Instagram is one of many social media apps that allow direct messages between users, both in single messages and in group chats. But after time, these messages can build up, and you might want to clean out your inbox — or just get rid of some specific conversations. If this is the case, you need to know how to delete Instagram messages.
On an iPhone, Instagram messages can be deleted by swiping left on a conversation and choosing ‘Delete’. On Android, you can press and hold down on a conversation for the same option. Users can also unsend messages by holding down on a specific message within a chat, deleting it for everyone.
Let’s take a closer look at how to delete Instagram messages on iPhone and Android, as well as what happens when you block someone on the platform and the difference between deleting and unsending messages.
How to Delete a Conversation in Instagram
How to delete a conversation in Instagram’s direct messenger depends on what kind of phone you’re using. The methods are similar, but they vary slightly at the end.
iPhone Users
Once you’re in the Instagram app, you can access your DMs by opening the app and hitting the messages icon on the top right of your home screen. From there, you should see a list of conversations displayed.
Swipe left on one of them. You’ll then see the option to ‘Mute’ or ‘Delete’ with a red background. To permanently delete the conversation, you can hit the second option.
Android Users
On Android, the process is almost the same with one slight difference. When you get into your messages, instead of swiping left, you should hold down on the conversation you want to delete.
When asked to confirm, you can choose to delete the entire conversation.
How to Unsend Individual Private Messages
As well as giving users the ability to delete messages, Instagram also offers an option of unsending. When this is used, it unsends the message from both users, and it can no longer be read in the conversation.
Unlike some other apps such as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp, you won’t see a message in place of the unsent message that tells you a message has been unsent. Instead, it’ll be like it never happened.
You can unsend a message on an iPhone or Android by holding down on it and pressing ‘Unsend’. You can only unsend your own messages; you don’t have control over anyone else’s.
If you’re having a private conversation that you don’t want to be saved, you can also use Vanish Mode. If you pull down on a conversation while having it, you will enter Vanish Mode, which has been compared to Snapchat.
After a few minutes of exiting the conversation, the chat will disappear, and it won’t be stored in your DMs at all.
If either user involved in the conversation takes a screenshot while a conversation is in Vanish Mode, Instagram will alert the users.
Is There a Way to Read Unsent Messages?
While there are specific apps and browser add ons that can capture notifications as they come in and save them — meaning there still can be a record of unsent messages somewhere — there’s no official way to do this on the Instagram app as it would defeat the point of the other person being able to unsend.
Does Deleting a Chat Hide It From the Other Person?
If you choose to delete an Instagram chat, then it doesn’t hide it from the other person. If you want messages to disappear, then you’ll have to ‘unsend’ them or choose Vanish Mode when talking.
You can’t retroactively turn on Vanish Mode; it can only be used as you’re chatting.
Can I Get Deleted Messages Back?
Without using complicated third-party apps and data, there’s no way to recover deleted messages. You should only delete conversations if you’re sure that you don’t want to read the messages again.
While some things in Instagram are saved (e.g., expired stories in the archives), once messages are gone, they’re gone for good.
Does Blocking Someone Erase All Messages?
Blocking someone doesn’t erase all messages. Although they’ll no longer be able to message you or see your profile and interact with your content, the messages will still exist. If you want the messages to be truly gone, they have to be unsent or deleted on both sides using the methods we described above.
If you block someone, they can also still see your messages, even though they won’t be able to take the conversation any further.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, it’s pretty easy to go through and delete messages on Instagram, regardless of the phone you’re using. However, it’s crucial to know that deleting messages only deletes them for you and not the other person.
If you want the messages to disappear from both sides, you have to unsend them — even blocking someone doesn’t erase previous messages.