How to remove facebook messenger chat history


How to Delete All Your Facebook Messages in 2 Easy Ways

  • You can't delete all your Facebook messages at once, but you can delete them one chat at a time.
  • To delete a chat on Facebook, go to the chat settings and click Delete chat.
  • To delete a chat on Messenger, swipe to the left, tap More and Delete.

Facebook Messenger is one of the most popular messaging apps in use today, in large part because it's available on nearly every platform.

But Facebook has never made it especially easy to manage your messages. For example, it took years for Facebook to give users the ability to delete an accidentally sent message from both the sender and receiver's app — and even then you only have 10 minutes to do so.

But what if you want to delete all your messages from Facebook Messenger? Here's what you need to know.

To delete all your Facebook messages, you need to delete them one chat at a time. If you've been a Facebook user for a long time and have a lot of chats, this can take a while.

Note: When you delete messages, you're only deleting them from your own Facebook account. The messages will still be available to whoever you were having a chat with.

Here's how to delete your chats on Facebook, via either an internet browser or the Messenger mobile app.

In a web browser:

1. Log into Facebook and click on the Messenger icon in the top right part of the top menu.

Click on the Messenger icon. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

2. Click the chat that you want to delete.

Quick tip: To quickly find a chat, type the name of the person you were conversing with in the search box, and then click their name when it shows up in the search results.

3. At the top of the chat window, click the arrow to the right of the person's name to open the chat settings. 

4. In the menu that pops up to the left, click Delete conversation.

Click "Delete chat." Stefan Ionescu/Insider

5. In the pop-up window, confirm you want to do this by clicking Delete Chat.

6. Repeat this for every chat you want to remove.

In the mobile Messenger app:

1. Open the Messenger app on your phone. 

2. Scroll to find the chat you want to delete.

3. Swipe the chat to the left, and then tap on More.

Tap on "More" after swiping the chat to the left. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

4. In the menu that pops up, tap Delete

5. In the pop-up menu, tap Delete to confirm your decision.

6. Repeat this for every chat you want to remove.

Jennifer Still

Jennifer is a writer and editor from Brooklyn, New York, who spends her time traveling, drinking iced coffee, and watching way too much TV. She has bylines in Vanity Fair, Glamour, Decider, Mic, and many more. You can find her on Twitter at @jenniferlstill.

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How To Delete All Messages and Conversations in Facebook Messenger

Deleting Facebook messages doesn’t have to be incredibly difficult. Whether you’re deleting one thread or an entire history, there are options for you to do both with minimal effort.

S0me users may find it easier to delete their entire Facebook account. We have an article for that too!

How can you start cleaning up your inbox? – By following the steps in this article.

Archive Facebook Messages

Before deleting all of your messages, you may want to archive them instead of doing a full and permanent delete. By doing this you can hide the messages that you want to keep. Be mindful that following the steps below will remove those messages as well.

Start the process in Facebook Messenger:

  1. Hover over the conversation you’d like to remove.
  2. Three Menu dots will appear; click on those
  3. Click “Hide”

Following this step will remove your unwanted message without permanently deleting them. By visiting the Settings in Facebook Messenger you can click “Hidden Chats” to recover archived messages.

Android

Deleting messages on an Android phone or tablet:

  1. Open Facebook Messenger
  2. Locate a message to delete
  3. Touch and hold on the message to open the context menu
  4. Tap delete

 

iPhone

Deleting messages on an iPhone or iPad:

  1. Open the Facebook Messenger app
  2. Tap and hold on the conversation that you no longer want then swipe to the left.
  3. When the menu appears, select Delete
  4. Confirm the selection by tapping Delete Conversation

Smartphone versions of the Facebook Messenger App allow you to delete only one message thread at a time. If you are looking to delete more it may best to use a browser.

 Browser

  1. Log into your Facebook account
  2. Click See all in Messenger
  3. Click on the options wheel next to a conversation
  4. Click Delete if you want to erase all the messages

But what can you do about multiple messages and multiple conversations? – For this, you have to install a third-party browser extension.

