In this article, we will show you how to delete messages on iPhone, including removing individual texts, entire conversations, and setting automatic message deletion.

Often times our iPhone message inbox gets cluttered with old conversations, and it’s time to clean it up.

Whether you’re looking to free up storage, declutter your Messages app, or just get rid of sensitive content, deleting messages on your iPhone is an easy task.

How to delete messages on iPhone

Here, we will show you the different ways to delete messages on your iPhone, step-by-step.

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Why You Might Want to Delete Messages on iPhone

Before we dive into the process, let’s quickly discuss why you might want to delete messages:

1. Free Up Storage: Messages, especially those with lots of images and videos, can take up valuable storage space on your iPhone.
2. Maintain Privacy: Deleting sensitive or personal conversations ensures your private messages are not seen by others.
3. Declutter Your Inbox: We all accumulate a lot of messages over time. Deleting old or unnecessary conversations can make it easier to find the ones that matter.

Now that you know why deleting messages is important, let’s walk you through the different methods.

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Method 1: Deleting Individual Messages

Sometimes, you just want to delete a single message in a conversation, not the whole chat. Here’s how you can do that:

Step 1: Open the Messages App

• Launch the Messages app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Select the Conversation

• Tap on the conversation where the message you want to delete is located.

Step 3: Find the Message

• Scroll through the conversation and locate the specific message you want to delete.

Step 4: Delete the Message

• Tap and hold the message bubble until a menu pops up.
• Select More… from the menu.
• You’ll see small circles next to each message in the conversation. Tap the circle next to the message you want to delete.
• Once selected, tap the trash can icon at the bottom left of your screen.
• Confirm the deletion by selecting Delete Message.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully deleted an individual message.

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Method 2: Deleting Entire Conversations

If you want to clear out entire conversations (maybe an old group chat or a thread you no longer need), here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Open the Messages App

• Open the Messages app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Find the Conversation

• Scroll through the list of conversations and find the one you want to delete.

Step 3: Swipe to Delete

• Swipe left on the conversation you want to delete. You’ll see a red Delete button appear.

Step 4: Confirm Deletion

• Tap Delete to remove the conversation from your Messages app.

This method is perfect for clearing out long threads or old conversations that take up unnecessary space.

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Method 3: Deleting All Messages in a Conversation

Sometimes, you might want to keep the conversation in your Messages app but remove all the individual messages within it. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open the Conversation

• Tap on the conversation in your Messages app that you want to clear out.

Step 2: Tap on the Contact Name or Info

• At the top of the screen, tap on the name or phone number of the person in the conversation to open their contact info.

Step 3: Tap “Info” and Clear Chat

• Tap Info at the top of the screen.
• Scroll down and tap Delete Conversation to remove all messages in that thread.

This will clear the conversation but leave the thread intact.

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Method 4: Automatically Delete Messages with Settings

If you want to automatically delete older messages after a certain period (which is great for managing storage), you can set up your iPhone to do this for you.

Step 1: Open Settings

• Go to Settings on your iPhone.

Step 2: Navigate to Messages

• Scroll down and tap Messages.

Step 3: Set Message Expiration

• Under the Message History section, tap Keep Messages.
• Choose from three options:
  • 30 Days
  • 1 Year
  • Forever (this is the default option)
• If you select either 30 Days or 1 Year, older messages will be automatically deleted after that time period.

This method is a set-it-and-forget-it way to keep your messages from piling up over time.

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Method 5: Deleting Messages in iCloud (For iCloud Sync Users)

If you use iCloud to sync your messages across devices, deleting messages on your iPhone will also delete them from all other devices. Here’s how you can delete messages from iCloud:

Step 1: Open Settings

• Go to Settings and tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen.

Step 2: Tap iCloud

• Tap iCloud, then find and toggle off Messages.

Step 3: Delete Messages

• After turning off iCloud sync for Messages, you can delete messages from your iPhone without affecting your other devices. Once you’ve deleted them, you can toggle Messages back on to sync them across your devices.

Method 6: Using Third-Party Apps for Advanced Deletion

If you’re looking for a more advanced way to manage and delete your messages, there are several third-party apps that offer additional features, like backing up your messages before deletion or erasing messages permanently. Some popular apps include:

• iMazing: This app lets you back up, view, and delete messages on your iPhone.
• PhoneClean: Helps you clear out junk files, including old messages.

These apps can be particularly useful if you need more control over how and when you delete messages on your iPhone.

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Conclusion

Deleting messages on your iPhone is quick and easy, whether you’re cleaning up individual texts, whole conversations, or setting up automatic deletions for future messages. By following these methods, you can free up space, maintain privacy, and keep your inbox organized. Choose the method that works best for your needs, and your iPhone’s Messages app will be clutter-free in no time!

Remember, regularly deleting unnecessary messages is a good habit to keep your device running smoothly and ensure that you’re always in control of your data.

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