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How to delete Messages permanently?

After you delete your messages, it deletes, but it stays on records for 40 days. How do I delete it immediately so it doesn’t stay


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Nov 22, 2024 2:29 PM

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3 replies

Nov 22, 2024 2:51 PM in response to Qeend2012

Delete Individual Messages:

  1. Open the Messages app.
  2. Select the conversation containing the message you want to delete.
  3. Tap and hold the specific message until a menu appears.
  4. Tap "More…" from the menu.
  5. A circle will appear next to each message. Select the messages you want to delete by tapping the circles.
  6. Tap the trash can icon in the bottom-left corner.
  7. Confirm by selecting "Delete Message."



Delete an Entire Conversation:

  1. Open the Messages app.
  2. Swipe left on the conversation you want to delete.
  3. Tap "Delete."
  4. Confirm by tapping "Delete" again.


Nov 22, 2024 2:53 PM in response to Qeend2012

The text below from Apple's iPhone User Guide might help. iPhone Users Guide

"Permanently remove recently deleted messages and attachments

Deleted messages and attachments remain in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days, but you can permanently remove them before that.

  1. Go to the Messages app  on your iPhone.
  2. In the Messages conversation list, do one of the following:
    • Tap Edit in the top-left corner, then tap Show Recently Deleted.
    • Tap Filters in the top-left corner, then tap Recently Deleted.
  1. If you’re in a conversation, tap  to return to the conversation list.
  2. Select the conversations whose messages you want to delete permanently, tap Delete, then follow the onscreen instructions."

Nov 22, 2024 3:09 PM in response to rehouma

rehouma wrote:

Delete Individual Messages:
1. Open the Messages app.
2. Select the conversation containing the message you want to delete.
3. Tap and hold the specific message until a menu appears.
Tap "More…"1. from the menu.
2. A circle will appear next to each message. Select the messages you want to delete by tapping the circles.
Tap the trash can icon1. in the bottom-left corner.
Confirm by selecting 1. "Delete Message."

Delete an Entire Conversation:
1. Open the Messages app.
2. Swipe left on the conversation you want to delete.
Tap 1. "Delete."
Confirm by tapping "Delete"1. again.

Nope, you are wrong, or should I say the Generative AI response you provided is wrong. Those instructions are for simply deleting any message and those will go to the Recently Deleted folder. The OP knows how to delete a message, they were asking how to permanently delete them. The correct answer was provided by Ralph9430.


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By posting a Submission, you warrant and represent that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to the information contained in your Submission. Apple has the right, but not the obligation, to remove any Submission that is wholly or substantially created by using generative AI tools. Generative AI tools include image generators (such as Midjourney or Stable Diffusion), large language models (such as GPT-4, PaLM, or Claude), code generation tools (such as Copilot), audio generation tools (such as VALL-E or resemble.ai.), or any other tool or system that primarily functions to automatically generate content or answers for a user.

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How to delete Messages permanently?

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