Extensions for Web Browser

Extensions become a part of your web browser and allow you to perform various functions on a website. To delete multiple or all of your Facebook message history, you will need to add an extension to your web browser. Whether it’s Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer you can begin by using Google to pull up the Web Store.

For example: Using Chrome, Google “Facebook Messenger mass delete extension” or something of that nature. You will see one of the top options is chrome.google.com. This is the web store for that browser.

Once you’ve clicked “Install” you will be prompted through various pop-ups until that extension is added. You will see the icon in the upper right-hand corner of your browser.

Fast Delete Facebook™ Messages

Log into your Facebook account on your browser after installing the extension. Click on the Extension icon on the extension bar. It should have a Facebook Messenger logo and a red X on top.

After that, it’s as easy as following the on-screen instructions.

  1. Click the “Open Your Messages” button when it appears.
  2. Click the new button
  3. Begin Deletion, once it appears.
  4. Select OK to confirm your action

This should automatically take care of all the messages in your inbox. If it doesn’t, it helps if you refresh the page and repeat the process. If you have too many conversations, it may not remove them all at one time so repeat the process.

Once you have deleted your Facebook Message history from a web browser you will NOT be able to retrieve those unless you have them backed up somewhere else. Android for example allows users to backup Facebook messages to the ES File Explorer.

Message Cleaner

This extension works best if you first scroll down to the very bottom of the message list. Once you load the extension, it will recognize all the messages as being selected for removal. You can also then pick individual messages that you may want to save.

Both extensions allow you to select multiple messages from different conversations and delete them all at once. However, you still have to select the ones that you want to delete. There isn’t a button or feature that creates an automated selection of all messages.

These extensions will permanently delete all of your Facebook messages if you’ve not backed them up. Assuming you selected “all” before clicking “confirm,” the only way to get those messages back is to ask the person who you sent them to for help or using data recovery methods to retrieve backed up information.

Deleted Messages Recovery

You can only recover messages that were saved in a backup file. For iPhone users a recovery from iCloud may bring those messages back. For Android users they may be saved in your system’s ES File Explorer.

When you’re using Facebook Messenger on an Android smartphone or tablet, all the conversations may be saved on your device. Just because you’re ‘deleting them’ in the messenger doesn’t mean they’re gone.

Here are some things to try:

If you use ES File Explorer, or any explorer that works for you, you can still access that information.

  1. Open ES File Explorer
  2. Go to Storage or SD card folder
  3. Select and open the Android folder  
  4. Open data folder
  5. Scroll through the folders until you locate ‘com.facebook.orca’ (This belongs to the Facebook Messenger app)
  6. Open the folder
  7. Open the fb_temp folder

This is a cache folder that contains backup files for conversations in Facebook Messenger.

Keep in mind that this method may not always work. You can only recover deleted conversations if you had backed up your phone before you erased anything.

As an alternative, you can connect your device to your computer and browse the folders this way.

If you’re on an iOS device then you may have to use a third-party software to recover old messages. There are many data recovery apps available, it is recommended to pick the one that has better reviews. Dr.Fone, for example, is one of the most popular applications for data recovery.

Two ways to delete Facebook messages on iPhone / Android

Is your Facebook inbox full of messages you don't need? Or you may have private messages that you want to delete directly. This article will focus on how to delete Facebook messages .

  • Part 1: How to Delete Facebook Posts from Homepage
    • Delete message
    • To delete the entire conversation
  • Part 2. How to Delete Facebook Messages from Facebook Messenger on iOS and Android nine0006
  • Delete one or more Facebook Messenger messages
  • How to delete Facebook Messenger conversations
  • Part 3. Delete All Facebook Messages and Conversations on iPhone
  • Part 4: How to delete sent Facebook messages
  • Part 1: How to delete Facebook messages from your home page

    From your Facebook home page, you can delete part of a message, all messages, or an entire conversation at a time according to your needs. nine0005

    Delete message

    Step 1 Click Messages in the left column of the home page.

    Step 2 Open the conversation in which you want to delete the message or messages.

