You can delete Facebook messages one at a time, or clear entire conversations at once

Facebook gives you two ways to remove messages: delete individual messages from a conversation, or delete the whole conversation so it no longer appears in your chat list. When you delete a message, only you see it gone — the other person still has it on their end unless they delete it themselves. If you delete an entire conversation, the chat thread disappears from your inbox, but again, the other person's copy remains.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using Facebook on a computer, the Facebook app on your phone, or the separate Messenger app. All three routes work the same way in terms of what gets deleted and what stays — the difference is just where you click.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a message removes it from your view only; the person you messaged still sees it unless they delete it themselves.
  • On a computer, right-click a message to delete it, or click the three-dot menu next to a conversation to delete the whole chat.
  • On the Messenger app, press and hold a message to delete it, or swipe left on a conversation to delete it.
  • Deleted messages cannot be recovered, so make sure you want them gone before you confirm the deletion.
  • Facebook does not notify the other person that you deleted a message or conversation.

Deleting a single message on a computer

Open Facebook in your web browser and go to your messages by clicking the Messenger icon (the speech bubble) in the top right corner. Find the conversation that contains the message you want to delete, and click on it to open the chat.

Hover your mouse over the message you want to remove. A row of small icons will appear to the right of the message — one of them looks like three dots stacked vertically. Click that three-dot menu, then select "Remove" from the dropdown. The message disappears when ready from your chat.

Deleting a single message on the Messenger app

Open the Messenger app on your phone and find the conversation with the message you want to delete. Press and hold your finger on the message for about two seconds until a menu appears with options.

Tap "Remove" or "Delete" (the exact wording depends on your phone's operating system). The message is deleted from your view. If you change your mind within a few seconds, some versions of Messenger show an "Undo" option at the bottom of the screen — tap it quickly to bring the message back.

Deleting an entire conversation on a computer

Open Facebook Messenger and find the conversation you want to remove. Hover over the conversation name in your chat list on the left side. A three-dot menu icon will appear on the right side of that conversation.

Click the three-dot menu and select "Delete chat" or "Delete conversation" from the options. A confirmation box will ask if you are sure. Click "Delete" to confirm. The entire conversation disappears from your inbox.

Deleting an entire conversation on the Messenger app

Open Messenger and look at your list of conversations. Find the one you want to delete. On an iPhone, swipe left on the conversation name. On an Android phone, press and hold the conversation name until a menu appears.

Tap "Delete" from the menu that appears. The conversation is removed from your chat list. If you want to delete multiple conversations at once, you can usually swipe or hold on each one in sequence, then tap a "Delete All" or "Delete Selected" button that appears at the bottom of the screen.

What happens to messages after you delete them

When you delete a message or conversation, it is gone from your account permanently. Facebook does not keep a recoverable copy for you to restore later. The other person in the conversation still has their copy of the messages unless they delete them too.

If you are trying to hide something from someone who has access to your phone or computer, deleting messages from your end does not remove them from theirs. They can still see the conversation and take screenshots. Deletion is useful for cleaning up your own inbox, not for erasing evidence from someone else's device.

Why you might want to delete messages

People delete messages for different reasons. You might want to clear out old conversations to reduce clutter in your inbox, or remove messages that contain personal information you no longer want stored in your account. Some people delete messages after resolving a conflict, or clear their chat history for privacy reasons when sharing their device.

Keep in mind that deleting messages does not affect Facebook's own records. Facebook stores copies of messages on its servers for its own purposes, including to comply with legal requests. Deleting a message from your Messenger app only removes it from your personal view — it does not delete Facebook's internal copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a message I sent to someone if they have not read it yet?

Yes, you can delete any message you sent at any time, whether the other person has read it or not. There is no time limit. Deleting it removes it from your view, but they still see it unless they delete it themselves.

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

No. Once you delete a conversation, it is permanently removed from your inbox. If you want to message that person again, you can start a new conversation, but the old chat history will not reappear.

Does the other person get notified when I delete a message?

No. Facebook does not send a notification to the other person when you delete a message or conversation. They will not see any indication that you removed something, though they will still have their own copy of the message.

What is the difference between deleting a message and unsending it?

Facebook Messenger has an "Unsend" feature that removes a message from both your view and the other person's view — they see a note saying the message was unsent. The "Delete" or "Remove" option only removes it from your side. Unsend is more thorough if you want the message gone from both accounts.

Can I delete all my messages at once?

You can delete multiple conversations at once by selecting them and using a bulk delete option, but you cannot delete every message in your entire account with a single action. You have to delete conversations one by one or in small batches.