You can delete a single text message or an entire conversation in seconds

On an iPhone, you delete text messages in the Messages app. You can remove one message at a time, or delete an entire conversation with a person or group. The steps differ slightly depending on which you want to do, but both take less than a minute.

Apple does not back up deleted text messages to iCloud by default, so once you delete a message, it is gone unless you have a separate backup. If you think you might need a message later, take a screenshot or forward it to yourself before deleting.

Key Takeaways

  • To delete a single message, open the conversation, press and hold the message, then tap Delete from the menu that appears.
  • To delete an entire conversation, swipe left on the conversation name in your message list, or tap Edit and then the red minus sign.
  • Deleted messages do not sync to other devices — they disappear only from the iPhone where you deleted them.
  • If you use iCloud backup, your iPhone backs up messages only if you turn on Messages in iCloud in Settings, which is not the default.

Delete a single message from a conversation

Open the Messages app and find the conversation that contains the message you want to remove. Scroll to the message if you need to — it can be anywhere in the thread, not just the most recent one.

Press and hold your finger on the message itself until a menu appears with options. Tap the trash can icon or the word Delete. The message disappears immediately. If you change your mind within a few seconds, you can tap Undo at the bottom of the screen.

This method works for text messages, photos, videos, links, and any other content sent through Messages. If the message is part of a group chat, deleting it removes it only from your view — other people in the group still see it.

Delete an entire conversation

Open the Messages app and look at your list of conversations. Find the one you want to remove. You have two options: swipe left on the conversation name, or tap Edit at the top left.

If you swipe left, a red Delete button appears on the right side of the conversation. Tap it once to remove the entire conversation and all its messages. If you tap Edit instead, a red minus sign appears next to each conversation. Tap the minus sign next to the one you want to delete, then tap Delete to confirm.

Deleting a conversation removes all messages in it at once. You cannot undo this action after you confirm, so make sure you want to remove the entire thread before you proceed.

What happens to deleted messages on other devices

If you own multiple Apple devices — an iPad, Mac, or another iPhone — deleting a message on one device does not delete it from the others. Each device stores its own copy of your messages. You have to delete the message separately on each device if you want it gone everywhere.

The exception is if you use Messages in iCloud. This feature syncs your messages across all your devices, so deleting a message on your iPhone also deletes it from your iPad and Mac. To turn this on, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, and toggle Messages in iCloud on. This is not turned on by default.

Recovering a deleted message

If you deleted a message by accident and tapped Undo within a few seconds, the message returns to the conversation. If more time has passed, you cannot recover it from your iPhone alone.

Your only option is to restore from a backup. If you back up your iPhone to iCloud or to a computer using Finder or iTunes, that backup contains your messages from the time the backup was made. Restoring from a backup erases everything on your iPhone and replaces it with the backup version, so you lose any messages, photos, or other data created after the backup date. This is a drastic step for one message, so it is worth asking the person who sent it to you to resend it instead.

Why you might want to delete messages

People delete messages for different reasons. You might remove a conversation to clean up your message list, delete a photo you do not want to keep, or remove a message that contains sensitive information like a password or payment details.

If you are concerned about privacy, deleting a message from your iPhone does not delete it from the recipient's phone. They still have their copy. If you need to remove a message from both sides — for example, a message containing a mistake or private information — you can use the unsend feature in iOS 16 and later. Press and hold the message, tap More, then tap Undo Send. This removes the message from the recipient's phone as well, but only if they are using iOS 16 or later and have not read the message yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete just one message from a group chat?

Yes. Press and hold the message and tap Delete. The message disappears from your view of the conversation, but other people in the group still see it. If you want to remove a message from everyone's phones, use Undo Send instead, which works in iOS 16 and later.

What is the difference between deleting a message and unsending it?

Deleting removes a message from your phone only. Unsending removes it from the recipient's phone too, but only in iOS 16 and later, and only if they have not read it yet. Unsend is better for mistakes or sensitive information you want gone everywhere.

If I delete a conversation, can I get the messages back?

Not unless you restore your entire iPhone from a backup made before you deleted the conversation. Restoring a backup erases everything on your phone and replaces it with the older version, so you lose any new messages or data created since the backup date.

Do deleted messages take up storage space on my iPhone?

No. Once you delete a message, it no longer uses storage on your phone. If you want to free up space, deleting old conversations with photos and videos can help, since media files take up the most room.

Will my carrier keep a record of deleted text messages?

Your carrier may keep records of text messages for billing or legal reasons, but those records are separate from what is stored on your phone. Deleting a message from your iPhone does not affect your carrier's records.