The fastest way depends on which app you use
Most messaging apps let you delete all conversations at once, but the steps vary. Some apps have a single "delete all" button in settings. Others require you to select each conversation manually, though you can usually do this in bulk by holding down on the first one and tapping the others. A few apps — like iMessage on iPhone — let you swipe to delete multiple threads quickly. WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger each work differently, so the method that works on one won't work on another.
Before you delete, know that most apps don't let you undo this action. Some keep a backup if you've turned on cloud backup, but once you confirm the delete, the messages are gone from the app itself. If you need to save anything, take screenshots or export conversations before you start.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone's iMessage has no built-in "delete all" button — you must select conversations manually or use a third-party tool, though swiping multiple threads is faster than tapping each one.
- WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger each have different delete methods, and most do not offer a single "delete all" option in settings.
- Android's default messaging app and Gmail let you select multiple conversations at once by holding the first one, then tapping others to add them to the selection.
- Cloud backups may preserve deleted messages, so check your backup settings before deleting if you want to keep a copy.
- Once you confirm a delete, the messages are permanently removed from the app — take screenshots of anything important first.
iPhone Messages (iMessage and SMS)
Apple's Messages app does not have a "delete all" button in settings. You must delete conversations manually, but you can select multiple at once to speed up the process. Open Messages, tap "Edit" in the top left corner, then tap each conversation you want to delete. A checkmark appears next to each one. Once you've selected all the conversations, tap "Delete" in the bottom right.
If you have hundreds of messages, this can take a while. A faster method is to swipe left on each conversation thread one by one — a red "Delete" button appears. You can do this repeatedly without going back to edit mode. If you want to delete everything without manually selecting, you would need to use a third-party app designed for this, though Apple does not officially support these tools and they may not work on all iOS versions.
iMessage backs up to iCloud if you have iCloud+ turned on. Deleted messages stay in your iCloud backup unless you turn off message backup before deleting, so if you restore your phone later, the messages may come back. To prevent this, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Show All, turn off Messages, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on before deleting.
WhatsApp does not have a "delete all conversations" option in settings. You must select chats manually. Open WhatsApp, press and hold on the first conversation, then tap the other conversations you want to delete. Once you've selected them all, tap the trash icon at the top. Confirm the deletion.
WhatsApp backs up to Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone) automatically if you've turned on backups. Deleted chats are not included in new backups, but if you restore from an old backup, the deleted conversations will return. To keep a backup without the deleted chats, turn off automatic backups before deleting, then manually back up after deletion.
Telegram
Telegram also lacks a "delete all" button. Swipe left on a conversation (iPhone) or press and hold (Android), then tap Delete. You can repeat this for each chat, but there's no way to select multiple chats at once and delete them together. If you want to clear your entire chat history quickly, the fastest method is to go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Cache, though this only removes downloaded files, not the messages themselves.
Telegram stores messages on its servers, so deleting from your app does not remove them from Telegram's system unless you also delete them from the server. When you delete a message in Telegram, you have the option to "Delete for Everyone" — this removes it from all participants' devices. Conversations deleted from your app can sometimes be recovered if you sign back in on another device, depending on your privacy settings.
Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger does not offer a bulk delete option. You must delete conversations one at a time. Press and hold on a conversation, then tap "Delete" from the menu that appears. Repeat for each conversation you want to remove. There is no way to select multiple chats and delete them together in a single action.
Messenger syncs with your Facebook account, so deleting a conversation from the app does not delete it from Facebook's servers. If you want to remove your message history from Facebook entirely, you need to go to your Facebook Settings > Your Information > Download Your Information, request your data, and then contact Facebook Support to request permanent deletion. Simply deleting from the Messenger app leaves a record on Facebook's side.
Android's Default Messaging App and Gmail
Android's built-in SMS app (the name varies by manufacturer — Samsung calls it "Messages", Google calls it "Messages") lets you select multiple conversations and delete them together. Open the app, press and hold on the first conversation, then tap the others you want to delete. Once selected, tap the trash or delete icon. Some versions have a "Select All" option in the menu, which makes this faster.
Gmail's conversation view works the same way. Open Gmail, select the first email or conversation by clicking the checkbox, then click others to add them to the selection. You can use "Select All" to choose every conversation on the current page, then click Delete. If you have thousands of emails, this only deletes what's visible on the current page — you'll need to repeat the process for each page, or use Gmail's search to narrow down what you're deleting first.
Third-party tools and limitations
Some third-party apps claim to delete all messages at once, but they work differently depending on your phone and the messaging app. These tools often require permission to access your messages, which raises privacy concerns. Apple's App Store and Google Play both restrict what third-party apps can do with your messages, so many of these tools have limited functionality or may not work at all on newer phone versions.
If you're trying to delete messages for privacy reasons, remember that deleted messages may still exist in backups, in cloud storage, or on the recipient's device. Deleting from your app is not the same as deleting everywhere. For sensitive information, consider using apps that offer disappearing messages (like Telegram or Signal) rather than trying to delete after the fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a message deletion?
No. Once you confirm deletion in most messaging apps, the messages are permanently removed from your device. Some apps keep deleted messages in cloud backups, so if you restore from a backup, they may return. Check your backup settings before deleting if you want to preserve anything.
Will deleting messages from my phone delete them from the other person's phone?
No, unless the app has a "delete for everyone" feature like Telegram or WhatsApp. Deleting from your device only removes them from your copy of the conversation. The other person still has their copy. Some apps let you delete a message for everyone within a time window (usually a few minutes), but after that, only your copy is deleted.
Do deleted messages stay in my cloud backup?
It depends on when you delete and when your backup runs. If you delete a message and then your phone backs up to iCloud or Google Drive, the backup will not include that deleted message. But if you already have an older backup that includes the message, restoring from that backup will bring the deleted message back. Turn off automatic backups before deleting if you want to prevent this.
Is there a way to delete all messages without doing it manually?
Most mainstream messaging apps do not offer a single "delete all" button. WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger require manual selection. iPhone's Messages app is the same. Android's default SMS app sometimes has a "Select All" option, which is the fastest built-in method. Third-party tools exist but may not work reliably on current phone versions.
What's the difference between deleting a conversation and archiving it?
Deleting removes the conversation from your chat list and (usually) from your device. Archiving hides it from your main list but keeps it stored. Archived conversations still take up storage space and can be searched. If you want to free up space, delete. If you want to hide something but keep it, archive instead.