You can delete Snapchat messages in three ways, depending on what you want to remove

Snapchat lets you delete individual messages, entire conversations, or clear your chat history. The method you use depends on whether you want to remove one message, wipe out a whole chat thread, or start fresh with someone. Deleted messages disappear from your phone and the recipient's phone — though they may have already seen or saved the message before you delete it.

The steps differ slightly between iPhone and Android, but the core process is the same. You cannot delete messages that the other person has already saved or screenshotted, and you cannot undo a deletion once it is complete. Understanding which deletion method fits your situation will help you manage your conversations without accidentally wiping out something you need.

Key Takeaways

  • Individual messages can be deleted by long-pressing them and selecting the delete option, and they vanish from both phones.
  • Entire conversations are removed by swiping left on the chat (iPhone) or long-pressing it (Android), then choosing delete.
  • Clearing your chat history does not delete the other person's copy of the conversation — only yours.
  • Messages the recipient has saved or screenshotted cannot be deleted, even if you delete them from your own chat.
  • Snapchat does not notify the other person when you delete a message, and there is no way to recover a deleted message.

Delete a single message from a conversation

Open Snapchat and go to the Chat tab at the bottom of the screen. Find the conversation containing the message you want to remove, then open it. You will see the full thread of messages between you and that person.

Long-press (hold your finger on) the message you want to delete. A menu will appear with options. Tap Delete. The message is now gone from both your phone and the recipient's phone — unless they saved it before you deleted it. The message simply vanishes from the conversation thread without any notification sent to them.

If you delete a message by accident, there is no undo button. The message is permanently removed from the conversation thread. This is why it is important to be certain before you confirm the deletion.

Delete an entire conversation on iPhone

Open Snapchat and tap the Chat tab. Find the conversation you want to remove. Swipe left on that conversation with your finger — move your finger from right to left across the conversation name.

A red delete button will appear on the right side of the conversation. Tap it. The entire conversation disappears from your chat list. The other person still has their copy of the conversation — deleting it only removes it from your phone. You can still message that person again later, and a new conversation thread will start.

Delete an entire conversation on Android

Open Snapchat and go to the Chat tab. Long-press the conversation you want to delete — hold your finger on it until a menu appears with options.

Tap Delete from the menu that appears. The conversation is removed from your chat list. Like on iPhone, the other person's copy remains on their phone. If you want to message them again, you can start a new conversation at any time.

Clear all your chats at once

If you want to wipe your entire chat history, open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top left corner. Tap the Settings gear icon to open your account settings.

Scroll down and tap Clear Conversations. A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure. Tap Clear. All your conversations vanish from your chat list, but the other people in those chats still have their copies. This removes every conversation thread from your view at once.

This action cannot be undone, so make sure you do not need any of those conversations before you proceed. If you are clearing conversations to free up space or start fresh, remember that the other people you were chatting with will still have access to those messages on their phones.

What happens when you delete a saved or screenshotted message

Snapchat lets users save messages by long-pressing them and selecting save. If someone has saved a message before you delete it, your deletion does not remove it from their phone. They will still see it in their saved messages section, which is separate from the active conversation thread.

Similarly, if someone takes a screenshot of a message, deleting it from your end does not erase their screenshot. The deletion only affects the message in the active conversation thread. Once a message is saved or screenshotted, it exists outside of Snapchat's normal deletion system, and you have no control over it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the other person see that I deleted a message?

No. When you delete a message, it simply disappears from the conversation. Snapchat does not send a notification or show any indication that a message was deleted. The other person will only notice if they saw the message before you deleted it and are looking back at the conversation.

What if I delete a message but the person already screenshotted it?

Your deletion does not affect their screenshot. They will still have a copy of the message saved on their phone. Deleting a message only removes it from the active Snapchat conversation thread.

Can I delete messages from a group chat?

Yes. Long-press the message in the group conversation and tap delete. It will be removed from the group chat for everyone. However, if someone in the group saved or screenshotted the message before you deleted it, they will still have a copy.

Does clearing conversations delete them from the other person's phone?

No. Clearing your conversations only removes them from your chat list. Everyone you were chatting with still has their copy of those conversations on their phone. They can still see and read those messages.

Can I recover a deleted message?

No. Once you delete a message, it is permanently gone. Snapchat does not have a recovery or undo feature for deleted messages. Make sure you want to delete something before you confirm the action.