How to Delete Messages on Facebook Messenger

Easily clean up your messages

by
Elise Moreau
Elise Moreau
Freelance Contributor
Elise Moreau is a writer that has covered social media, texting, messaging, and streaming for Lifewire. Her work has appeared on Techvibes, SlashGear, Lifehack and others.
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Elise Moreau
Updated on September 09, 2021
reviewed by
Jon Fisher headshot
Jon Fisher
Lifewire Technology Review Board Member
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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Article reviewed on May 10, 2021
Jon Fisher

What to Know

  • Facebook.com: Select Messenger > See All in Messenger > any chat > hover the cursor over a message > three vertical dots > Remove.
  • Messenger app: Open any chat, tap and hold a message, then select Remove > Remove for You.
  • Delete a conversation: Hover over it > select the three horizontal dots > Delete Chat. The process is different on Android and iOS.

This article includes instructions on how to delete messages from Messenger using the Facebook website and from the Messenger app.

How to Delete Messages on Facebook.com

Messenger keeps all of your messages in your inbox until you decide to delete them yourself. You can delete individual chat messages and entire conversations to help clean up your inbox. The following instructions show you how to delete messages on Facebook.com.

  1. Select the Messenger button in the top right corner.

    Messenger button on the Facebook home page.

  2. Select See All in Messenger at the bottom of the Messenger window.

    See All in Messenger at the bottom of the Messenger window.

  3. To delete an individual chat message, select a chat from the left column to open it in the center chat window. Then hover your cursor over the message you want to delete. Three options appear.

    More button on Facebook chat

  4. Select the three vertical dots (More) followed by Remove.

    Remove button in Facebook chat

  5. Select Remove from the popup box to confirm.

    Remove confirmation in Facebook chat.

    Note

    The message only disappears from your account. Anyone else in the chat can still see the message.

  6. To delete an entire conversation, hover your cursor over any chat in the left column and select the three horizontal dots that appear.

    Three dots on Chat in left pane of Facebook Messenger window

  7. Select Delete Chat from the dropdown list.

    Delete button on Facebook chat

    Tip

    Alternatively, select Archive Chat to remove it from your chats in the left column. To see chats you've hidden, select the three horizontal dots at the top of the column, followed by Archived Chats.

  8. Select Delete Chat from the popup box to confirm.

    Delete Conversation confirmation for Facebook chat

How to Delete Messages on the Messenger App

The following steps show you how to delete messages on the Messenger app for iOS or Android. They apply to both versions of the app, but screenshots are from the iOS app.

  1. To delete an individual chat message, tap the conversation to open the chat, then tap and hold your finger down on the individual message.

  2. Tap Remove at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap Remove for You to confirm.

    Steps to take to delete a message in the Facebook Messenger app.

    Note

    Any message you remove only disappears from your own Messenger account. (They're still be visible to others involved in the chat.) However, you can choose Unsend for any message you've sent, regardless of how long ago it was to remove it from others' inboxes.

  4. To delete an entire conversation using Messenger for Android, tap and hold your finger down on a conversation, then tap Delete.

    To delete an entire conversation using Messenger for iOS, swipe left on a conversation, tap More, then tap Delete.

    Tip

    If you're using Messenger for iOS or Android, you can also select Archive if you don't want to delete the conversation permanently.

  5. Tap Delete to confirm.

    Steps to take to delete a conversation in the Facebook Messenger app.

Tip

Want to delete conversations in bulk? There's currently no way to select multiple conversations to delete them all at once on Facebook.com or in the app. However, you may be able to get around this limitation with a third-party Chrome extension called Fast Delete Messages.

FAQ
  • How do you deactivate Facebook Messenger?

    First, you need to deactivate your Facebook account. Then, from the mobile app, go to Chats > profile picture > Legal & Policies > Deactivate Messenger > Deactivate.

  • How do you log out of Facebook Messenger?

    On iPhone, open the menu, scroll to the bottom, and choose Log Out. If you're on a web browser or the Android mobile app, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Where You're Logged In. Find your device and select the three vertical dots, then select Log Out.

  • How do you unblock someone on Facebook Messenger?

    On iOS and Android, go to your profile picture > Privacy > Blocked Accounts, select the person you want to unblock and choose Unblock Messages and Calls. From the Messenger.com website, select your photo > Preferences > Account Settings > Blocking > Block Messages > Unblock.

  • What is Facebook Messenger's Vanish Mode?

    Vanish Mode is a Facebook Messenger feature that lets you send messages, photos, emoji, and more that disappear once the person you send them to views them and closes the chat window. It doesn't work on group chats, and you need to opt-in to it.

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