iMessages delete from both devices when you remove them, but recovery is still possible
When you delete an iMessage from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it disappears from the conversation thread on that device. However, the message does not vanish from the other person's device — they still have their copy. More importantly, deleted messages can often be recovered from your device's backup files if you have not taken steps to prevent that. Permanent deletion requires you to understand where iMessages live and what backups might contain them.
Apple stores iMessages in two places: the active message database on your device, and in backups (iCloud Backup, iTunes backups, or both). Deleting a message from the conversation removes it from the active database but leaves it in any backup made before the deletion. To truly prevent recovery, you need to delete the message and then may support no backup contains it.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting an iMessage from your device removes it from that conversation, but the other person still has their copy on their device.
- Deleted messages remain in iCloud Backup and iTunes backups until you delete those backups or create a new backup after the deletion.
- To prevent recovery, delete the message, then delete your iCloud Backup or create a fresh backup that does not include the old message.
- If you use both iCloud Backup and iTunes backups, you must address both to fully prevent recovery.
- Turning off iCloud Backup before deletion is the simplest way to may support a deleted message cannot be recovered from backups.
Delete the message from your conversation thread
Start by removing the message from the active conversation. On iPhone or iPad, open the Messages app, find the conversation, press and hold the message you want to delete, then tap Delete. On Mac, open Messages, find the message, right-click it, and select Delete. The message vanishes from your conversation when ready.
If you want to delete an entire conversation instead of a single message, swipe left on the conversation (iPhone or iPad) or right-click it (Mac) and choose Delete. This removes all messages in that thread from your device's active message database.
Understand what backups contain your messages
iMessages are included in two types of backups: iCloud Backup and iTunes backups (or Finder backups on newer Macs). iCloud Backup happens automatically if you have it turned on and your device is plugged in, on Wi-Fi, and locked. iTunes backups happen only when you manually connect your device to a computer and run a backup through iTunes or Finder.
Check whether you have iCloud Backup enabled by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup on iPhone or iPad, or System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup on Mac. If the toggle is on, your messages are being backed up to iCloud. If you have ever plugged your device into a computer and backed it up through iTunes or Finder, you also have local backups on that computer.
Delete your iCloud Backup to remove messages from cloud storage
If you have iCloud Backup enabled, deleted messages remain in your iCloud Backup until you delete that backup. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups on iPhone or iPad. Tap the device name, then tap Delete Backup. On Mac, go to System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups, select your device, and click Delete.
Deleting your iCloud Backup removes all message history from iCloud, not just the single message you deleted. After you delete the backup, turn iCloud Backup back on if you want future backups. The next backup will not contain the messages you deleted before you turned it off.
Be aware that deleting your iCloud Backup also removes backups of other data — photos, notes, contacts, and app data stored in iCloud Backup. If you rely on iCloud Backup for other information, consider whether this trade-off is worth it.
Remove iTunes or Finder backups from your computer
If you have backed up your device to a computer using iTunes (on Windows or older Macs) or Finder (on newer Macs), deleted messages still exist in those backup files. To remove them, you must delete the backup itself.
On Windows with iTunes, go to Edit > Preferences > Devices, select the backup you want to delete, and click Delete Backup. On Mac with Finder, open Finder, click your device in the sidebar, go to the General tab, and click Delete Backup under Backups. On older Macs with iTunes, the process is the same as Windows.
Like iCloud Backup deletion, removing an iTunes or Finder backup deletes all data in that backup, not just messages. If you have multiple backups on your computer, you can delete only the oldest ones and keep recent backups that were created after you deleted the message.
Prevent future backups from containing sensitive messages
The simplest way to may support a deleted message cannot be recovered is to turn off iCloud Backup before you delete the message, delete it, and then turn iCloud Backup back on. This way, the next backup will not contain the message because it was already gone when the backup ran.
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn the toggle off. Delete the message from your conversation. Then turn iCloud Backup back on. The next automatic backup will include your current messages but not the one you deleted.
For iTunes or Finder backups, straightforward do not create a new backup after deleting the message. The old backup files will still contain the message, but you can delete those files manually using the steps above.
Understand what you cannot control
Once you send an iMessage to another person, you cannot delete it from their device. They have their own copy, and it will remain on their phone, tablet, or computer unless they delete it themselves. If they have backups enabled, the message will also be in their backups.
Additionally, if someone has taken a screenshot of the message or forwarded it to another person, those copies exist outside your control. Deleting the original message does not affect screenshots or forwarded copies.
iMessage also syncs across your own devices if you use the same Apple ID on multiple phones, tablets, or computers. Deleting a message on your iPhone will eventually sync to your iPad and Mac. However, if you have backups on any of those devices, the message may still exist in those backups until you delete them as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the other person see that I deleted a message?
No. iMessage does not notify the other person when you delete a message from your device. They still have their copy of the message, and they will not see any indication that you deleted yours. However, if you delete a message when ready after sending it, they may notice the gap in the conversation.
If I delete my iCloud Backup, will I lose my photos and contacts too?
Yes. iCloud Backup is a complete backup of your device, so deleting it removes all data stored in that backup — messages, photos, contacts, app data, and more. If you need to keep those other items, you should delete only your iTunes or Finder backups instead, or accept that you cannot fully prevent message recovery without losing other data.
What if I only delete the message but do not delete my backups?
The message will remain in any backup made before you deleted it. If you restore your device from that backup, the message will reappear. To prevent recovery, you must delete the backups or create a new backup after the deletion.
Does turning off iCloud Backup delete messages already on my device?
No. Turning off iCloud Backup stops future backups from being created, but it does not delete messages from your device or from existing backups. You must manually delete the message and then delete the existing backup to fully prevent recovery.
Can Apple recover my deleted iMessages?
Apple cannot recover deleted messages for you. If you delete a message and your backups, Apple has no way to retrieve it. However, law enforcement with a warrant can sometimes recover data from backups or devices, depending on the circumstances and the data's age.