You can delete a message you sent, but the other person will see it was removed
Facebook lets you delete messages you've sent in Messenger, but it works differently than you might expect. When you delete a message, it disappears from your own chat history, but the other person still sees that a message was deleted — they just can't read what it said. If you want the message to vanish completely from both sides, that's not possible on Facebook.
The delete option is useful if you sent something by accident, sent it to the wrong person, or want to clean up your own message history. It's not useful if you're trying to hide something you said from someone who was already reading the conversation.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a message removes it from your chat history but shows the other person that a message was deleted.
- You can only delete messages you sent yourself, not messages other people sent to you.
- The delete option appears when you long-press (on mobile) or hover over (on desktop) a message you sent.
- Once deleted, a message cannot be recovered, so make sure you want it gone before confirming.
- If you want to remove all traces of a conversation, you can delete the entire chat thread instead.
How to delete a message on mobile
On iPhone or Android, open Facebook Messenger and find the conversation containing the message you want to delete. Locate the specific message you sent, then press and hold it with your finger until a menu appears. You should see options including "Delete" — tap that option.
A confirmation window will pop up asking if you're sure. Tap "Delete" again to confirm. The message will immediately disappear from your view, and the other person will see a notification that a message was deleted in that spot in the conversation.
How to delete a message on desktop or web
On a computer, go to Facebook.com and open Messenger or use the Messenger app. Find the conversation and locate the message you want to remove. Hover your mouse over the message — a small menu icon (usually three dots or a similar symbol) will appear on the right side of the message.
Click that menu icon and select "Remove" or "Delete" from the options that appear. Confirm your choice when prompted. The message will be deleted from your chat history, and the other person will see that a message was removed.
What happens when you delete a message
When you delete a message, Facebook removes the text from your view immediately. However, the other person in the conversation will see a line that says something like "You deleted a message" or "This message was deleted." They won't be able to read what you wrote, but they'll know a message existed and was removed.
This is different from some other messaging apps like WhatsApp or iMessage, where you can delete messages for everyone and they disappear completely from both sides. Facebook's design shows the deletion to the other person, which can sometimes draw more attention to the fact that you removed something.
Deleting entire conversations instead of single messages
If you want to remove a whole conversation from your message list, you can delete the entire chat thread. This removes all messages in that conversation from your Messenger inbox, though the other person still has their copy of the conversation. On mobile, swipe left on the conversation (iPhone) or long-press it (Android) and select delete. On desktop, right-click the conversation and choose delete.
Deleting a conversation is permanent — you won't be able to see those old messages anymore. If the person messages you again, a new conversation thread will start. This is useful for cleaning up your inbox but doesn't affect what the other person can see.
Messages you cannot delete
You can only delete messages that you sent. If someone else sent you a message, you cannot delete it from their view — you can only delete it from your own inbox. If you want to remove a message someone sent to you, your only option is to delete the entire conversation, which removes it from your view but not theirs.
Some messages also cannot be deleted if they're very old or if there's a technical issue with your account. In rare cases, Facebook may not allow deletion of messages involved in a legal dispute or investigation, though this is uncommon for regular users.
Why you might want to delete a message
Common reasons to delete a message include sending it to the wrong person, sending a duplicate by accident, or removing a message that contains a typo or unclear wording. You might also delete messages to keep your chat history organized or to remove sensitive information like a password or phone number that you accidentally shared.
Keep in mind that if the other person saw the message before you deleted it, they already have the information. Deleting it afterward doesn't erase what they read — it only removes it from the chat record. If you shared something sensitive, it's better to follow up with a message explaining the situation rather than relying on deletion alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the other person see what I deleted?
No, they cannot see the text of the deleted message. They will only see a notification that a message was deleted. If they read the message before you deleted it, they already saw what you wrote, but the message itself won't be visible in the chat after deletion.
Can I delete a message after a long time has passed?
Yes, you can delete messages from old conversations. There's no time limit on how old a message can be. As long as the conversation still exists in your Messenger, you can delete any message you sent in it.
What's the difference between deleting a message and unsending it?
On Facebook Messenger, "delete" and "remove" are the same thing — the terms are used interchangeably. The message disappears from your view and shows as deleted to the other person. This is different from some apps that use "unsend" to mean the same thing.
If I delete a message, can I get it back?
No, deletion is permanent. Once you confirm the deletion, the message is gone from your account and cannot be recovered. Make sure you want to delete a message before you confirm the action.
Does deleting a message on Messenger also delete it from Facebook chat?
Facebook Messenger and Facebook's older chat system are now the same platform. If you delete a message in Messenger, it's deleted everywhere. You don't need to delete it in multiple places.