We may earn a commission when you buy through links in our articles. Learn more.

How to delete iPhone messages

With our help you'll know how to delete iPhone messages and how to unsend them with ease, to save you from all kinds of social peril.

How to delete iPhone messages: An image of an iPhone with messages on the screen.

Sometimes knowing how to delete iPhone messages will get you out of a pinch, especially if you’re still reeling from the wrath of autocorrect blunders. Look, we’ve all been there, as the team at Pocket Tactics has needed to unsend a meme or link to Dua Lipa’s latest song that wasn’t intended for our boss. Well, we’re here to tell you how you can remove iPhone messages before prying eyes can see.

Your tech tips don’t just stop here, though, because we’ve got loads of Apple-focused guides at your disposal. Why not learn some other tips and tricks with our how to delete albums on iPhone, how to delete contacts on iPhone, how to delete iPhone cookies, how to use Apple Pay on iPhone, and how to delete wallpaper on iPhone. Or, if you fall on the other side of the iPhone vs Android debate, we can tell you how to capture a screenshot on Android.

So, here’s how you can delete your iPhone messages.

YouTube Thumbnail

How do I delete iPhone messages?

They might be small on your screen, but your mighty words can actually take up quite a bit of iPhone storage. If you don’t clear them out once in a while, it is possible you’ll be hogging space that concert videos or on-the-go games could use instead. Here’s how to delete iPhone messages:

  • Open the iPhone messages app
  • Press and hold on a message bubble in your chat
  • Tap more from the menu that pops up on-screen
  • Select the message you want to delete
  • Tap the trash can button

If you’d rather delete an entire conversation on iPhone, follow these steps:

  • Open the messages app
  • In the conversation list, swipe left on the chat you want to delete
  • Tap the trash can button
  • You’ve now deleted an entire conversation!

Or, to delete multiple conversations:

  • Open the messages app
  • Tap edit in the top left corner
  • Select all conversations you want to delete
  • Tap delete in the button right corner
  • Multiple conversations have now been deleted

How do I unsend iPhone messages?

Sent a message too quick? Getting rid of those pesky quick draw messages is easier than you think. To unsend an iPhone message, you can follow these steps:

  • Go to the message you want to delete
  • Press and hold down until a list of options pops up
  • Select undo send

You have ten seconds to complete the above steps. If you do it in time the recipient can’t see the message, though if they’re not on the latest software it might not work.

On that note, you now know how to delete iPhone messages. Remember, you can check out our WhatsApp download guide if you need a new messaging platform. If you happen to be in the market for a new cell phone, check out our various buying guides. We can help you find the best OnePlus ones, best Samsung phones, best Google Pixel phones, best Xiaomi phones, and the best Sony phones.