In this tutorial, we will be discussing the process of deleting messages on iOS 10 devices. Whether you want to clear out your inbox or get rid of a particularly sensitive conversation, we’ll cover the steps you need to take to quickly and easily delete messages from your iPhone or iPad running iOS 10.
Understanding message deletion on iOS 10
Deleting messages on iOS 10 can be a simple and straightforward task, but there are a few things to keep in mind before you start deleting. First, it’s essential to understand that deleting a message on iOS 10 does not mean that it’s gone forever. When you delete a message, it’s merely removed from your device, but it may still be stored in your iCloud account or on the recipient’s device, depending on the settings.
Another thing to keep in mind is that deleting a message will not delete the conversation thread. If you want to remove an entire conversation, you’ll need to delete each message in the thread individually.
Deleting a single message on iOS 10
To delete a single message on iOS 10, follow these steps:
- Open the Messages app on your device.
- Find the conversation that contains the message you want to delete.
- Press and hold the message you want to delete.
- Tap “More” when the options appear.
- Tap the circle next to the message you want to delete.
- Tap the trash can icon in the bottom left corner.
- Tap “Delete Message” to confirm.
Key takeaway: Deleting a message on iOS 10 does not mean it’s gone forever, as it may still be stored in your iCloud account or on the recipient’s device depending on settings. Additionally, deleting a message does not delete the conversation thread, and an entire conversation must be deleted individually. Messages can be permanently deleted by selecting “30 Days” or “1 Year” in the “Keep Messages” option under Settings, or by using a third-party app to back up messages. Common issues such as messages not deleting or syncing can be fixed by force-closing the app, turning off messages syncing with iCloud, or ensuring that all devices are signed in to the same iCloud account with “Messages” turned on.
Deleting multiple messages on iOS 10
If you want to delete multiple messages in a conversation, you can do so by following these steps:
- Find the conversation that contains the messages you want to delete.
- Tap and hold on the message you want to delete.
- Tap the circle next to each message you want to delete.
- Tap “Delete Messages” to confirm.
One key takeaway from this text is that deleting a message on iOS 10 does not necessarily mean that it’s gone forever, as it may still be stored in iCloud or on the recipient’s device depending on the settings. Additionally, deleting a message will not delete the conversation thread, and one must delete each message in the conversation individually to remove the entire thread.
Deleting an entire conversation on iOS 10
If you want to delete an entire conversation on iOS 10, follow these steps:
- Find the conversation you want to delete.
- Swipe left on the conversation.
- Tap “Delete” when the option appears.
- Tap “Delete Conversation” to confirm.
Permanently deleting messages on iOS 10
If you want to permanently delete messages from your device and iCloud account, you can do so by following these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your device.
- Tap “Messages.”
- Scroll down and tap “Keep Messages.”
- Select “30 Days” or “1 Year” to automatically delete messages after that time period.
- To manually delete messages, open the Messages app and follow the steps outlined above.
Key takeaway: Deleting messages on iOS 10 is not a foolproof method as the messages may still be stored in iCloud or on the recipient’s device depending on the settings. To ensure backup, messages can be backed up on iCloud, iTunes, or third-party apps. Issues with message deletion on iOS 10 can be resolved by force-closing the app, turning off message syncing on iCloud, and ensuring that “Messages” is turned on in iCloud settings.
How to back up messages on iOS 10
To ensure you don’t lose any important messages, it’s a good idea to back them up regularly. There are a few ways to back up your messages on iOS 10:
Key takeaway: When deleting messages on iOS 10, keep in mind that deleting a message does not mean it’s gone forever and that deleting a message will not delete the conversation thread. To permanently delete messages, you must manually delete them or set them to auto-delete after a certain time period. Backing up your messages regularly and ensuring your iCloud settings are correct can also prevent common issues with message deletion.
Back up to iCloud
You can use iCloud to back up your messages, which will allow you to restore them to a new device if needed. Follow these steps to back up your messages to iCloud:
- Tap your name at the top of the screen.
- Tap “iCloud.”
- Tap “iCloud Backup.”
- Toggle on “iCloud Backup.”
- Tap “Back Up Now” to start the backup process.
Back up to iTunes
You can also use iTunes to back up your messages. When you back up your device to iTunes, your messages will be included in the backup. Follow these steps to back up your device to iTunes:
- Connect your device to your computer.
- Open iTunes.
- Click the device icon in the top left corner.
- Click “Back Up Now” under “Manually Back Up and Restore.”
Use a third-party app
There are many third-party apps available that can back up your messages, such as iExplorer, PhoneView, and Decipher TextMessage. These apps allow you to export your messages to your computer or another device, giving you a backup in case anything happens to your device.
Common issues with message deletion on iOS 10
While deleting messages on iOS 10 is usually a straightforward process, there are a few issues that can crop up. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:
Messages won’t delete
If you’re having trouble deleting messages on iOS 10, try force-closing the Messages app and reopening it. To force-close an app, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and swipe up on the Messages app. Then, reopen the app and try deleting the messages again.
Messages keep coming back
If you delete messages and they keep coming back, it’s likely because they’re syncing with your iCloud account. To stop this from happening, go to Settings > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn off “Messages.” This will prevent your messages from syncing with iCloud, and you should be able to delete them without them coming back.
Messages not syncing between devices
If you’re having trouble syncing messages between devices, make sure you’re signed in to the same iCloud account on each device. Also, ensure that “Messages” is turned on in iCloud settings on each device.
FAQs for How to Delete Messages iOS 10
How can I delete a single message on iOS 10?
To delete a single message on iOS 10, swipe left on the message you want to delete. A red delete button will appear, and tapping on this button will permanently delete the message.
Can I delete multiple messages at once on iOS 10?
Yes, you can delete multiple messages at once on iOS 10 by tapping and holding the message you want to delete. This will bring up a menu of options, one of which is “More.” Tap on “More” and select all the messages you want to delete by checking the circles next to them. Tap on the trash can icon in the bottom left corner and confirm that you want to delete the selected messages.
How can I delete an entire conversation on iOS 10?
To delete an entire conversation on iOS 10, swipe left on the conversation in the Messages app. A red delete button will appear, and tapping on this button will permanently delete the entire conversation.
Is there a way to recover deleted messages on iOS 10?
Unfortunately, once you delete a message on iOS 10, it is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. It’s important to be sure that you really want to delete a message before doing so.
What happens if I delete a message from a group conversation?
If you delete a message from a group conversation on iOS 10, it will be deleted for everyone in the conversation. This means that everyone in the group will no longer be able to see the message you deleted.