Deleting a person from Messenger removes them from your contact list and stops them from seeing that you are online
When you delete someone from Messenger, you are removing them from your friends list on Facebook (or Instagram, if you use Messenger there). They will no longer appear in your contacts, and you will no longer see their online status. However, deleting someone does not automatically block them — they can still message you, though the conversation will appear in a separate folder called Message Requests. If you want to prevent them from contacting you entirely, you need to block them instead, which is a separate action.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using Messenger on a phone, tablet, or computer. The phone version is the most common, so we will start there.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting someone from Messenger removes them from your friends list but does not block them or delete your message history.
- On a phone, press and hold the person's name in your chat list, then tap Delete.
- On a computer, right-click the person's name in your chat list and select Delete Chat.
- If you want to prevent someone from messaging you at all, you need to block them separately, which is different from deleting.
- Deleted conversations stay in your archive unless you permanently delete them, and the other person can still see the old messages on their end.
How to delete someone on a phone or tablet
Open the Messenger app and look at your chat list — this is the main screen you see when you open the app. Find the person you want to delete. Press and hold their name or profile picture until a menu appears with several options.
Tap the word Delete. The conversation will disappear from your main chat list when ready. If you change your mind within a few seconds, you may see an Undo option at the bottom of the screen — tap it to restore the chat.
If you do not see a Delete option and instead see options like Mute or Archive, you may be using an older version of the app. Update Messenger from your phone's app store (Google Play for Android, App Store for iPhone), then try again.
How to delete someone on a computer or web browser
Go to messenger.com or open Messenger from Facebook.com. On the left side of the screen, you will see your chat list. Find the person you want to delete and right-click their name or profile picture.
A small menu will appear. Click Delete Chat. The conversation will be removed from your main chat list. Like the phone version, you may see an Undo option appear briefly if you want to restore it.
The difference between deleting and blocking
Deleting removes someone from your chat list and your friends list, but it does not prevent them from contacting you. If they send you a message after you delete them, it will arrive in a folder called Message Requests instead of your main inbox. You will still see their message, but it will be separated from your regular conversations.
Blocking is stronger. When you block someone, they cannot see your profile, cannot message you, and cannot find you in search. To block someone, go to their profile or an old message from them, tap the three dots or menu icon, and select Block. Blocking is permanent until you unblock them, whereas deleting is just removing them from your active chat list.
If someone is harassing you or you want them to have no contact with you at all, block them. If you straightforward want to clean up your chat list or stop seeing their online status, delete them.
What happens to your message history when you delete someone
Deleting a conversation from your chat list does not erase the messages. They are moved to your Archive, which is a separate folder where old conversations live. You can still read those messages if you search for the person's name or scroll through your archive.
The other person can still see all the old messages you sent them on their end. Deleting the conversation only affects what you see — it does not remove the messages from their phone or computer. If you want to erase a specific message you sent, you can delete individual messages by pressing and holding them and selecting Delete, but this only removes them from your view, not theirs.
If you want to permanently remove a conversation from your archive as well, you can search for the person's name, find the archived conversation, and delete it again. Some versions of Messenger will ask you to confirm that you want to permanently delete the chat.
Restoring a deleted conversation
If you delete someone by accident, you can restore the conversation by searching for their name in the search bar at the top of Messenger. Their name will appear in the results, and you can click or tap it to open the conversation again. All the old messages will still be there.
You can also restore a deleted chat by going to your Archive folder (usually accessible from a menu or settings option) and finding the conversation there. Tap or click it to move it back to your main chat list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I deleted them?
No. Deleting someone from your chat list does not send them a notification. They will not know unless they try to message you and notice the conversation is gone from their end, or unless they check your friends list and see you are no longer there.
Can I delete someone without deleting the conversation?
Not directly. When you delete someone from Messenger, the conversation is removed from your main chat list. However, you can archive the conversation instead, which hides it but keeps it in your archive folder. To archive instead of delete, swipe left on the conversation (phone) or right-click and select Archive (computer).
What is the difference between deleting a chat and leaving a group?
Deleting a one-on-one chat removes it from your list but does not affect the other person. Leaving a group chat removes you from the group entirely — you will no longer receive messages, and the group members will see that you have left. These are different actions.
If I delete someone and they message me later, will I see it?
Yes. Their message will appear in your Message Requests folder instead of your main inbox. You can read it and reply if you want, or ignore it. The message will not disappear just because you deleted them.
Can I delete multiple people at once?
On most phones, you can select multiple conversations by pressing and holding one, then tapping others while the first is selected. A Delete button should appear at the bottom. On a computer, you usually have to delete conversations one at a time by right-clicking each one.