How to delete in messenger on facebook

How to delete in messenger on facebook

  • You can't delete all your Facebook messages at once, but you can delete them one chat at a time.
  • To delete a chat on Facebook, go to the chat settings and click Delete chat.
  • To delete a chat on Messenger, swipe to the left, tap More and Delete.

Facebook Messenger is one of the most popular messaging apps in use today, in large part because it's available on nearly every platform.

But Facebook has never made it especially easy to manage your messages. For example, it took years for Facebook to give users the ability to delete an accidentally sent message from both the sender and receiver's app — and even then you only have 10 minutes to do so.

But what if you want to delete all your messages from Facebook Messenger? Here's what you need to know.

To delete all your Facebook messages, you need to delete them one chat at a time. If you've been a Facebook user for a long time and have a lot of chats, this can take a while.

Here's how to delete your chats on Facebook, via either an internet browser or the Messenger mobile app.

In a web browser:

1. Log into Facebook and click on the Messenger icon in the top right part of the top menu.

Click on the Messenger icon. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

2. Click the chat that you want to delete.

3. At the top of the chat window, click the arrow to the right of the person's name to open the chat settings. 

4. In the menu that pops up to the left, click Delete conversation.

Click "Delete chat." Stefan Ionescu/Insider

5. In the pop-up window, confirm you want to do this by clicking Delete Chat.

6. Repeat this for every chat you want to remove.

In the mobile Messenger app:

1. Open the Messenger app on your phone. 

2. Scroll to find the chat you want to delete.

3. Swipe the chat to the left, and then tap on More.

Tap on "More" after swiping the chat to the left. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

4. In the menu that pops up, tap Delete

5. In the pop-up menu, tap Delete to confirm your decision.

6. Repeat this for every chat you want to remove.

Jennifer is a writer and editor from Brooklyn, New York, who spends her time traveling, drinking iced coffee, and watching way too much TV. She has bylines in Vanity Fair, Glamour, Decider, Mic, and many more. You can find her on Twitter at @jenniferlstill.

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Facebook Messenger is one of the social media platform’s most popular features, and while it’s a great way for users to have private conversations, it’s also used by many as a way to start a fight or say things they don’t really mean. It’s not uncommon to make a mistake on Messenger or instantly regret sending a message.

Previously, when these mistakes happened, we just had to let them sit there, preserved in Facebook Messenger for all eternity. Now this is no longer the case.

Further reading

  • How to maintain your privacy on Facebook
  • Best text messaging apps
  • How to use Facebook

You can also archive and delete entire threads you no longer wish to look at. Deleting Facebook messages on your desktop or mobile device takes mere seconds, but deleting whole threads only applies to your own inbox, not your friend’s. Here’s how to do it:

Deleting messages on your desktop

Step 1: Log into Facebook like you normally would.

Step 2: Click the Chat Bubble in the upper-right corner, followed by See All in Messenger. The latter option is located in the bottom-left.

How to delete in messenger on facebook
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Step 3: To delete an entire message thread, hover over the conversation and click the Three Horizontal Dots icon on the right side of the message in your inbox. Afterward, select Delete from the menu that pops up.

How to delete in messenger on facebook
screenshot

Step 4: You will then be presented with three options: Cancel, Delete, or Hide Conversation. Click Delete to continue.

Step 5: To delete a part of your conversation, click into the conversation, and hover over the message you would like to delete. Then, click the Three Horizontal Dots and press Remove.

How to delete in messenger on facebook
screenshot

Step 6: If it’s been less than 10 minutes since you’ve sent the message, you will then be given the option to remove the message for everyone or just for yourself. Once you’ve made your selection, press Remove.

The person on the other end of the conversation will be able to see that you removed a message if you chose the “for everyone” option, but the content will no longer be available. If it’s been more than 10 minutes, you’ll only be able to remove the message for yourself.

Deleting messages on your mobile device

Step 1: If you haven’t already, download the Messenger app for either iOS or Android, and log in as you normally would.

Step 2: If you want to delete an entire conversation, press and hold down the conversation, or if you’re an iOS user, swipe the conversation to the left and select the Red Trash Can. We know it’s easy to do this by mistake, so don’t stress about losing anything valuable. Your phone will always ask you to confirm before deleting. This is true for both Android and iOS.

How to delete in messenger on facebook
screenshot

Step 3: If you want to delete a single message, go into the conversation, hold down the message you want to delete, and tap Remove at the bottom. Then select Remove for You. If you have an Android, you will need to select Remove again to confirm. iOS users won’t see this final prompt, so be sure you want to select Remove for You.

How to delete in messenger on facebook
screenshot

You’ll be able to remove the message for everyone if you take action within 10 minutes of sending it. Your phone will give you the choice to remove for everyone or just yourself.  Once you’ve made your selection, press Remove. While the intended recipient will be able to see that you removed a message if you selected “for everyone,” they won’t be able to see the message’s content. If it’s been more than 10 minutes, you’ll only be able to remove the text for yourself.

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Why can't I delete messages on Facebook Messenger?

Users can only delete messages they sent. People with access to the feature can tap and hold on a message they sent and select Remove, and they will see options for Remove for Everyone or Remove for You.

Is there a way to delete messages on Messenger?

Open the Facebook Messenger app on your phone or desktop. Open a conversation with messages you'd like to delete. Press and hold on a message, or select the three dots menu icon on desktop. Select “remove” next to the message.