    Step 3 Select Delete messages from the action menu.

    Step 4 Check the boxes to select the messages you want to delete.

    Step 5 Click the Delete button.

    To delete the entire conversation

    Step 1 Click "Messages" in the left column of Facebook.

    Step 2 Find and open the conversation you want to delete.

    Step 3 From the Actions menu, select Delete Conversation.

    Step 4 Confirm the deletion of the selected conversation.

    Part 2: How to Delete Facebook Messages from Messenger on iOS and Android

    Delete One or More Facebook Messenger Messages

    Step 1 Launch the Facebook Messenger app on your iPhone or Android phone. Scroll down the screen or use the search function to quickly find the message you want to delete. nine0005

    Step 2 Press the target message until a new screen appears. This screen has various options such as Copy Text, Forward, Delete, and Details.

    Step 3 Select "Delete" and the selected message will be removed from the Facebook Messenger conversation.

    Step 4 Repeat the same steps if you want to delete other messages.

    How to delete Facebook Messenger conversations

    This section provides two ways to delete a conversation from Facebook Messenger, one is to archive the conversation and the other is to delete it permanently. In other words, the first method will hide the conversation and the second will permanently disappear from the conversation. nine0005

    Deleting a conversation will remove it from Facebook. It will be difficult to bring it back. However, there is no 100% guarantee that you will get a conversation even when using third party recovery tools.

    Step 1 Launch the Facebook Messenger app on your iPhone or Android phone. Find a conversation from the list that you are ready to delete. Scroll the conversation to the left to display the "Delete" option.

    Step 2 Select Delete from the options pop-up menu. When deleted, the conversation will be permanently deleted. You won't be able to see the conversation again. nine0005

    The Facebook conversation will then be hidden from Facebook Messenger. You can always delete the archive from the app or from the Facebook website.

    Part 3. Delete All Facebook Messages and Conversations on iPhone with iPhone Data Eraser

    Last but not least, you can also use iPhone Data Draw to delete all iPhone data including Facebook Messenger messages.

    Step 1 Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable. It will soon detect your device. nine0005

    Step 2 Select the erasing level (Low, Medium and High). "High Level" is recommended.

    Step 3 Select "Start" and get ready to erase all data including Facebook messenger messages.

    Don't Miss: How to Delete a Facebook Page on Your Phone or Computer

    Part 4. How to Delete Sent Facebook Messages

    Someone might ask that "How do I delete a message that I sent to the wrong person and won't show up in their inbox?" box? I deleted the message on my end." However, Facebook gives the answer no. Messages that have already been sent cannot be sent or removed from the recipient's inbox. Depending on your notification settings, they may also receive your message as an email notification. nine0005

    But still, some others who did the experiment successfully deleted the Facebook message before the recipient read it. This method is not guaranteed to be 100% useful, but it is worth a try.

    After you send a message, simply deactivate your account for at least 3 hours > reactivate your Facebook account to check messages sent to other users and find that they are gone.

    You may need: How to Delete Facebook Account on iPhone.

    Have you found a suitable method from the methods we provide? I hope you manage to delete Facebook messages.

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    Rating: 4.9 / 5 (based on 287 ratings)

    December 17, 2020 07:48 AM / Updated by Louise White in Message, Facebook

    Leave your comment and join our discussion

    Delete a message on Facebook - clear the chat in the correspondence in the messenger

    Almost every user has a moment when they have to clean the Facebook messenger. There may be various reasons: you need to free up additional memory on your mobile device, or you just need to put things in order so that unnecessary information does not interfere and there are no prerequisites for an awkward situation in the form of an erroneous message. nine0005

    Therefore, let's consider how to delete unnecessary messages in the messenger, and how this can be done in the best way in a given situation.

    Content:

    • Methods of cleaning the messenger
    • Storage of data
    • Removing personal messages on a computer
      • How to erase the correspondence from the addressee
    • 9000 outdated private messages can be subdivided as follows:

      • by device type : computer, mobile app;
      • by the number of messages that are supposed to be deleted : single messages, chain or entire correspondence;
      • if possible restore : archive or delete permanently;
      • according to availability for users : delete only from yourself, delete from recipients.

