How to delete people on Messenger
You can remove someone from your Messenger contacts in two ways: delete the entire conversation with them, or remove them from a group chat. On individual chats, deleting the conversation removes that person from your message list but does not prevent them from messaging you again in the future. In group chats, you can remove specific people so they no longer see new messages.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using Messenger on your phone or computer, and whether the chat is one-on-one or a group. This guide walks you through each scenario so you know exactly what happens when you delete someone.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a one-on-one conversation removes it from your chat list but does not block the person or prevent them from messaging you again.
- In group chats, you can remove a specific person so they no longer receive new messages, but only if you are the group admin.
- Deleting a conversation does not delete the messages on the other person's phone or computer.
- If you want to prevent someone from messaging you entirely, you need to block them separately — deleting a chat is not the same as blocking.
Delete a one-on-one conversation on your phone
Open Messenger and find the conversation you want to remove. Press and hold the person's name or the chat bubble until a menu appears. Tap Delete. The conversation disappears from your chat list immediately.
The person can still message you after you delete the conversation. When they do, a new chat will appear in your list. If you do not want them to contact you at all, you will need to block them instead — blocking prevents them from sending you messages in the first place.
Delete a one-on-one conversation on your computer
Go to Messenger.com or open the Messenger app on your desktop. Find the conversation in your chat list on the left side. Right-click on the person's name or hover over it until you see three dots appear. Click the dots and select Delete chat. The conversation is removed from your list.
Just as on your phone, deleting the chat does not prevent the person from messaging you later. They will simply start a new conversation, which will reappear in your list.
Remove someone from a group chat
Open the group conversation and tap or click the group name at the top. This opens the group details. Look for the list of members. Find the person you want to remove and tap or click their name. A menu will appear with the option to Remove from group. Select it.
Once removed, that person will no longer see new messages posted to the group. They can still see all the messages they received before you removed them. If they were added back to the group later, they would see messages from that point forward, not the ones they missed while removed.
You can only remove people from a group if you are the group admin. If you created the group, you are automatically the admin. If someone else created it, ask them to remove the person, or leave the group yourself if you do not want to be part of it.
The difference between deleting and blocking
Deleting a conversation and blocking a person are two separate actions that do different things. When you delete a chat, the conversation disappears from your list, but the person can still message you. When you block someone, they cannot message you, call you, or see your profile.
If you delete a conversation and the person messages you again, you will see their new message. If you block someone, their messages will not reach you at all — they will not even know they are blocked, but they may notice you are not responding.
To block someone, open their conversation, tap or click the three dots at the top, and select Block. You can unblock them the same way if you change your mind later.
What happens to messages when you delete a chat
Deleting a conversation on your device removes it from your view only. The messages remain on the other person's phone or computer. If you delete a chat with someone, they can still scroll back and see every message you sent them.
If you want to remove a message you already sent, you can edit or unsend it within a certain time window. Open the message, tap or click and hold it, and select Remove or Unsend. This removes the message from both your chat and theirs, though they may have already seen it.
Recovering a deleted conversation
Once you delete a conversation, it does not appear in your chat list anymore. However, if the person messages you again, the conversation will reappear with all the old messages still there. You have not lost the messages — they are just hidden from view until someone sends a new message to that chat.
If you want to find an old conversation before the person messages you again, you can search for their name in Messenger. Type their name in the search box at the top. If you have ever messaged them, their name will appear in the results, and you can tap or click it to reopen the conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I delete a conversation, can the person tell I deleted it?
No. Deleting a conversation on your end does not notify the person or change anything on their device. They will not know you deleted the chat unless you tell them.
Can I delete someone from Messenger without them knowing?
Yes, if you are deleting a one-on-one conversation. If you are removing them from a group chat, they will see that they are no longer in the group, but Messenger does not send a notification saying you removed them specifically.
What is the difference between deleting a chat and archiving it?
Archiving hides a conversation from your main chat list but keeps it stored. You can unarchive it anytime. Deleting removes it from view, but the conversation reappears if the person messages you again. Archiving is useful if you want to clean up your list without losing access to old chats.
If I remove someone from a group, can I add them back?
Yes, if you are the group admin. Open the group details, find the option to add members, and select the person. They will rejoin the group and see all new messages from that point forward.
Does blocking someone delete our conversation?
No. Blocking prevents them from contacting you, but your old messages with them remain in your chat list. You can still see the conversation history, but they cannot message you or see that you are online.