How to Delete Old Messages on Facebook Messenger From Both Sides

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Can You Permanently Delete Facebook Messages From Both Sides?

Unless you’reexchanging disappearing messages, the conversations on Facebook Messenger will stay forever. Thankfully, you can unsend or retract Facebook Messenger messages in a few steps.

And there are multiple ways to eliminate messages from your chat history. You can:

Permanently Delete Facebook Messages From Both Sides

As said earlier, you can unsend all messages on Messenger. However, there are a few things to know first.

Note: Initially, Facebook allowed you to delete old messages on Messenger from both sides within 10 minutes of sending the message. However, the platform now allows you to delete old messages on Facebook Messenger from both sides, even after years.

Unsend a Message From the Messenger Mobile App

Step 1: Open theMessenger app→ go to the chat → tap and hold thesent messageyou want to delete

Step 2: SelectUnsendorRemovefrom the contextual menu.

Step 4: Here, you’ll get two options. Select the preferred one.

Step 5: TapOKto confirm the action.

Note: You can also delete a received message with the same method. However, it will only be deleted from your chat history. The original sender could still see the message unless they deleted it.

Use the Desktop Messenger App or Facebook Web

Step 1: Open theconversation> click thethree-dot iconnext to the conversation.

Step 2: SelectRemovefrom the options.

Step 3: Now choose between the following options,

Step 4: ClickRemove.

If using the Messenger desktop app or via the web, you can also eliminate the ‘You unsent a message’ message. However, it will be erased from your chat history. The receiver can still see that you’ve unsent a message.

What’s great is that you can also delete old messages from Instagram messages. However, Instagram doesn’t notify the receiver or replace the message with an unsent message.

Note: To delete all sent messages on Messenger from both sides, select individual messages and repeat the step. You can’t select and delete all in one go, although you can delete the complete conversation.

Delete a Conversation From Facebook Messenger

It’s important to note that when you delete all messages on Messenger or the complete conversation, it isn’t deleted from both sides. It only deletes from your chat history.

Moreover, remember this is a permanent action; you can’t undo or retrieve the chats again. If you wish to hide the chat, archive it.

Erase a Chat Thread From the Facebook Mobile App

Step 1: Open theMessenger app> swipe left on theconversationyou want to delete.

Step 2: TapMore>DeleteorDelete chat.

Step 3: SelectDeleteagain to confirm.

Delete Conversations From the Desktop App or Web

Step 1: OpenMessenger> click thethree-dot iconnext to the conversation you want to delete.

Step 2: HitDelete Chat.

Step 3: SelectDelete chatagain to confirm the action.

FAQs

It depends on the choice you make while deleting. If you choose unsend for everyone, it’s applicable for both parties. But if you choose unsend/remove for you, it deletes the message for you.

No, when you delete a conversation, it just clears your chat history. The other party could still see all the sent and received messages on their device.

If you delete a sent message (even an old one), the receiver will be notified. But if you delete the conversation, the other person will not know anything about it.

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Last updated on 14 August, 2024

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