Can You Unsend a DM on Twitter? What Actually Happens When You Delete DMs

We've all sent a DM that we might regret sending later. Perhaps in the heat of the moment, you sent the writer of your favorite TV show a rage-filled DM about the series finale only to wake up and regret it the next day. Unfortunately, there's no way to unsend a direct message on Twitter now (it was a feature in the past)[1] . You can, however, delete it from your side of the conversation the other person will still see it though). This wikiHow article will teach you how you can delete DMs for yourself using a web browser as well as the mobile app.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using the Mobile App

  1. Image titled Unsend a DM on Twitter Step 1
    1
    Open Twitter. This app icon looks like a white bird on a light blue background. You can find it on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching.
  2. Image titled Unsend a DM on Twitter Step 2
    2
    Tap the envelope icon. It's in the bottom right corner of your screen and will open your DMs.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Unsend a DM on Twitter Step 3
    3
    Tap a conversation from which you want to delete a message. The conversation will open to reveal all the messages you've sent.
  4. Image titled Unsend a DM on Twitter Step 4
    4
    Tap and hold a message you want to delete. You can release your finger from the screen when a menu pops up.
  5. Image titled Unsend a DM on Twitter Step 5
    5
    Tap Delete message for you. You can't delete or unsend the message, so the only thing you can do is delete the message from your account.
    • If you want to delete an entire conversation on Android, go to your DM inbox and long-tap a conversation you want to delete (including all the messages in that conversation). When the menu pops up, select Delete conversation.
    • If you want to delete an entire conversation on an iPhone, go to your DM inbox and swipe left on the conversation, then tap the trashcan icon.[2]
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using a Web Browser

  1. Image titled Unsend a DM on Twitter Step 6
    1
    Go to https://twitter.com/home and log in. You can use any desktop web browser to delete DMs.
  2. Image titled Unsend a DM on Twitter Step 7
    2
    Click Messages. It's in the panel on the left side of the browser page and is next to an icon of an envelope.
  3. Image titled Unsend a DM on Twitter Step 8
    3
    Click the conversation from which you want to delete a DM. You'll see the person (or multiple people if it's a group conversation) to whom you've sent a DM in the center panel while the right-most panel shows the conversation and all the messages that have been sent in that conversation.
  4. Image titled Unsend a DM on Twitter Step 9
    4
    Hover your mouse over a message and click ••• . The three-dot menu icon will appear when you mouse over a message in a conversation.
  5. Image titled Unsend a DM on Twitter Step 10
    5
    Click Delete for you. You can't delete or unsend the message, so the only thing you can do is delete the message from your account.
    6. Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Recover a Suspended Twitter AccountEasy Ways to Unlock or Unsuspend Your Twitter Account
Check if You Are Shadowbanned on Twitter
How to
Check if You Are Shadowbanned on Twitter
Contact TwitterHow to Contact Twitter: Email, Support Tickets, Forms, & More
Search Tweets from a Specific User
How to
Search Tweets from a Specific User
Delete an Old Twitter Account You Cannot AccessHow to Delete an Old Twitter Account You Can't Access (Deactivate Without a Login)
See Twitter CommentsHow to See All Comments on a Tweet
Make a Twitter Account2 Simple Ways to Make a New Twitter Account
Download Videos from Twitter
How to
Download Videos from Twitter
Sign Out of Your Twitter on All Devices at Once
How to
Sign Out of Your Twitter on All Devices at Once
Post a Tweet Longer Than 280 Characters
How to
Post a Tweet Longer Than 280 Characters
Remove Followers on Twitter
How to
Remove Followers on Twitter
Log Out of the Twitter App
How to
Log Out of the Twitter App
Log in to Twitter
How to
Log in to Twitter
Get Out of Twitter Jail
How to
Get Out of Twitter Jail
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/direct-messages#things-to-know
  2. ↑ https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/direct-messages

About This Article

Darlene Antonelli, MA
Written by:
Darlene Antonelli, MA
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed 37,225 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 5
Updated: December 20, 2021
Views: 37,225
Categories: Twitter
Article SummaryX

1. Open Twitter.
2. Tap the envelope icon.
3. Tap a conversation from which you want to delete a message.
4. Tap and hold a message you want to delete.
5. Tap Delete message for you.

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement