Delete a single voice message in the Messages app

Open the Messages app and find the conversation containing the voice message you want to remove. Press and hold the voice message bubble until a menu appears. Tap More, then tap the trash icon in the bottom right corner, and confirm by tapping Delete.

If you want to delete the message without opening the full menu, swipe left on the voice message bubble. A red delete button will appear on the right side — tap it to remove the message immediately.

Key Takeaways

  • Voice messages in the Messages app can be deleted one at a time by pressing and holding the bubble, or by swiping left and tapping the red delete button.
  • You can delete multiple voice messages at once by tapping Edit in the conversation, selecting the messages you want to remove, and tapping Delete.
  • Deleting a voice message from your phone does not delete it from the recipient's device — they will still have a copy on their end.
  • Voice messages are stored in the Messages app by default, but some third-party apps like WhatsApp and Telegram store audio messages separately and require different deletion steps.
  • If you delete a conversation thread entirely, all voice messages within that thread will be removed from your iPhone.

Delete multiple voice messages at once

Open the Messages app and navigate to the conversation with the voice messages you want to delete. Tap Edit in the upper left corner of the conversation. Checkboxes will appear next to each message. Tap the checkboxes next to the voice messages you want to remove, then tap Delete in the bottom right corner.

This method works for deleting a mix of voice messages and text messages from the same conversation. You can select as many messages as you need before tapping Delete once.

Remove an entire conversation with voice messages

If you want to delete all messages in a conversation at once, including any voice messages, swipe left on the conversation name in your Messages list. A red delete button will appear. Tap it to remove the entire conversation and all its contents from your iPhone.

You can also press and hold the conversation name until a menu appears, then tap Delete. Both methods remove the conversation permanently from your Messages app.

Delete voice messages from other apps

Voice messages sent through WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, or other messaging apps are stored separately from the Messages app and require different steps to delete. Open the app where you received the voice message, find the message in the conversation, and press and hold it. A menu will appear with options specific to that app — usually including a delete or trash option.

Some apps let you swipe left or right on a message to reveal delete options. Others require you to tap a menu icon (three dots or similar) next to the message. Check the app's settings or help section if you are unsure how to delete messages in that particular service.

Understand what happens when you delete a voice message

Deleting a voice message from your iPhone removes it only from your device. The person who sent you the message still has it on their phone, and the person who received it (if you sent it) also keeps their copy. Deletion is not shared across devices or between users.

If you use iCloud to back up your iPhone, voice messages may be included in that backup. Deleting a message from your phone does not automatically remove it from iCloud backups created before the deletion. If you want to ensure a voice message is completely removed from your backups, you can turn off Messages in your iCloud settings and create a new backup after deleting the message.

Recover a deleted voice message

If you deleted a voice message by mistake, you may be able to recover it from a recent iCloud or iTunes backup. This requires restoring your entire iPhone from that backup, which will overwrite all data on your phone with the backed-up version. This is a significant step and should only be done if the voice message is important enough to justify losing any changes you have made since the backup was created.

To restore from a backup, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then choose to restore from an iCloud or computer backup during the setup process. The Messages app will restore to the state it was in when that backup was made.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete just the audio from a voice message but keep the text?

No. Voice messages in the Messages app are single objects — you delete the entire message or nothing. If the message contains both audio and text, deleting it removes both parts. Some third-party apps may handle this differently, so check the app's options if you are using something other than the built-in Messages app.

Does the person who sent me a voice message know when I delete it?

No. Deleting a message from your phone does not send any notification to the sender. They have no way of knowing whether you deleted the message, kept it, or never listened to it.

What if I want to keep a voice message but hide it from my conversation?

The Messages app does not have a built-in archive or hide feature for individual messages. Your only options are to keep the message visible or delete it. Some third-party messaging apps offer archive or mute features — check the app's settings to see what options are available.

Will deleting a voice message free up storage space on my iPhone?

Yes, but usually not much. Voice messages are typically small files, so deleting one or even several will not noticeably increase your available storage. If you are running low on space, deleting photos, videos, or large apps will have a much bigger impact than removing voice messages.