Where to find and delete messages depends on what app or service you use
The steps to delete a message are different for text messages, email, social media, and messaging apps — and sometimes different even within the same service depending on whether you're on a phone or computer. Most apps let you delete individual messages, entire conversations, or both. Some services delete messages permanently right away; others move them to a trash folder first, where they stay for 30 days before disappearing for good.
The fastest way to find the delete option is to open the message or conversation, then look for a menu icon (usually three dots or lines) or try right-clicking on the message itself. If nothing appears, try pressing and holding the message for a second or two — that often brings up a menu with a delete button.
Key Takeaways
- Most messaging apps delete messages immediately, but email services and some social media platforms move deleted messages to trash first, where they remain for 30 days before permanent removal.
- You can usually delete a single message, an entire conversation, or all messages from a specific person, depending on the app.
- On phones, press and hold a message to see delete options; on computers, right-click or look for a menu icon with three dots.
- Some apps let you set messages to delete automatically after a certain time, which is useful if you want to avoid manual deletion later.
Deleting text messages on iPhone and Android
On iPhone, open the Messages app, swipe left on the conversation you want to delete, and tap the trash icon. To delete a single message within a conversation, press and hold that message until a menu appears, then tap "More" and select the trash icon at the bottom right. You can select multiple messages this way before deleting them all at once.
On Android, the steps vary slightly by phone model and messaging app. In the default Messages app on most Android phones, press and hold a conversation to select it, then tap the delete icon (usually a trash can). To delete a single message, open the conversation, press and hold the message, and tap delete from the menu that appears. If you use a third-party app like WhatsApp or Telegram, press and hold the message and select delete from the options shown.
Deleting email messages in Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail
In Gmail on any device, click or tap the message to open it, then click the trash icon at the top. The message moves to the Trash folder and stays there for 30 days before Gmail deletes it permanently. To delete multiple emails at once, check the boxes next to each message in your inbox, then click the trash icon. You can also click the checkbox at the top of the list to select all messages on the current page.
In Outlook (both the web version and the desktop app), select the message and click the delete button, or press the Delete key on your keyboard. Deleted messages go to the Deleted Items folder. To permanently remove them, open Deleted Items, select the messages, and click "Delete" again. In Apple Mail on Mac, select the message and press Command+Delete, or click the trash icon in the toolbar. On iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the message and tap Trash.
Deleting messages on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media
On Facebook Messenger, press and hold the message you want to delete, then tap "Remove" from the menu. The message disappears from your view, but Facebook keeps a copy on its servers. To delete an entire conversation, press and hold the conversation name in your message list and select "Delete." On Instagram Direct Messages, swipe left on the message (iPhone) or press and hold it (Android), then tap delete. You can also unsend a message, which removes it from both your inbox and the recipient's inbox, though they may see a notification that you unsent something.
On Twitter (now X), you can delete a direct message by opening the conversation, pressing and holding the message, and selecting delete. On Snapchat, press and hold the conversation and tap "Clear Chat" to delete all messages in that conversation, or swipe left on a single message to delete just that one. Remember that on most social media platforms, the other person may have already seen or screenshotted the message before you delete it.
Deleting messages from Discord, Slack, and team messaging apps
In Discord, hover over the message (on desktop) or press and hold it (on mobile), click the three-dot menu icon, and select "Delete Message." The message is removed from the channel or direct message immediately. On Slack, hover over the message and click the three-dot menu, then select "Delete message." Slack moves the message to a trash folder that workspace admins can access, but regular users cannot recover it.
In Microsoft Teams, right-click the message (desktop) or press and hold it (mobile) and select "Delete." The message is removed from the conversation. In Google Chat, hover over the message and click the three-dot menu, then select "Delete." These team apps delete messages immediately from your view, though administrators may retain copies in backup systems depending on the organization's settings.
Setting messages to delete automatically
Some apps let you set a timer so messages delete themselves after a set time. In WhatsApp, open Settings, go to Account, then Privacy, and turn on "Delete messages." You can choose to delete messages after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. In Telegram, open a chat, tap the three-dot menu, select "Clear Chat," and choose whether to delete messages and files. In Signal, open Settings, go to Privacy, and set a timer for how long messages stay before they disappear.
On Instagram, you can set messages to disappear after they're seen by opening a conversation, tapping the person's name at the top, and turning on "Disappearing messages." In iMessage (Apple's text messaging service), you can set messages to delete after 2 minutes or 30 days by going to Settings, Messages, and adjusting the "Keep Messages" option. These timers apply to new messages going forward, not to messages you've already sent.
Recovering deleted messages
If you deleted a message by accident, your chances of recovery depend on the service. Email services like Gmail and Outlook keep deleted messages in trash for 30 days, so you can open the Trash folder and move the message back to your inbox. Most messaging apps delete messages permanently right away, so recovery is not possible unless you have a backup of your phone.
If you back up your phone regularly (iPhone to iCloud, Android to Google Drive), you may be able to restore an older backup that contains the deleted messages. However, restoring a backup will also restore your phone to an earlier date, so you'll lose any new messages, photos, or settings created after that backup was made. For important messages, consider taking screenshots or forwarding them to yourself or a trusted contact instead of relying on recovery options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the other person still see a message after I delete it?
No — when you delete a message, it disappears from your device. However, the other person still has their copy of the conversation unless they delete it too. On some platforms like Instagram and iMessage, you can "unsend" a message, which removes it from both your inbox and theirs, though they may see a notification that you unsent something.
Does deleting a conversation delete all the messages in it?
Yes. When you delete a conversation, all messages in that thread are removed from your device. On email services like Gmail and Outlook, deleted conversations go to trash first and stay there for 30 days. On messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, deletion is usually permanent right away.
What's the difference between delete and archive?
Delete removes a message or conversation from your inbox. Archive hides it from your main view but keeps it stored so you can search for it later. Gmail, Outlook, and many messaging apps have an archive option separate from delete. Archived messages take up less visual space but are still there if you need to find them.
Will my phone's storage space increase after I delete messages?
Yes, but usually by a small amount unless the messages contained large photos or videos. Text-only messages take up very little space. If you want to free up significant storage, delete conversations with lots of images or videos, or use your phone's storage settings to see which apps are using the most space.
Can I delete a message I sent to a group chat?
Yes, but the process depends on the app. In most messaging apps and social media platforms, you can delete your own message from a group conversation, and it will disappear from everyone's view. However, people who saw the message before you deleted it may remember what it said. Some apps show a notification that a message was deleted, which can draw attention to it.