Delete a single chat message or entire conversation

You can delete individual messages you sent in Teams, or remove an entire one-on-one or group chat from your view. Deleting a message removes it from your chat history but not from the recipient's — they will still see it unless they delete it themselves. Deleting a whole conversation removes it from your sidebar and chat list, but the other people in that chat can still see it and message you there.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are on desktop, web, or mobile, and whether you want to remove one message or the whole conversation. Teams also keeps deleted messages in your organization's compliance records for a set time, so deletion is not the same as permanent destruction from company servers.

Key Takeaways

  • You can delete individual messages you sent, but the recipient will still see them unless they delete them too.
  • Deleting an entire chat removes it from your sidebar but does not erase it from the other person's Teams account.
  • On desktop, right-click a message to delete it; on mobile, swipe or long-press the message to see the delete option.
  • Deleted messages remain in your organization's compliance records for a retention period set by your IT administrator.
  • You cannot delete messages sent by other people, only your own messages.

Delete a single message on desktop or web

Open Teams and find the chat containing the message you want to remove. Hover your mouse over the message until a row of small icons appears above or to the right of it. Click the three dots (more options) icon, then select Delete. The message will disappear from your chat window when ready.

If you do not see the delete option, the message may be too old — Teams limits how long after sending you can delete a message, usually 24 hours, though your organization may have set a different window. You can also delete messages in pinned chats, group chats, and channels the same way: hover, click the three dots, and select delete.

Delete a single message on mobile

In the Teams mobile app (iOS or Android), open the chat and find the message you sent. Press and hold the message until a menu appears with options. Tap Delete. On some versions of the app, you may see a swipe gesture option instead — swipe left on the message to reveal the delete button.

The message will be removed from your view after you confirm. As on desktop, you can only delete messages you sent, and only within the time window your organization allows.

Delete an entire conversation from your chat list

To remove a whole chat from your sidebar without deleting individual messages, right-click the chat name on desktop (or long-press on mobile) and select Delete chat. The conversation will disappear from your list. The other participants will still see the chat in their own Teams account and can continue messaging you there — your next message will create a new chat window on your end.

Deleting a chat this way is useful for cleaning up your sidebar or removing conversations you no longer need to see. It does not affect the other person's ability to message you, and it does not delete any messages from the organization's records.

What happens to deleted messages in your organization

When you delete a message, it disappears from your chat window and the recipient's chat window (if they have not already deleted it). However, your organization's IT administrator can still see deleted messages in compliance and audit logs for a set period. This retention time varies — it may be 30 days, 90 days, or longer depending on your company's policies and industry requirements.

If your organization uses eDiscovery or compliance tools, deleted messages may be recovered during a legal hold or investigation. This is not something you control; it is set by your IT department. If you need to know your organization's exact retention policy for deleted messages, contact your IT support team.

Difference between deleting and editing a message

Editing a message changes its text but keeps it visible in the chat with an (edited) label. Deleting a message removes it entirely from view. If you want to correct a typo or add information, editing is often better because the conversation stays readable. If you want to remove the message completely, delete it.

You can edit a message by hovering over it, clicking the three dots, and selecting Edit. You have the same time window to edit as you do to delete — usually 24 hours from when you sent it, though this varies by organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete messages other people sent?

No. You can only delete messages you sent yourself. If someone sends you a message you want removed, you can ask them to delete it, or you can delete the entire chat from your view. Team owners and administrators may have different permissions depending on your organization's settings.

If I delete a chat, can I get it back?

Deleting a chat from your sidebar does not erase the messages — they remain on the other person's Teams account. If you want to see the conversation again, the other person can message you, which will recreate the chat on your end. You can also search for old messages using Teams search if you remember keywords.

Does deleting a message delete it from Teams backups?

No. Deleted messages remain in your organization's backup and compliance systems for the retention period set by your IT administrator. If you need to know whether a specific message is still recoverable, contact your IT support team about your organization's data retention policy.

Why can't I delete a message I sent hours ago?

Your organization has set a time limit on how long after sending you can delete a message — this is usually 24 hours but may be different. Once that window closes, the delete option will no longer appear. If you need to remove an older message, contact your IT administrator to see if they can help.