How To Delete Text Messages On Android Phone

Despite the introduction of several social media platforms and instant messaging services over the years, there is no denying that conventional text messages are still in use. They are the easiest source to connect with your loved ones. Moreover, they don’t require an internet connection to operate. However, there is a drawback to this. 

If you constantly use the text messaging app of your Android device, you must have faced hanging issues on your device and wondered what is causing this. The reason is that many messages are being stored on your device.  

To solve this issue, it is recommended to delete text messages from your Android which are too old and unwanted. This process is not hard but can be tiring on some particular models. 

This article will discuss different ways to delete text messages on Android. This can be done easier when there is an explanation of every way required for separate devices of Androids, and this is exactly what we are going to do. 

How To Delete Text Messages On LG & Motorola? 

How To Delete Text Messages On Android Phone

The stock Text Messages application comes in-built in LG & Motorola devices. So, if you are among the users of these Android devices, the following are some ways to get rid of text messages – individual messages and threads, both. 

1. Individual Messages

We will deal with the basics first. The easiest method of deleting text messages is dealing with them individually from a thread. This way, you can only delete unwanted messages from a particular thread. 

  • Launch the Text Messages app on your LG or Motorola device. 
  • Open the message thread from which you want to delete the message. 
  • Scroll through the messages until you find the one you want to delete. This can be either sent or received messages.
  • Please tap on the message and hold it for a second. The message will get highlighted in blue. 
  • Check the top section of the app. You will find a few options there.
  • Tap on the Garbage Can icon on top. If prompted for a confirmation, select Yes or Delete. 
  • The selected message will disappear. 

Note that you cannot delete multiple texts at once in a single thread. You have to select every single text and repeat the steps mentioned above. If you wish to delete the entire thread, read on. 

2. Message Threads

When it comes to deleting multiple thread messages, there is a quick way of doing so. If you want to clear some space, you should try this way of deleting message threads and saving time. Because deleting every single text is time-consuming. 

This will clear memory and keep your text application more organized. For this, follow these steps. 

  • Launch your Text Messages app. 
  • Tap and hold the message thread you want to delete in the main Messaging menu. 
  • There will be a few options on the top of the screen and a check-mark list on the display of the texting thread. 
  • You can select the threads you want to delete. 
  • Tap on the Trash icon.
  • If prompted for a confirmation, select Yes or Delete.

This option is considered better as you can select multiple threads. For that, you don’t need to hold on to threads separately. You need to tap and hold on to one thread. And then, select other threads by simply tapping on the check box. 

How To Carry Out SMS Deletion On Samsung? 

Samsung is among the most popular Android devices. And hence, many of you must be using its built-in Text Messages app. So, here’s the step-by-step guide to delete text messages on Android – Samsung. 

1. Individual Messages

To delete individual messages on your Samsung device, follow these steps. 

  • Open the Text Message application on your device.
Open the Text Message application on your device.
  • Find the text you want to delete. 
  • Tap and hold on to that message.
Tap and hold on to that message.
  • A pop-up window with several options will appear on the screen.
  • Click on the Delete option.
Click on the Delete option.
  • Then, confirm your action by tapping on Yes, Delete, or Move to Recycle bin (depending on the model and version.)
Then, confirm your action by tapping on Yes, Delete, or Move to Recycle bin.

In Samsung devices, you can’t delete multiple messages within a single thread at once. 

2. Message Threads

But again, you always have the option of deleting threads on your device. This will delete the messages from one or multiple contacts. Follow these steps to do so. 

  • Open the Text Message application on your device.
  • Tap and hold on to the thread you want to delete. 
  • It will be highlighted with a checkmark on it. 
  • Tap on the Trash Can at the bottom of the screen.
  • Confirm your action if prompted.

With this, you can select multiple threads and delete them in a single go.

3. All Messages

This is another way of deleting messages on Samsung devices. And this can be the best when you want to delete the entire thread section on your device. Follow the below steps to complete this. 

  • Open the Text Message application on your device.
Open the Text Message application on your device.
  • Tap and hold one of the threads in the list. 
  • It will be highlighted with a checkmark on it. 
  • Tap on the All option on the top-left corner of the screen.
Tap on the All option on the top-left corner of the screen.
  • Tap on the Trash Can at the bottom of the screen.
Tap on the Trash Can at the bottom of the screen.
  • Confirm your action if prompted.
Confirm your action, if prompted.

This is the best way to clear the storage and be more organized in the text application.

How To Delete Text Messages On HTC?  

