Deleting a contact from Messenger removes them from your chat list, but does not erase your message history or notify them
When you delete someone from Messenger, you are removing them from your active contacts — the list of people you message regularly. The conversation itself stays in your account unless you separately delete the chat thread. The other person is not notified that you deleted them, and they can still message you afterward (though you will not see it until you accept the conversation again).
The process differs slightly depending on whether you use Messenger on your phone or computer, but both take less than a minute. You do not need to unfriend the person on Facebook first, though many people do both at the same time.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting someone from Messenger removes them from your chat list but keeps the message history unless you separately delete the conversation.
- The person you delete is not notified and can still send you messages, which will appear in a separate requests folder.
- On mobile, long-press the conversation and tap "Delete" — on desktop, right-click the chat and select the delete option.
- If you want to block someone instead of just deleting them, they cannot message you at all, and you will not see their messages even in requests.
- Deleting someone from Messenger does not remove them from your Facebook friends list unless you unfriend them separately.
How to delete someone on Messenger mobile app
Open the Messenger app and find the conversation with the person you want to delete. Press and hold on their chat thread until a menu appears with several options.
Tap "Delete" from the menu. The conversation disappears from your chat list when ready. If the person messages you again, their new message will land in a "Message Requests" folder instead of your main inbox, and you can choose whether to accept it or ignore it.
How to delete someone on Messenger desktop
Go to Messenger.com or open Messenger through Facebook. Find the conversation you want to remove from your list. Right-click on the chat thread (or hover over it and click the three dots that appear on the right side).
Select "Delete" from the menu. The conversation is removed from your main chat list. Like the mobile version, if they message you later, it will appear in your message requests rather than your primary inbox.
The difference between deleting and blocking
Deleting a conversation removes it from your active list, but the person can still send you messages — they just land in requests instead of your inbox. Blocking is more restrictive: a blocked person cannot message you at all, and you will not see any messages from them, even in requests.
To block someone on Messenger, open their conversation, tap the person's name at the top, scroll down, and select "Block." You can also block from the menu that appears when you long-press a conversation on mobile, or right-click on desktop. If you block someone, they cannot see that you are online, and they cannot call you through Messenger.
What happens to your message history
Deleting someone from Messenger does not delete your past messages with them. The conversation stays in your account history. If you want to erase the messages themselves, you need to delete the chat thread separately.
To delete the entire conversation (not just remove the person from your list), long-press the chat on mobile and select "Delete Chat," or right-click on desktop and choose "Delete Chat." This removes all messages between you and that person from your account. The other person's copy of the conversation remains on their end.
Recovering a deleted conversation
Once you delete a conversation from your chat list, you cannot undo it directly. However, if the person messages you again, the conversation will reappear in your message requests, and you can accept it to restore the chat to your main inbox.
If you deleted the entire chat thread (not just removed the person), the message history is gone from your account. Messenger does not have a trash or recovery folder for deleted conversations. If you think you might need those messages later, take screenshots or copy important information before deleting.
Deleting someone does not affect your Facebook friendship
Removing someone from Messenger is separate from unfriending them on Facebook. You can delete their Messenger conversation without changing your Facebook relationship. They will still appear in your Facebook friends list, and you will still see their posts in your feed.
If you want to remove them from both Messenger and Facebook, you need to unfriend them on Facebook separately. Go to their Facebook profile, click the "Friends" button, and select "Unfriend." This removes them from your friends list and also removes your Messenger conversation with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I deleted them from Messenger?
No. Deleting someone from Messenger 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 you tell them directly.
Can I delete someone without deleting our entire conversation?
Yes. When you delete someone from Messenger, the conversation is removed from your chat list, but the message history stays in your account. You can view it later by searching for the person's name. If you want to erase the messages too, you must delete the chat thread separately.
What happens if I delete someone and they message me?
Their message will appear in your "Message Requests" folder instead of your main inbox. You can choose to accept the request and restore the conversation to your chat list, or ignore it. Accepting does not notify them — the conversation straightforward reappears for you.
Is deleting someone the same as blocking them?
No. Deleting removes them from your chat list, but they can still message you (in requests). Blocking prevents them from messaging you at all. If you want to stop contact completely, use the block option instead.
Can I delete someone from Messenger without unfriending them on Facebook?
Yes. Deleting from Messenger and unfriending on Facebook are separate actions. You can remove their conversation from Messenger while keeping them as a Facebook friend. If you want to remove them from both, unfriend them on Facebook.