Delete a one-on-one or group chat in Teams

To delete a chat in Microsoft Teams, right-click the conversation name in your chat list on the left side of the screen, then select Delete from the menu that appears. The chat disappears from your list immediately. On mobile, press and hold the chat name, then tap the trash icon or delete option.

Deleting a chat removes it only from your view — other people in that conversation still see it in their chat list. The messages themselves are not erased from Microsoft's servers, and if someone else in the chat searches for old messages, they can still find them. You are simply hiding the conversation from your own account.

If you delete a chat by mistake, you cannot undo the deletion directly. However, the chat reappears in your list the next time someone sends you a message in that conversation. You can then access all the old messages again.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a chat name in your list and select Delete to remove it from your view only.
  • Deleting a chat does not erase messages for other people or remove them from Microsoft's records.
  • The chat returns to your list automatically when someone sends a new message to that conversation.
  • On mobile devices, press and hold the chat name to see the delete option.
  • You cannot permanently delete a Teams chat — you can only hide it from your own account.

Difference between deleting and muting a chat

Muting a chat keeps it in your list but stops notifications from that conversation. Deleting a chat removes it from your list entirely. If you want to stay in a conversation but do not want to see notifications, mute it instead of deleting it.

To mute a chat, right-click the conversation name and select Mute. The chat stays visible in your list with a muted icon next to it. You can unmute it later by right-clicking again and selecting Unmute. Muting is useful for group chats that are active but not urgent, or for conversations you want to keep but do not need constant alerts from.

Deleting chats on different devices

On Windows or Mac: Right-click the chat name in your chat list and select Delete. The chat disappears from your sidebar.

On iPhone or Android: Press and hold the chat name until a menu appears. Tap the trash or delete icon. The chat is removed from your list.

On the web: Right-click the chat name in your chat list on the left side and select Delete from the menu.

What happens to pinned chats when you delete them

If you have pinned a chat to the top of your list, deleting it removes the pin and hides the conversation. The chat no longer appears in your pinned section or anywhere else in your chat list. When someone sends a new message to that conversation, it reappears in your unpinned chats, not in the pinned section.

If you want to keep a chat visible but remove it from your pinned section, right-click it and select Unpin instead of Delete. This keeps the chat in your list but moves it below your pinned conversations.

Recovering a deleted chat

You cannot manually restore a deleted chat, but it returns automatically the next time anyone sends a message to that conversation. When the message arrives, the chat reappears in your list and you can see all previous messages in that thread.

If you need to find a message from a deleted chat before someone sends a new message, use the search box at the top of Teams. Type a keyword or the person's name and search results show messages from that conversation even if the chat is currently deleted from your list. Click the result to open the chat again.

Deleting chats in a Teams channel versus direct messages

The delete process is the same for one-on-one chats and group chats, but channel conversations work differently. In a channel, you cannot delete the entire conversation thread — channels are permanent and shared with everyone in the team. However, you can delete individual messages you have sent by right-clicking the message and selecting Delete.

Direct message chats and group chats (created outside of a channel) can be deleted from your list using the method described above. Channel messages and threads remain visible to all team members regardless of your actions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a chat permanently so no one else can see it?

No. Deleting a chat removes it only from your view. Other people in the conversation still see it in their chat list, and Microsoft keeps the messages on its servers. If you need to remove a specific message that violates policy, you can delete individual messages, but the entire chat cannot be permanently erased.

What if I delete a chat and then want to see the old messages?

Wait for someone to send a new message to that chat, and it will reappear in your list with all old messages intact. Alternatively, use the search box to find a keyword or person's name from that conversation — the search results show old messages even if the chat is deleted from your list.

Does deleting a chat remove me from the conversation?

No. Deleting a chat only hides it from your view. You remain a member of the conversation, and people can still send you messages there. The next message in that chat will make it reappear in your list.

Can I delete multiple chats at once?

Teams does not have a built-in feature to delete multiple chats in one action. You must delete each chat individually by right-clicking its name and selecting Delete. If you have many chats to clean up, muting them instead may be faster than deleting them one by one.

Is there a difference between deleting a chat and archiving it?

Teams does not have an archive feature for chats. Deleting is the only way to hide a chat from your list. If you want to keep a chat but reduce notifications, use the mute feature instead.