The fastest way to delete many messages at once

On Mac, you can select and delete multiple messages in Mail, Messages, or other apps without deleting them one by one. The method depends on which app you're using and whether the messages are grouped by conversation or listed individually. Most of the time, you'll hold down Shift or Command while clicking to select a batch, then press Delete or use the trash option in the menu.

The exact steps vary slightly between Mail (for email) and Messages (for texts and iMessages), so this guide covers both. If you're using a different messaging app, the principle is usually the same: select multiple items, then delete.

Key Takeaways

  • In Mail, hold Shift and click the first and last message you want to delete to select a range, or hold Command and click individual messages to pick specific ones.
  • In Messages, click the first message, hold Shift, and click the last one to select a conversation range, then press Delete.
  • After selecting messages, you can press the Delete key, right-click and choose delete, or use the Edit menu to remove them permanently.
  • Deleted messages go to the Trash or Deleted Items folder first — you can recover them from there before emptying that folder.

Deleting multiple emails in Mail

Open Mail and go to the inbox or folder containing the messages you want to delete. Click on the first message you want to remove. Then hold Shift and click on the last message in the range you want to delete. This selects every message between those two, which is the fastest method if the messages are grouped together.

If the messages you want to delete are not next to each other, hold Command (not Shift) and click each individual message. You can mix and match — hold Command and click one message, then Shift-click another to add a range. Once you have selected all the messages you want, press the Delete key on your keyboard. The messages move to the Trash mailbox.

If you prefer using the menu, select your messages the same way, then go to the Edit menu and choose Delete. You can also right-click on any selected message and choose Delete from the menu that appears.

Deleting multiple conversations in Messages

Open the Messages app and look at the list of conversations on the left side of the window. Click on the first conversation you want to delete. Hold Shift and click on the last conversation in the range you want to remove. This selects all conversations between those two.

If you want to delete conversations that are not next to each other, hold Command and click each one individually. Once you have selected the conversations, press Delete on your keyboard. A confirmation dialog may appear asking if you want to delete the conversation — click Delete to confirm.

You can also right-click on any selected conversation and choose Delete Conversation from the menu. Messages moved to Trash can be recovered for a short time before they are permanently removed.

Selecting messages in other Mac apps

Third-party messaging apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, or Slack use similar selection methods. Look for an Edit mode or selection option, usually accessed by clicking an Edit button or right-clicking on a message. Once in selection mode, hold Shift to select a range or Command to select individual messages, then look for a Delete, Trash, or Remove button.

Some apps require you to swipe or click a checkbox next to each message instead of using keyboard shortcuts. Check the app's menu or preferences if the Shift and Command method does not work. The principle remains the same: select multiple items first, then delete them together.

Recovering deleted messages before they are gone for good

When you delete messages in Mail, they move to the Trash mailbox. When you delete conversations in Messages, they go to a Trash folder. You can recover messages from either location as long as you have not emptied the trash.

In Mail, click on the Trash mailbox in the sidebar, find the message you want to keep, right-click it, and choose Move To, then select the folder where you want it to go. In Messages, click Edit in the menu bar, then choose Show Deleted Messages. Find the conversation you want to restore, right-click it, and choose Recover.

If you have already emptied the Trash or Deleted Items folder, the messages are permanently removed and cannot be recovered through the app. Time Machine backups may still contain them if you have backups enabled on your Mac.

Emptying the trash to free up space

Deleted messages stay in the Trash or Deleted Items folder until you empty it. In Mail, right-click on the Trash mailbox and choose Empty Trash. In Messages, go to the Edit menu and choose Empty Deleted Messages. You can also set Mail to automatically empty trash after a certain number of days — go to Mail preferences, click Accounts, select your account, and look for the trash settings.

Emptying the trash frees up storage space on your Mac, since deleted messages still take up room until they are permanently removed. However, once you empty the trash, you cannot recover those messages through the app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I select all messages in a folder at once?

Yes. In Mail, press Command-A to select all messages in the current folder or mailbox. In Messages, you cannot select all conversations at once with a keyboard shortcut, but you can hold Shift and click from the first to the last conversation to select them all if they fit on the screen.

What happens if I delete a message by mistake?

The message moves to Trash or Deleted Items. Open that folder, find the message, right-click it, and choose Move To (Mail) or Recover (Messages) to put it back. If you have already emptied the trash, check your Time Machine backups if you have them turned on.

Do deleted messages take up space on my Mac?

Yes, until you empty the Trash or Deleted Items folder. Deleted messages are still stored on your Mac, just hidden from your main inbox. Emptying the trash removes them permanently and frees up the space they were using.

Can I delete messages from multiple accounts at once?

No. You must switch between accounts or folders and delete messages separately. Select and delete messages from one account, then switch to another account and repeat the process.