Delete a one-on-one chat by hiding it or removing the conversation
Microsoft Teams offers two ways to remove a chat from your view: hide the conversation (so it stays on Teams' servers but disappears from your chat list) or delete it entirely (so the messages are gone for you, though the other person still sees their copy). For most people, hiding is what you actually want — it cleans up your sidebar without losing the record if you need it later.
To hide a one-on-one chat, right-click the conversation name in your chat list on the left side of Teams. Select Hide. The chat vanishes from your list when ready. If you message that person again later, the chat reappears.
To delete the chat entirely so you cannot see the message history, right-click the conversation name and select Delete. Teams will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the messages are removed from your account — but the other person's copy remains on their end. This action cannot be undone, so use it only when you are certain you will not need those messages again.
Key Takeaways
- Hiding a chat removes it from your sidebar but keeps the messages on Teams' servers; the chat reappears if you message that person again.
- Deleting a chat removes all messages from your account permanently, but the other person still sees their copy of the conversation.
- Right-click any chat name in your list to see both hide and delete options.
- Deleting a chat cannot be reversed, so confirm you no longer need the message history before you proceed.
Delete a group chat or channel conversation
Group chats and channel conversations work differently from one-on-one chats. You cannot delete a group chat or channel entirely — only the owner or a team manager can remove the whole channel. However, you can hide group chats from your sidebar the same way you hide one-on-one chats: right-click the group chat name and select Hide.
If you want to leave a group chat entirely (so you stop receiving messages), right-click the group chat name and select Leave. You will no longer be a member, and new messages will not reach you. The chat history remains on the server for other members.
For channels, you cannot delete your own copy of the conversation. Instead, you can mute the channel (so notifications stop) or leave the team entirely. To leave a team, right-click the team name in your sidebar and select Leave the team. You will no longer see any channels or conversations from that team.
Clear your chat history without deleting the conversation
If you want to keep a chat but remove the visible message history from your screen, Teams does not offer a built-in "clear history" button. However, you can achieve a similar result by hiding the chat and then unhiding it later — though this does not actually erase the messages, just your view of them.
A more practical approach is to delete individual messages instead. Hover over any message you sent (not messages from the other person), click the three dots that appear, and select Delete. The message disappears from both your view and the other person's view. You can delete messages one at a time, but there is no bulk delete option for chats.
If you need a permanent record but want to reduce clutter, consider exporting the chat instead. Teams does not have a native export feature, but you can take screenshots or copy and paste important messages into a document for your records before hiding or deleting the chat.
Recover a deleted chat
Once you delete a chat in Teams, it is gone from your account and cannot be recovered through Teams itself. The other person still has their copy, so you can ask them to share the message history if you need it back.
If you deleted a chat by mistake, your best option is to message that person again and ask them to resend important information or screenshots. They can copy and paste messages or take screenshots to share with you. This is why hiding a chat (rather than deleting it) is often the safer choice — you can always unhide it later if you change your mind.
Manage your chat list to stay organized
Beyond deleting or hiding individual chats, Teams offers a few ways to keep your chat list manageable. You can pin important chats to the top of your list by right-clicking a chat name and selecting Pin. Pinned chats stay at the top even if you have not messaged in them recently.
You can also mute a chat so notifications stop appearing without hiding the chat itself. Right-click a chat name and select Mute. The chat stays in your list, but you will not see notification badges or hear sounds when new messages arrive. You can unmute it anytime by right-clicking and selecting Unmute.
If you have many chats, sorting them by pinned, muted, and hidden status helps you focus on the conversations that matter most. Teams does not offer custom folders or labels, but pinning and muting together let you create a rough priority system.
What happens to chat history when you delete your Teams account
If you delete your entire Teams account or are removed from your organization, all your chats are deleted from your account. However, group chats and channels remain on the server for other members — they can still see the conversation history even after you are gone.
For one-on-one chats, the other person keeps their copy of the conversation. Your messages do not disappear from their view just because you left Teams. If you want to remove your messages before leaving, you must delete them individually while you still have access to your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a message I sent to someone else?
Yes. Hover over the message, click the three dots, and select Delete. The message disappears from both your chat and theirs. You can only delete messages you sent, not messages from the other person. Deleted messages cannot be recovered.
If I hide a chat, can the other person tell?
No. Hiding a chat only affects your view — the other person does not know you hid the conversation. If you message them again, the chat unhides on your end and the conversation continues normally.
What is the difference between hiding and deleting a chat?
Hiding removes the chat from your sidebar but keeps the messages on Teams' servers; unhiding it later restores your view. Deleting removes all messages from your account permanently and cannot be undone. The other person always keeps their copy either way.
Can I delete a channel conversation?
No. Only a team owner or manager can delete a channel. You can hide the channel, mute it, or leave the team entirely, but you cannot delete the channel's message history yourself.
How do I recover a chat I deleted by mistake?
Teams does not restore deleted chats. Ask the other person to share the messages or screenshots if you need the information back. This is why hiding (rather than deleting) is often safer — you can unhide a chat anytime.