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This Is How To Delete An Instagram Message Permanently

Yesterday you got a little too drunk, DMed your crush, and now you wish the world would swallow you up. Been there, done that. And no, blocking them doesn’t delete your chats. Luckily, Instagram allows you to delete direct messages.

To delete a direct message on Instagram, log in to your account and tap the message (paper plane) icon in the upper right corner. Select the conversation and go to the specific message that you want to delete. Tap and hold the message until a pop-up menu appears. Select the option “Unsend.”

You can delete specific messages or the entire conversation. However, it’s important to know that when you delete the entire conversation on your side, the recipient will still be able to see it. Let’s take a look at everything you should know about deleting messages on Instagram.

How to Permanently Delete a Message on Instagram

Instagram

Unlike some social media platforms, Instagram allows you to delete a direct message after sending it. You can delete an individual message or the entire chat.

Here’s how to delete entire Instagram conversations. The steps work for both Android and iPhone devices.

  1. Log in to your Instagram account.
  2. Tap on the message (paper plane) icon in the upper right corner.
  3. Once on the DM page, tap the bulleted list icon in the upper right.
  4. Select the conversation(s) you’d like to delete.
  5. Tap Delete at the bottom right corner and then confirm your selection.

Again, this will only delete the conversation on your side; it’ll still appear for the recipient. To make sure that the message is deleted for everyone, you need to delete individual messages. Here’s how:

  1. In the messages page, select a conversation and go to the specific message that you want to delete.
  2. Tap and hold the message until a pop-up menu appears.
  3. Select the Unsend option. Confirm your selection to delete it.

That was easy, wasn’t it? Now, cross your fingers and hope they didn’t read the message before you deleted it!

Can You Recover an Instagram Message After It’s Been Deleted?

When you delete a message, it gets stored in Instagram servers. You can request a copy of this information. The process is somewhat lengthy but not very difficult.

Here’s how to restore deleted Instagram messages

  1. Click your profile icon at the bottom right of the screen.
  2. Tap Menu > Profile > Edit Profile.
  3. From the pop-up menu on the left, select Privacy and Security.
  4. Scroll down to Data Download and click on the option beneath it, Request Download.
  5. A copy of this information will be sent to your email address. Type your email in the text box and select your download format, either JSON or HTML. Click Next.
  6. Enter your password to verify your identity, and then click Request Download.
  7. Instagram will send you a link to your email with the data files that you have requested. Once you click on this link, it will redirect you back to Instagram, where you need to log back in.
  8. You’ll then be directed to a page that contains your requested data. Click Download Information.

Note that this information may not arrive in your inbox immediately. Instagram takes up to 48 hours to send this data to your email. Also, the link will expire 4 days after receiving it.

Restoring other content (stories, reels, photos, videos) is much simpler. These are moved to Recently deleted, where they’re stored for 30 days (or 24 hours for stories) before being permanently deleted. During this period, you can access this deleted content to either restore or permanently delete it. Think of it as similar to the recycle bin on your PC.

After this 30-day or 24-hour (for stories) period, you can’t restore the deleted content back to Instagram.

Here’s how to restore permanently deleted Instagram content (videos, photos, and stories).

  1. Tap your profile icon at the bottom right of the screen.
  2. Tap More (the three vertical lines) at the top right (or bottom left for Instagram web).
  3. Tap Your Activity.
  4. Tap Recently Deleted. This option may not be available to you if you haven’t deleted any content recently.
  5. Tap the content you want to restore, whether it’s videos, profile posts, reels, or archived stories.
  6. Tap the story, photo, or video you want to restore (or delete permanently).
  7. Tap the three dots at the top right and then select Restore.

What Is Vanish Mode and How Does It Work?

Instagram App

Vanish mode is similar to WhatsApp’s disappearing messages. With this mode, a message automatically deletes itself after the recipient views it and closes the chat. Instagram will also notify you when the recipient screenshots the message.

Using vanish mode is important when sending sensitive information that shouldn’t sit in someone’s inbox forever. It’s a subtle way of destroying ‘evidence.’ To use vanish mode, ensure that you update your Instagram to the latest version.

Here’s how to use Instagram vanish mode:

  1. Log in to your Instagram account.
  2. Go to the direct messages page to view your chat list.
  3. Tap on the chat where you want to send the message.
  4. Swipe up from the bottom of the chat screen and release your finger. This activates vanish mode.
  5. To disable the mode, tap Turn Off Vanish Mode at the top of the chat screen. You can also swipe up the screen again from the bottom.

How Long Do Instagram Messages Stay in Your Inbox?

Basically, forever. Instagram stores your message for a very very long time, and unless you unsend the message or delete the conversation, you can always find it there. Don’t forget that even if you delete an entire conversation, your recipient still has it.