Where to find and delete messages depends on what app you're using

The steps to delete a message are different on every platform — text messages on iPhone work differently than on Android, and deleting a message in Gmail is not the same as deleting one in Facebook Messenger. The first thing you need to know is which app holds the messages you want to remove. Once you know that, the deletion itself usually takes two or three taps or clicks.

Most messaging apps let you delete individual messages, entire conversations, or both. Some apps delete permanently right away. Others move messages to a trash folder first, where they stay for 30 days before disappearing for good. A few apps do not let you delete messages at all once they have been sent — you can only delete them on your own device, not from the other person's phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Text messages on iPhone are deleted by swiping left on the conversation and tapping Delete, while Android users usually long-press the conversation and select Delete.
  • Gmail messages can be deleted by selecting the message and clicking the trash icon, and they stay in your Trash folder for 30 days before permanent removal.
  • Facebook Messenger lets you delete individual messages by long-pressing them and selecting Remove, but the other person will see a notification that you removed it.
  • WhatsApp messages can be deleted individually or in bulk, and you can choose whether to delete just from your phone or from both devices.
  • Deleting a message from your device does not remove it from the other person's phone unless the app has a "unsend" feature with a time limit.

Deleting text messages on iPhone

On an iPhone, open the Messages app and find the conversation you want to delete from. Swipe your finger from right to left across the conversation name. A red Delete button will appear on the right side. Tap it once to remove the entire conversation and all messages in it.

If you want to delete only one message within a conversation instead of the whole thread, open the conversation, then press and hold (long-press) the specific message. A menu will pop up with options. Tap More, then select the other messages you want to remove if there are several, and tap Delete in the bottom right corner.

Deleting text messages on Android

On Android, the steps vary slightly depending on which phone brand you have and which messaging app is set as your default. In the default Messages app on most Android phones, open the app and long-press the conversation you want to delete. A checkbox will appear next to it. Tap the trash icon (usually at the top of the screen) to delete the entire conversation.

To delete a single message within a conversation on Android, open the conversation, long-press the message, and tap Delete or the trash icon. Some Android phones show a Delete option in a menu that slides up from the bottom. If you use a third-party messaging app like Google Messages or Samsung Messages, the process is similar but the icons and menu locations may differ slightly.

Deleting email messages in Gmail

In Gmail on a computer, click the checkbox next to the message you want to delete. The trash icon will appear at the top of your inbox. Click it to move the message to your Trash folder. Messages in Trash stay there for 30 days, then Gmail deletes them permanently. If you change your mind within those 30 days, you can open Trash, find the message, and move it back to your inbox.

On a phone or tablet, open the Gmail app, find the message, and swipe left (on iPhone) or long-press it (on Android). A trash icon will appear. Tap it to delete the message. The same 30-day recovery window applies — the message goes to Trash first, not straight to permanent deletion.

Deleting messages in Facebook Messenger

In Facebook Messenger on a phone, long-press the message you want to delete. A menu will appear with several options. Tap Remove or Delete (the wording depends on your phone and app version). The message will disappear from your conversation thread, but the other person will see a notification that says "You removed a message." They will not be able to see what the message said, but they will know you deleted something.

On a computer, hover your mouse over the message and a three-dot menu icon will appear. Click it and select Remove. The same rule applies — the other person sees that you removed a message, even though they cannot read it. Messenger does not have an "unsend" feature with a time limit the way some other apps do, so the other person will always know you deleted something.

Deleting messages in WhatsApp

In WhatsApp, long-press a message to select it. A trash icon will appear at the top of the screen. Tap it to delete the message from your phone only. The other person will still have the message on their device. If you want to delete the message from both your phone and the other person's phone, you need to use the "Delete for Everyone" option, but this only works if you delete the message within about an hour of sending it.

To delete an entire conversation in WhatsApp, long-press the conversation name in your chat list and tap Delete. This removes the whole thread from your phone. To delete multiple messages at once, long-press the first message, then tap other messages to select them, and tap the trash icon. WhatsApp will delete all selected messages from your device.

What happens when you delete a message

When you delete a message from your phone or computer, it disappears from your device. The other person still has the message on their phone unless the app has a feature that lets you unsend it within a time limit. WhatsApp's "Delete for Everyone" and Messenger's removal feature are exceptions — they notify the other person that you deleted something, but they prevent them from reading it.

If a message was forwarded to multiple people, deleting it from your phone does not delete it from anyone else's phone. Each person has their own copy. Some apps like Gmail keep deleted messages in a Trash folder for 30 days before removing them permanently, so you can recover them if you change your mind quickly. Other apps delete messages right away with no recovery option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a message after the other person has read it?

Yes, you can delete a message from your own device at any time. However, the other person will still have it on their phone unless the app has an unsend feature with a time limit. WhatsApp's "Delete for Everyone" works up to about an hour after you send the message. Most other apps do not have this feature.

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

It depends on the app. Gmail keeps deleted messages in Trash for 30 days, so you can recover them during that window. Most text messaging apps and Messenger delete conversations permanently right away with no recovery option. If you need to keep messages, take a screenshot before deleting.

Does deleting a message on my phone delete it from the other person's phone?

No, not unless the app has an unsend feature. Deleting a message from your device only removes it from your phone. The other person keeps their copy. WhatsApp's "Delete for Everyone" and Messenger's removal are the main exceptions, and they only work within a certain time window.

What is the difference between deleting and archiving a conversation?

Deleting removes the conversation from your chat list entirely. Archiving hides it but keeps it stored. In Gmail and some messaging apps, archived conversations stay in your account but do not show up in your main inbox. You can search for them or unarchive them later. Deleted conversations are gone (though some apps keep them in Trash for a while).

Why does the other person see a notification when I delete a message in Messenger?

Facebook Messenger is designed to show the other person that you removed a message so they know something was deleted, even if they cannot see what it was. This is a feature choice by Facebook. Other apps like WhatsApp work the same way with "Delete for Everyone." Some apps do not notify the other person at all.