This wikiHow teaches you how to delete direct messages on Instagram on an Android, iPhone, or iPad device.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Deleting Conversations
Step 1. Open the Instagram app on your mobile or tablet
Instagram has a pink, orange, yellow, and purple camera icon that is usually found on the home screen. If you're using an Android device, Instagram might be in the app drawer.
- Use this method to delete entire message conversations directly from your Instagram inbox.
- This method will not delete messages in the inbox of the other person.
- "Unsend message" if you want to delete a message that you sent via direct message conversation. No one will be able to see the unsent message.
Step 2. Tap the inbox icon
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. The inbox icon looks like a paper airplane if you don't have any unread messages. If you have unread messages, the inbox icon is in a pink circle with the number of unread messages in it.
Step 3. Swipe the conversation to the left
This will bring up 2 options on the right side of the message.
Step 4. Tap the Delete button
A confirmation message will appear later.
Step 5. Tap the Delete button
The conversation has been deleted from your direct message inbox.
Method 2 of 2: Deleting Sent Messages
Step 1. Open the Instagram app on your mobile or tablet
This app has a pink, orange, yellow, and purple camera icon that can generally be found on the home screen. If you're using an Android device, Instagram might be in the app drawer.
- You can only delete messages that you send. If you want to delete a message sent by someone else, follow the steps to delete the entire conversation.
- This will “unsend” the message, meaning the other person in the conversation can no longer see it.
Step 2. Tap the inbox icon
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. The inbox icon looks like a paper airplane if there are no unread messages. If you have unread messages, the inbox icon is in a pink circle with the number of unread messages in it.
Step 3. Tap the conversation with the message you want to delete
Step 4. Tap and hold on the message in question
Two options will appear above it.
Step 5. Tap the Cancel Sending Message button
A confirmation message will appear later.
Step 6. Tap the Cancel Sending Message button
The message has been deleted from the conversation.
