How to Permanently Delete Facebook Messages

This wikiHow teaches you how to delete Facebook messages from both the Facebook Messenger app and the Facebook website.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using an iPhone

  1. Image titled Permanently Delete Facebook Messages Step 1
    1
    Open Facebook Messenger. It's a white app with a blue message bubble and white lightning bolt inside.
    • If you aren't signed into Messenger, type in your phone number, tap Continue, and enter your password.
  2. Image titled Permanently Delete Facebook Messages Step 2
    2
    Tap the Home tab. It's the house-shaped icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
    • If Messenger opens to a conversation, tap the Back button in the top-left corner of the screen first.
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  3. Image titled Permanently Delete Facebook Messages Step 3
    3
    Scroll to the conversation you wish to delete. If it's an old conversation, you may have to scroll down several times.
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    4
    Swipe left over the conversation. Doing so will bring up a row of options on the right side of the conversation box.
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    5
    Tap Delete. It's the red button on the far-right side of the screen.
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    6
    Tap Delete Conversation. This option is at the top of the pop-up window that appears after tapping Delete. Doing so will permanently remove the conversation from your message history.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using Android

  1. Image titled Permanently Delete Facebook Messages Step 7
    1
    Open Facebook Messenger. It's a white app with a blue message bubble and white lightning bolt inside.
    • If you aren't signed into Messenger, type in your phone number, tap Continue, and enter your password.
  2. Image titled Permanently Delete Facebook Messages Step 8
    2
    Tap the Home tab. It's the house-shaped icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
    • If Messenger opens to a conversation, tap the Back button in the top-left corner of the screen first.
  3. Image titled Permanently Delete Facebook Messages Step 9
    3
    Scroll to the conversation you wish to delete.
  4. Image titled Permanently Delete Facebook Messages Step 10
    4
    Tap and hold the conversation. After a second or so, a window with the heading "Conversation" will pop up.
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    5
    Tap Delete. It's the option at the top of the "Conversation" window.
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    6
    Tap Delete Conversation when prompted. Doing so will remove the conversation from your Facebook messages history.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using the Desktop Site

  1. Image titled Permanently Delete Facebook Messages Step 13
    1
    Open the Facebook website. If you're logged into Facebook, doing so will open your News Feed.
    • If you aren't logged into Facebook, enter your email address (or phone number) into the top-right corner of the screen and click Log In.
  2. Image titled Permanently Delete Facebook Messages Step 14
    2
    Click the Messenger icon. It looks like a message bubble with a lightning bolt inside, in the row of options located in the top-right side of the Facebook page.
  3. Image titled Permanently Delete Facebook Messages Step 15
    3
    Click View All in Messenger. This link is at the bottom of the Messenger drop-down menu. Clicking it will open the Messenger utility.
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    4
    Scroll to the conversation you wish to delete. Your conversations are stored on the left side of this page.
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    5
    Hover your mouse cursor over the message. You should see a small gear icon appear in the bottom-right corner of the selected message.
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    6
    Click the ⚙️ icon. Doing so will open a drop-down menu with several options.
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    7
    Click Delete. It's near the middle of the drop-down menu.
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    8
    Click Delete when prompted. You should see this option on the pop-up "Delete Conversation" window. Clicking it will permanently remove your selected conversation from your messages history.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Is it possible to delete the message to prevent the recipient from reading it?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No. Once you send a message, you can only delete it from your end. The other person will still be able to open and read your message.
  • Question
    How do I delete unsolicited group messages from people I do not know?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    These can sometimes come from a mutual friend. If it really bothers you, look at these people's accounts to see their friends, and un-friend your mutual friend.
  • Question
    Is it possible to recover a deleted message?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You cannot recover a deleted message once you have confirmed you want it to be deleted. If the recipient has not yet deleted the conversation on their computer, they are able to read the message and copy/paste it to you manually.
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Warnings

  • Make sure you absolutely want to delete a Facebook message before doing so--you won't be able to retrieve it once it's gone.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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About This Article

Jack Lloyd
Co-authored by:
Jack Lloyd
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 769,943 times.
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Co-authors: 16
Updated: August 17, 2022
Views: 769,943
Categories: Facebook Basics
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