You can delete your own messages, but Reddit keeps copies
When you delete a message on Reddit, it disappears from your inbox and from the conversation thread. The other person can no longer see it. However, Reddit's servers retain a copy of the deleted message — you are removing it from view, not erasing it from the platform's records entirely.
Deleted messages show as "[deleted]" to anyone who had already seen them before you removed them. If someone took a screenshot or quoted your message before deletion, that copy remains with them. Deletion is effective for privacy from casual viewers, but not for preventing Reddit or law enforcement from accessing the original text if they have legal authority to do so.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a message removes it from the recipient's view when ready, but Reddit retains the original text on its servers.
- On desktop, open the message, click the three-dot menu, and select Delete; on mobile, swipe left on the message and tap the trash icon.
- Deleted messages appear as "[deleted]" to people who saw them before removal, and screenshots or quotes made before deletion remain visible elsewhere.
- You cannot delete messages sent to you by others, only messages you sent yourself.
- Deleting a message does not remove your username from the conversation history.
How to delete a message on desktop
Open Reddit in a web browser and go to your inbox. Click the message you want to delete to open the full conversation. Look for the three-dot menu icon (⋯) in the top right corner of your message. Click it and select Delete from the dropdown menu. The message will disappear when ready.
If you cannot find the three-dot menu, make sure you are looking at a message you sent, not one you received. You can only delete your own messages. The menu appears only on messages authored by you.
How to delete a message on mobile
Open the Reddit app and tap your inbox at the bottom of the screen. Find the message you want to delete and swipe left across it. A trash icon will appear on the right side. Tap the trash icon to delete the message.
On some versions of the Reddit app, you may need to long-press the message instead to bring up a menu with a delete option. If swiping does not work, try holding your finger on the message for two seconds.
What happens to deleted messages in group chats
Reddit's direct messaging system does not support true group chats the way some other platforms do. Messages are sent to individual users or to modmail (a shared inbox for subreddit moderators). If you delete a message sent to modmail, it disappears from the modmail thread for all moderators who have access to that inbox.
If you delete a message from a one-on-one conversation, only that recipient sees the deletion. Other people in your Reddit account's message history will not be affected.
Recovering a message you deleted by mistake
Once you delete a message on Reddit, you cannot recover it through the app or website. The message is gone from your view and the recipient's view permanently. Reddit does not provide an undo function or a trash folder where deleted messages sit temporarily.
If you need to resend the information, you will have to type it again and send a new message. If you deleted something important, consider whether the recipient might still have a screenshot or remember the content well enough to reconstruct it.
Why you might want to delete messages
People delete messages for different reasons: removing a typo or unclear wording, taking back something said in anger, cleaning up old conversations, or removing personal information like a phone number or address that was shared by mistake. Deletion is a way to manage what is visible in your conversation history without affecting the other person's ability to respond to what was already said.
Keep in mind that deletion does not erase the message from the other person's memory or from any records they may have made. If you share sensitive information on Reddit, assume it could be copied or screenshotted before you delete it.
The difference between deleting and blocking
Deleting a message removes a single piece of text from a conversation. Blocking a user prevents them from sending you new messages and removes your profile from their view. Blocking is a stronger action that affects the entire relationship, not just one message.
If someone is harassing you, blocking is more effective than deleting individual messages, because it stops future messages from arriving. If you straightforward want to clean up a conversation or remove something you said, deletion is the right tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete messages that someone else sent to me?
No. You can only delete messages you wrote yourself. If you want to remove a message from your view, you can archive it or mute the conversation, but the message remains in the thread. If the message is abusive or violates Reddit's rules, you can report it instead.
Does deleting a message notify the other person?
Reddit does not send a notification when you delete a message. The other person will see "[deleted]" in place of your message if they look at the conversation, but they will not receive an alert that you removed it.
Can moderators see deleted messages?
Moderators cannot see messages deleted from direct conversations. However, Reddit administrators can access deleted content if they have a legal reason to do so. Deleted modmail messages are also gone from the moderator inbox.
What if I delete a message and then the other person replies to it?
Their reply will remain in the conversation even after you delete your original message. The conversation thread will show "[deleted]" where your message was, followed by their response. This can make the thread confusing to read.
Can I delete all my messages at once?
Reddit does not have a bulk delete feature for messages. You must delete each message individually. If you want to remove your entire message history, you would need to go through your inbox and delete messages one by one, or delete your Reddit account entirely, which removes your profile and associated content.