      Data storage

      When you send a message using the Facebook messenger, be sure to take into account the following circumstances: the message sent in the messenger automatically ends up on one of the company's servers and is stored there, because it is available not only on the devices of users leading correspondence among themselves. That is, by clicking on "Send", the user sends a message to the online space, where he no longer has power over the information contained in the message. However, there are some exceptions. But more on that later. nine0005

      Interesting fact! Information appeared on the network that a new application should be released in 2021, which is a symbiosis of Messenger, Instagram and WhatsUpp. It is assumed that this product will combine all the best qualities of these applications. There is also information that in this software, the developers intend to use end-to-end encryption, which involves storing the content of correspondence only with the users who participated in it.

      Deleting private messages on a computer

      The desktop version of Facebook provides a number of options for cleaning content in the segment responsible for personal correspondence. You can delete both some messages and a message chain, as well as delete the correspondence in the messenger completely or archive it with the possibility of recovery.

      1. Sign in to your profile to enable any of these options.
      2. By clicking the icon in the top bar, open the private message window, at the bottom of the window on the left side, click "Open Messenger". nine0010

      1. In the opened column with contacts, move the mouse cursor over any of the users with whom you corresponded. Click on the three dots that appear.

      1. In the drop-down box in the list of options you will see "Move to Archive" and "Delete".
      2. Select the action you want to perform in relation to the correspondence with this user.

      If archiving is selected, the system performs the required actions without requiring a confirmation request. If after a while you need to find the archived correspondence, click on the gear-shaped sign located next to the “Chats” option, click on “Chat Archive”, write something to the user whose correspondence you want to view. And you will see the archived chat in the main list. nine0005

      If you chose "Delete" , then the chat with this user will be deleted without the possibility of recovery.

      Attention! Be sure to keep in mind that these actions archive or delete correspondence only from the sender. All these messages remain available to the recipient until he archives or deletes them on his own initiative.

      How to delete correspondence from the addressee

      Sometimes there are situations when you need to delete a message sent in the messenger not only from yourself, but also from the addressee of the correspondence. This can only be done for single messages. nine0005

      1. Open a chat where there are messages you want to delete.
      2. Click on the “…” next to the “Forward” and “React” options.
      3. In the drop-down menu, click on "Delete".
      4. If no more than ten minutes have passed since the message was sent, you will see a notification prompting you to choose the option of deleting: only for yourself or for yourself and the interlocutor.

      Alas, Facebook provides for deleting old messages only from the sender. Moreover, the recipient will have access to this content, even if the sender completely deletes his account from the social network. The function of completely deleting messages from the system is available only in one case: if these are single messages sent for no more than 10 minutes before the desire to delete them arose. You need to remember this and take seriously all the information sent to other users of the social network, so that you do not have to regret it later. nine0005

      Deleting messages on a mobile device

      The procedure for deleting a message on a mobile device is very similar to the desktop version of the social network. In the mobile version, you can also clean out all the dialogues that clog it from your messenger, and you can also delete single messages from the interlocutor.

      Paradoxically, the app for mobile devices is reproached for allegedly complicating access to the messenger cleanup function. But in fact, in this case, everything is very simple. nine0005

      1. Open the application, and in it - the "Chats" tab.
      2. Select the contact you want and swipe it from right to left.

      1. Icons will appear: "Trash" - means to completely clear the chat with this person, "Bell" - if necessary, disable message notifications, "Ξ" - additional functions where you can find and archive the chat.

      By the way! If you swipe from left to right on a contact's name, a list of options will appear with which you can call the user, conduct a video call session, or instantly take a photo to send in a message. nine0005

      As for deleting individual messages for all interlocutors, this procedure is exactly the same for all mobile devices, regardless of modification or manufacturer. And there is also a 10-minute time limit during which a message can be deleted.

      The procedure is as follows:

      1. Open Chats and find the desired contact.

        Learn more