How to unsend all messages on Messenger

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Kent is a content creator who enjoys sharing her knowledge about consumer tech. She enjoys playing Black Desert Mobile.

"Unsend" is a feature in Messenger that allows you to permanently remove a message for everyone in the chat.

How to Unsend a Message on Messenger

Facebook has a feature on Messenger called "unsend." Thanks to this feature, users have the option to recall messages via its popular messaging app. With the help of this message recall option, you don't have to worry about sending messages by mistake. This also gives you the opportunity to correct messages in case there are typos.

Once recalled, the unsent message will no longer appear in your conversation as well as to your recipient. The said option can be used regardless of whether a user is doing a private chat or a group chat. It does not work if you are sending encrypted chats.

Here’s the Catch!

Users should keep in mind that the unsend option does not mean that the recipient of the message cannot view the unsent message if they've already seen it.

It is also important to note that while Facebook now allows its users to unsend messages, it will still keep a copy of the message on its server. Facebook can review unsent messages up to 14 days after they're unsent.

Step-by-Step Guide to Unsending Messages in Facebook

How this unsend feature works is plain and simple. Just follow the steps listed below:

1. Tap and hold the message you want to unsend. This will bring up the options that you can do with the selected message. If you are using the web version of Facebook or Messenger, simply click the three-dot icon that appears in the overflow menu whenever you hover over a message in a chat or group conversation.
2. Amongst the list of options, select "Remove." (On the mobile app, click "Unsend.")
3. Facebook will then ask you whether you want to "Unsend for Everyone" or "Remove for You." (On the mobile app, your options will be "Unsend for Everyone" or "Unsend for You.")
4. Select "Unsend for Everyone." This will remove the message in everyone's conversation, not just yours.
5. When prompted, select "Remove" to confirm, and that's it! The message will no longer appear in your message thread as well as to everyone to whom you've sent it.

Do note that once the message has been unsent, Facebook will leave some sort of subtle notice informing everyone that you’ve unsent a message. Even so, there will be no option for them to retrieve the original message.

So there you have it! The next time autocorrect messes up your message, you no longer have to freak out. Just unsend it, and you’re done.

Want to Unsend Messages on Instagram Instead? Here's How!

• How to Unsend a Message in Instagram
  Have you ever messaged someone via Instagram Direct only to find that you’ve sent the wrong text? Well, you are in luck because you can easily retract your messages via Instagram Unsend.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Kent Peligrino

Kent Peligrino (author) from Philippines on March 08, 2019:

Lol. I'm sure many can relate and will definitely find this new Facebook Messenger feature very useful! ;)

Farrah Young from Lagos, Nigeria on March 08, 2019:

This is a good initiative and about time too. So the next time an angry wife sends a wordy message to her partner then realizes her mistakes, she can quickly recall it. Lol.

(Pocket-lint) - Facebook Messenger has an "unsend" feature for all users. The feature lets you delete messages from a conversation after you've sent them - similar to what WhatsApp also allows you to do within a certain timeframe, though the WhatsApp feature offers longer.

The idea is that, if you ever send the wrong message to someone, make a typo, or send something you regret, you can remove it in Messenger. Here's how the feature works and how to use it.

How to unsend a Facebook message

First things first, you need to do these steps within 10 minutes of sending the message you are looking to unsend or remove so you need to work fast.

1. Press and hold on the message you want to delete in the iOS or Android app
2. Tap on 'More' at the bottom
3. Select 'Remove'
4. Tap on 'Unsend' or 'Remove for You'

If you are using a web browser: 

1. Tap on the three dots to the left of the message you want to remove
2. Tap on 'Remove'
3. 'Tap on Unsend for Everyone' or 'Remove for You'

If you selecting 'Unsend', Facebook Messenger will replace your message with a notice that says the message was unsent by you and it will have a 'Removed at [timestamp]'. The unsent message is removed from the conversation, but they could still be included if the conversation is reported and the recipient will still be able to see that you have sent and removed a message, as well as report it, but they can't see what you sent.

If you want to remove a message just for yourself, select "Remove for You" (others will still see your message with this option).

Who can use Facebook's unsend feature?

Facebook's unsend feature is available on the Facebook Messenger app for iOS and Android. It is also available on the browser.

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Deleting messages on Facebook is not as easy as deleting your email, as Facebook intends to keep your conversation history in Messages and Facebook Chat intact.

To delete messages on Facebook, you will need to open the individual message, go to options and start selecting the message you want to delete.

If you have many messages, the process can be very time-consuming. Otherwise, you can simply remove the messages from the message list, but doing this will not remove the message permanently. Instead, it will be archived and will reappear when the person sends you a new message.

Here’s where we bring in some help i.e. ‘Facebook Fast Delete Messages‘, an extension for your Chrome browser that will allow you to delete Facebook messages with a single click.

20 Facebook Messenger Tips and Tricks

Deleting Facebook Messages (The painful and slow way)

You can open your Facebook messages and you can select to send your messages to ‘Archive’, one by one.

However, the message you delete will not be removed permanently; it will reappear when the person sends you new messages.

To delete individual messages, you need to open each message first. Do this by clicking on the Actions button and select Delete Messages.

You will see all your messages with this friend, with checkboxes on the side of each message.

Select the messages you want to delete by ‘checking’ the box next to the message, or simply click on the Delete all button.

Delete Facebook Messages, in bulk

To take control of your Facebook messages, go to the Facebook Fast Delete Messages extension page with your Chrome browser and click the Add to Chrome button to install.

Once installed, the extension is activated automatically. Now to delete your Facebook messages with only one click without having to open the individual conversation pages, you simply have to do the following steps:

1. Click on “Open Messages”
2. Click on Delete all messages”

And that’s it. All of the messages on Facebook Messenger will be deleted at once without having to do it one-by-one.