You can delete Facebook messages one at a time, or delete entire conversations at once
Facebook lets you remove messages in two ways: delete individual messages from a conversation, or delete the whole conversation. When you delete a message, it disappears from your inbox but the other person still sees it on their end — Facebook doesn't unsend it retroactively. If you want the message gone from both sides, you need to use the "unsend" feature instead, which works only if you delete within 10 minutes of sending.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on a computer, phone, or the Facebook app. The process takes less than a minute either way.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a message removes it from your inbox only; the other person still sees it unless you unsend it within 10 minutes of sending.
- On a computer, right-click a message and select "Remove" to delete it, or click the three dots next to the conversation name to delete the entire chat.
- On a phone or tablet, swipe left on a message (iPhone) or long-press it (Android) to delete, or swipe left on the conversation itself to remove the whole thread.
- Unsending a message removes it from both your inbox and the recipient's, but only works within 10 minutes of when you sent it.
Deleting individual messages on a computer
Open Facebook Messenger in your web browser and find the conversation containing the message you want to remove. Hover your mouse over the message itself — a small menu will appear to the right of it. Click the three dots (more options) and select "Remove". The message vanishes from your inbox immediately.
If you want to unsend instead (so it disappears from the other person's inbox too), click the three dots and choose "Unsend" instead of "Remove". This only works if fewer than 10 minutes have passed since you sent the message. After 10 minutes, the unsend option disappears and you can only remove it from your own inbox.
Deleting entire conversations on a computer
In Messenger, find the conversation you want to delete. Click the three dots next to the person's name at the top of the chat window. A dropdown menu appears with several options. Select "Delete chat" at the bottom of the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Delete" again, and the entire conversation disappears from your inbox.
Deleting a conversation removes all messages in that thread from your view, but the other person still has their copy of the conversation. You can still message that person again later, and a new conversation thread will start.
Deleting messages on iPhone or iPad
Open the Facebook app and go to Messenger. Find the message you want to delete within a conversation. Press and hold your finger on the message for about two seconds until a menu pops up. Tap "Remove" to delete it from your inbox, or tap "Unsend" if you sent it less than 10 minutes ago.
To delete an entire conversation on iPhone, swipe left on the conversation name in your message list. A red "Delete" button appears. Tap it to remove the conversation from your inbox.
Deleting messages on Android phones and tablets
In the Facebook app, open Messenger and find the conversation. Press and hold your finger on the specific message you want to remove until options appear. Select "Remove" to delete it from your inbox only, or "Unsend" if you sent it within the last 10 minutes.
To delete a whole conversation on Android, swipe left on the conversation name in your message list. A trash icon or delete button will appear. Tap it to remove the conversation.
The difference between deleting and unsending
Deleting removes a message from your inbox only. The other person can still see it in their conversation with you. This is useful if you want to clean up your own message history but don't mind that the recipient still has the message.
Unsending removes the message from both inboxes — yours and the recipient's. However, unsend only works within 10 minutes of sending. After that window closes, unsend is no longer an option. When you unsend a message, the other person sees a notification that you unsent something, but they cannot see the original message content.
What happens to group chat messages
In group conversations, deleting a message removes it from your view only. Everyone else in the group still sees it. Unsending works the same way — it removes the message from all participants' inboxes, but only if you unsend within 10 minutes.
If you delete an entire group conversation, it disappears from your message list, but the group chat continues for everyone else. You can rejoin the group later if someone adds you back, and you'll see messages sent after you deleted the conversation from your end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the other person tell if I deleted a message?
If you delete a message, they won't know — it stays visible on their end. If you unsend a message, they'll see a notification saying you unsent something, but they won't see what the message said. There's no way to delete a message without the other person knowing if you unsend it.
What if I unsend a message by accident?
Once you unsend a message, it's gone from both inboxes and cannot be recovered. Facebook doesn't have an "undo unsend" feature. If you need to tell the person what you said, you'll have to send a new message explaining it.
Does deleting a conversation delete messages from the other person too?
No. When you delete a conversation from your inbox, the other person still has their copy of all the messages. Deleting only affects your own message list. The only way to remove a message from both sides is to unsend it within 10 minutes of sending.
Can I recover a deleted message?
No. Once you delete or unsend a message, Facebook does not store a copy you can retrieve. If you need the information from that message, you'll have to ask the other person to share it again.
Why can't I unsend messages older than 10 minutes?
Facebook's 10-minute unsend window is a design choice to prevent people from erasing conversations long after they happen. After 10 minutes, unsend is no longer available, and you can only delete the message from your own inbox.