly different. On both platforms, press and hold a message until you see a checkmark appear next to it. The message will often highlight or show a subtle background change to indicate it's selected.
After selecting the first message, tap each additional message you want to remove. You'll see a checkmark appear next to each one. Once you've selected all the messages you want to delete, look for the trash icon — on iPhone it typically appears at the bottom right, while on Android it may appear at the bottom center or in a menu.
If the delete button doesn't appear after selecting messages, try swiping up from the bottom of the screen or looking for a menu icon (three dots) that might contain the delete option.
Deleting messages from group chats
Deleting messages in a group conversation works the same way as in one-on-one chats. Press and hold the first message, tap additional messages to select them, then delete. However, keep in mind that when you delete a message from a group chat, it only disappears from your view — all other members of the group will still see it.
If you need to remove a message that everyone in the group can see, unsending is the better option. When you unsend a message in a group chat, it disappears for all members, and they'll see a notification that you unsent it.
Group admins do not have special powers to delete other people's messages. Each person can only delete or unsend their own messages from their own view of the conversation.
What happens after you delete messages
Once you delete messages, they're gone from your chat history on that device. If you use Messenger on multiple devices — your phone and a tablet, for example — deleting on one device does not automatically delete the messages on the other. You'll need to delete them separately on each device if you want them removed everywhere.
Messenger does not send a notification to the other person when you delete a message from your side of the conversation. They won't know you removed it unless they happened to see it before you deleted it.
If you change your mind after deleting, there's no undo option. Messenger does not have a trash folder or recovery system for deleted messages. Once they're gone, they're permanently removed from your account.
Troubleshooting when delete options don't appear
If you press and hold a message but no checkmark appears, your app may need an update. Check your phone's app store to see if a newer version of Messenger is available. Older versions sometimes have bugs that prevent the selection feature from working properly.
Another common issue is that very old messages sometimes cannot be deleted. Messenger may restrict deletion on messages older than a certain date, though this limit varies. If you can't delete an old message, unsending it may work instead.
If the trash icon doesn't appear after selecting messages, try closing and reopening the app. If the problem persists, uninstall Messenger and reinstall it from your app store. This usually fixes interface glitches that prevent buttons from showing up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete messages from someone else's phone?
No. You can only delete or unsend messages from your own copy of the conversation. The other person's messages are stored on their device and in their Messenger account, which you cannot access. If you need to remove a message that both of you can see, unsending is your only option.
Will the other person know I deleted a message?
No notification is sent when you delete a message from your side. However, if they saw the message before you deleted it, they'll remember it was there. Unsending sends a notification that you unsent something, so they'll know you removed it, but they won't see the content.
How many messages can I delete at once?
There's no set limit to how many messages you can select and delete in one action. You can select dozens of messages if you want, though selecting a very large number may slow down your phone. It's usually faster to delete in smaller batches of 10 to 20 messages at a time.
Can I delete messages on desktop the same way as mobile?
No. The desktop version of Messenger does not support selecting multiple messages at once. You must right-click each message individually and choose delete. If you need to remove many messages, doing it on your phone is much faster.
What if I accidentally unsent a message I didn't mean to?
Messenger does not have an undo feature for unsent messages. Once unsent, the message is gone and cannot be recovered. If you need to resend the information, you'll have to type it again and send a new message.