How do I delete text messages on my Android phone?
Open your Messages app and touch and hold the conversation you want to remove, then tap the trash can icon and confirm. To delete just one text, open the conversation, touch and hold that message, and tap the trash can. In current versions of Google Messages, deleted conversations wait in Trash for 30 days, so you can still bring them back.
Most Samsung, Pixel, and Motorola phones now use the Google Messages app for texts. Samsung is retiring its own Samsung Messages app on newer Galaxy phones, so the Google Messages steps below are the ones most people need. If your phone still uses Samsung Messages, its steps are in the Samsung notes.
Steps to check
Delete a whole conversation
Open Messages. On the list of conversations, touch and hold the one you want to remove until it is selected. Tap the trash can icon at the top, then confirm. In newer versions of the app the button says Move to Trash, and an Undo button appears for a few seconds in case you tapped by mistake.
- Samsung Newer Galaxy phones use Google Messages, so the steps above apply. In the older Samsung Messages app, touch and hold the conversation, tap Delete, then tap Move to Trash.
- Pixel Pixel phones use Google Messages. Touch and hold the conversation, then tap the trash can at the top.
- Motorola Motorola phones use the Messages app from Google. In your conversation list, touch and hold the conversation, then tap the trash can.
Delete one message inside a conversation
Open the conversation and find the text you want gone. Touch and hold that one message, then tap the trash can icon and confirm. The rest of the conversation stays where it is.
- Samsung In Samsung Messages, touch and hold the message, tap Delete, then tap Move to Trash. Messages stay in that app's Trash for 30 days.
Delete several conversations at once
Touch and hold the first conversation. Then tap each of the others you want to remove so they are selected too. Tap the trash can once to delete them all together. Take a moment to look at what is selected before you tap.
- Samsung In Samsung Messages, after you touch and hold the first one, you can tap All to select everything, then tap Delete.
Get a deleted conversation back from Trash
In Google Messages, tap your profile picture (or your initial) at the top right, then tap Trash. Touch and hold the conversation you want back, then tap Restore. It returns to your list with all of its messages. You have 30 days before it is removed for good.
- Samsung In Samsung Messages, tap More options (three dots), then Trash. Touch and hold the message, then tap Restore or Restore all.
Empty Trash if you want it gone right away
Deleted conversations in Trash still take up a little space and can still be read by anyone holding your phone. To remove them now, open Trash, touch and hold a conversation, and tap the trash can. To clear everything, open Trash without selecting anything, tap the trash can at the top, then tap Delete. This cannot be undone.
- Samsung In Samsung Messages, you can turn Trash off so deleted texts go straight away: tap More options (three dots), then Settings, then the switch next to Trash.
Hide a conversation without deleting it
If you only want a tidier list, archive instead. Touch and hold the conversation and tap Archive. It disappears from your main list but you can still read it. To see archived texts, tap your profile picture, then Archived.
Still not working?
- If you do not see Trash in Google Messages, update the app from the Play Store. Older versions delete conversations right away, with no Trash. See how to update apps.
- If a deleted conversation seems to come back, check whether a new text arrived from that person. Google says a new message to a trashed conversation shows up as a new conversation, while the older messages stay in Trash.
- Make sure you are deleting in the app that is actually set as your texting app. If two messaging apps are installed, deleting in one may not remove the copy in the other. Your default app is under Settings → Apps → Default apps → SMS app on most phones.
- If you are worried about someone else seeing a text, delete it and then empty Trash, as in the step above.
- If the trash can will not appear, close the Messages app fully and open it again, or restart the phone.
Why this happens
Texts are stored on your phone inside your messaging app. Deleting them removes your copy. The other person keeps the copy on their phone.
Google Messages and Samsung Messages both use a Trash folder now, because people often delete conversations by accident. That is why a deleted text does not always disappear for good right away.
Normal vs. not
Usually normal
A deleted conversation is still listed in Trash for up to 30 days, or the other person can still see a text you deleted on your phone.
Worth a closer look
Texts you deleted and emptied from Trash keep coming back on their own with no new messages. That can mean a second messaging app or a backup is restoring them, and is worth a look.
Common questions
- If I delete a text, does it delete it on the other person's phone?
- Usually no. Deleting removes it from your phone only. In some chat conversations, Google Messages may offer Delete for everyone when you delete a message you sent. If you do not see that choice, the other person keeps their copy.
- Can I get back a text I deleted?
- Yes, if it is still in Trash. In Google Messages, tap your profile picture, then Trash, then Restore. Once Trash is emptied, or after 30 days, it cannot be brought back from the app.
- Does deleting old texts free up space?
- A little, mainly if the texts had photos or videos. For bigger savings, see our guide to freeing up storage.
Related questions
Sources we checked
- Archive, delete & read conversations in Google Messages (Google Messages Help)
- Manage Trash folder in Google Messages (Google Messages Help)
- Use the Samsung Messages app on your Galaxy phone or tablet (Samsung Support)
- Recover messages deleted from your Galaxy phone (Samsung Support)
- Manage, delete messages (motorola edge 2025) (Motorola Help)
Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.