You can delete someone from Messenger in two ways, depending on whether you want to remove them from your contact list or block them entirely
Deleting a person from Messenger means removing them from your contacts so their name no longer appears in your chat list or contact suggestions. This is different from blocking, which prevents someone from messaging you at all. Most people delete a contact when they no longer want to see that person's name in their app, but the person can still message them if they have their phone number or find them another way. If you want to stop someone from contacting you entirely, blocking is the stronger option.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Messenger on your phone or computer, but both routes take less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting someone from Messenger removes them from your contact list but does not prevent them from messaging you if they have your number.
- On iPhone or Android, press and hold the person's name in your chat list, then tap "Delete" from the menu that appears.
- On a computer, right-click the person's name in your chat list and select "Delete Chat" to remove the conversation and contact.
- Blocking is stronger than deleting — it stops someone from messaging you, calling you, or seeing when you are online, but they will know they are blocked.
- Deleting a chat does not delete the messages — you can still search for old conversations with that person in your message history.
How to delete someone on iPhone or Android
Open Messenger and look at your chat list. Find the person you want to delete and press and hold their name or profile picture until a menu appears. The menu will show several options, including "Delete." Tap "Delete" and the chat will disappear from your list when ready.
If you want to delete multiple people at once, some versions of Messenger let you swipe left on a name (iPhone) or swipe right (Android) to reveal a delete button. Check whether your app version supports this by trying a light swipe on one name. If nothing happens, use the press-and-hold method instead.
After you delete someone, their name will no longer appear in your main chat list. However, if they message you again, a new chat will open and you will see their message. You can delete that chat too, but it will not stop them from sending future messages.
How to delete someone on a computer or web browser
Go to Messenger.com or open Messenger through Facebook.com. In the chat list on the left side, find the person you want to delete. Right-click their name and a small menu will appear with options including "Delete Chat." Click "Delete Chat" and the conversation will be removed from your list.
On some versions of the web app, you may see a trash icon or an X button appear when you hover over a name. Clicking that will also delete the chat. The exact button location varies depending on your browser and when Messenger last updated, but the right-click method works on all versions.
The difference between deleting and blocking
Deleting removes someone from your chat list and contact suggestions, but they can still find you and message you. Blocking is much stronger — it prevents someone from messaging you, calling you, seeing your profile picture, or knowing when you are online. When you block someone, they will see a message saying they cannot message you, so they will know the block is in place.
Use delete when you straightforward want to clean up your chat list or stop seeing someone's name in your contacts. Use block when you want to prevent someone from contacting you at all. You can also mute someone instead, which silences their notifications but keeps the chat visible if you want to check it later.
What happens to your message history when you delete someone
Deleting a chat from your list does not erase the messages. If you search for that person's name in Messenger's search bar, old conversations will still appear. You can read through the entire history of messages with that person even after you have deleted them from your contacts.
If you want to permanently erase a conversation, you need to delete individual messages or clear your entire chat history through Messenger's settings. This is a separate step from deleting someone from your contact list. Most people delete a contact without deleting the messages, so they can refer back to old information if needed.
How to block someone instead of just deleting them
If deleting is not strong enough and you want to stop someone from contacting you, blocking is the next step. On your phone, press and hold the person's name and look for a "Block" option in the menu. On a computer, right-click their name and select "Block." After you block someone, they cannot message you, call you, or see your active status.
Blocked people will see an error message when they try to message you, so they will know something is wrong. If you change your mind later, you can unblock them through Messenger's settings under "People" or "Blocked." Unblocking restores their ability to message you, but it does not automatically re-add them to your contact list.
Recovering a deleted chat if you change your mind
If you delete someone by accident, you cannot restore the chat directly from a delete button. However, the person can message you again, which will create a new chat in your list. You can also search for their name in Messenger's search bar to find old messages, and that search result will let you open the conversation again.
If you deleted the chat but want to see the messages without waiting for them to contact you, search their name in the search box at the top of Messenger. Old conversations will appear in the results. Clicking on a result will open the chat again and restore it to your list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know if I delete them from Messenger?
No. Deleting someone from your contact list does not send them a notification. They will not know unless they try to message you and notice the chat does not appear on your end. Blocking, however, is visible — they will see an error message when they try to contact you.
Can I delete someone but still see their messages?
Yes. After you delete someone, if they message you, their message will appear in a new chat. You can read it and respond. Deleting only removes them from your contact list; it does not block incoming messages.
What is the difference between deleting a chat and deleting a contact?
Deleting a chat removes the conversation from your list. Deleting a contact (in your phone's contacts app, not Messenger) removes their phone number from your device. These are separate actions. Deleting someone from Messenger does not affect your phone contacts.
If I delete someone and they message me later, will I see it?
Yes. A new chat will open with their message. You can read, respond to, or delete that chat too. Deleting is not permanent — it only clears them from your current list.
Can I delete multiple people at once?
Most versions of Messenger do not have a bulk delete feature. You will need to delete each person individually by pressing and holding their name (phone) or right-clicking (computer). If you have many chats to clear, this takes a few minutes but is straightforward.