Sometimes, we send a message and immediately wish we could take it back. Thankfully, Instagram allows you to delete messages from both sides of a conversation, making them disappear for you and the recipient. If you’re wondering how to delete messages on Instagram from both sides, follow these simple steps to make sure unwanted messages are gone for good.
Why Delete Messages on Instagram?
Deleting messages can help keep conversations private, remove unwanted content, and keep chats tidy. Whether you’re managing your privacy or removing something sent by mistake, this feature makes it easy to control what remains in your chat history.
Steps to Delete Messages on Instagram from Both Sides
- Open the Instagram App: First, open the Instagram app on your mobile device and navigate to the “Direct Messages” (DM) section by tapping the paper airplane icon at the top right of your home screen.
- Find the Conversation: Locate the chat containing the message you want to delete. Tap on the conversation to open it.
- Delete the Message: Press and hold the specific message you want to delete. You’ll see an option to “Unsend.” Tap “Unsend,” and the message will be removed from both your chat and the recipient’s chat.
- Note: Instagram doesn’t notify the other user when a message is unsent, but they might see a notification if they haven’t opened it yet.
- Verify Deletion: Double-check that the message has been deleted from both sides. The message should no longer be visible in the conversation.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Unsend for Both Sides: When you delete a message using the “Unsend” option, it’s removed from both your chat and the recipient’s. However, if they’ve already seen it, the unsend feature only removes the message from the visible chat log.
- No Time Limit: Unlike some other platforms, Instagram doesn’t set a time limit for deleting messages. You can delete a message any time after sending it.
Additional Privacy Tips
Deleting messages from both sides is just one way to manage your privacy on Instagram. You might also want to review Instagram’s privacy settings, where you can control who can message you, restrict unwanted interactions, and manage notifications.
Related Reading: If you’re interested in cleaning up your messages on multiple platforms, read our guide on How to Delete Facebook Messages from Both Sides, which offers similar tips for another popular social network.
Alternative to Deleting: Use Vanish Mode
If you’re concerned about keeping conversations private in the future, try using Vanish Mode on Instagram. This feature allows messages to disappear after they’ve been viewed and the chat is closed.
- Activate Vanish Mode: Open a chat and swipe up from the bottom of the screen to activate Vanish Mode.
- Send and Watch Messages Disappear: Any messages sent in Vanish Mode will disappear for both parties when the chat is closed.
This feature is useful if you want to keep your chats temporary, as it automatically deletes messages after viewing.
Related Article: Learn more about Instagram’s Vanish Mode and how to use it effectively to maintain privacy in your conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you delete an entire conversation on Instagram?
- Yes, you can delete an entire conversation from your side, but this only removes it from your inbox. To delete a conversation, go to your DMs, swipe left on the conversation, and tap “Delete.” Note that the conversation will remain in the other person’s inbox unless they delete it as well.
2. What happens when you delete a message on Instagram?
- When you unsend a message, it disappears from both sides of the chat. The recipient won’t see the message in the conversation, though they might see a notification if they haven’t opened it.
3. Can someone see if I delete a message on Instagram?
- No, Instagram does not notify users when a message is deleted. However, the other person might notice if they’ve already seen the message and find it missing later.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to delete messages on Instagram from both sides gives you more control over your conversations. Whether you’re unsending a message sent by mistake or managing your privacy, this feature is essential for keeping your DMs tidy and secure.