HTC devices also support the traditional Text Messages application. Therefore, the following are two ways to delete text messages on your HTC smartphone. 

1. Individual Messages

If you want to delete messages individually, follow the steps below. 

  • Open the messaging app on your device. 
  • Open the thread from which you want to delete the message.
  • Tap on the unwanted messages.
  • Tap on the Delete Message option.

This device also supports deleting multiple messages within a thread. For this, below are the steps needed to be followed. 

  • Open the messaging app on your device.
  • Open the thread from which you want to delete the message.
  • Tap on the messages.
  • Tap on the Delete Message option.
  • Tap on Delete by selection.
  • Then, select the multiple messages you want to delete. 

2. Message Threads

If you want to delete the entire conversations or threads on your HTC device, follow the below steps. 

In case of a single conversation:

  • Tap on the thread or a contact.
  • Tap on the Delete option.

In case of multiple conversations:

  • Tap on the three vertical dots on the screen.
  • Tap on Delete Threads.
  • Select the conversations you want to delete. 

If you automatically want to delete the old messages, you can follow these steps:

  • Open the message settings.
  • Tap on General.
  • Tap on Delete Old Messages.

How To Delete Text Messages On Huawei? 

Huawei is another popular smartphone brand with a pre-installed Text Messages app. Nevertheless, you can install it from Google Play Store if your device lacks it.

Following are the simple steps to delete text messages on Huawei. 

1. Individual Messages

To delete each message individually, follow these steps. 

  • Open the Message Application from the home screen.
Open the Message Application from the home screen.
  • Tap and hold on to the message you want to delete.
Tap and hold on to the message you want to delete.
  • Tap on the Trash Can option on the top of the screen.
Tap on the Trash Can option on the top of the screen.
  • Tap Delete if prompted for confirmation. 
Tap Delete, if prompted for confirmation.

2. Message Threads

You can also delete multiple threads at once. For this, follow these steps. 

  • Open the Message application from the home screen.
Open the Message application from the home screen.
  • Tap and hold on to the thread you want to delete. 
  • You add other threads as well to delete multiple threads at once.
  • Could you tap on the thread to select them?
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  • Tap on the Trash Can option on the screen.
Tap on the Trash Can option on the screen.
  • Tap on Delete if prompted for confirmation. 
Tap on Delete, if prompted for confirmation.

How To Delete Text Messages On Sony? 

For Sony devices, follow these steps to delete text messages. 

1. Individual Messages

In case of deleting individual messages, follow these steps. 

  • Tap on your Messaging app on the home screen.
  • Open the thread from which you want to delete the message.
  • Tap and hold on to the message you want to delete.
  • Tap on Delete Message.
  • Tap on Delete if prompted for confirmation. 

2. SMS Threads

In case of deleting message threads, follow these steps. 

  • Tap on the messaging on the home screen.
  • Tap and hold on to the thread you want to delete.
  • Tap on the Trash Can icon on the screen.
  • Tap on Delete if prompted for confirmation. 

How To Delete Text Messages On Android Through Textra? 

Not all devices support the deleting all messages feature. Hence, it can be tiring if you want to delete every thread, and your device has no easy option for doing this. Because there can be many messages, selecting every thread will take hours of work.

To make this easy, Textra is an amazing third-party application that you can get for your Android device from the Play Store. Once downloaded, set it as your default messaging application. All of your messages will be carried over there automatically.

It has similar layouts and designs as the Android Messages app. So, it is easy to use as well. But it has some added advantages. These include customization and extra options. It also has additional settings options that are absent in an Android messaging app.

Just remember any text messages you delete from this application will automatically delete that message from your Android Messaging app.

Follow the steps below to delete text messages on Android through Textra. 

  • Tap on the three vertical dots on the top-right corner of the screen.
  • Tap on the More Stuff option; for that, you must scroll down to the bottom. 
  • Tap on Message to Keep.
  • You can customize from here how you want to keep your messages.
  • Once you set it as per your convenience, tap on Okay.

Where Are Deleted Text Messages Stored On Android? 

When you delete text messages, they will be removed from the File Allocation Table. But that does not mean they are completely removed from your device. Surprisingly, they still exist in the memory of the phone.

As they are removed from the File Allocation Table, it frees the storage space you can use for other purposes. 

Due to the absence of a recycle bin on Android, you cannot recover the deleted messages easily. You need to download professional Android phone data recovery software. With them, you can access deleted messages without rooting the device. 

An example of such software is Tenorshare Ultdata

Conclusion

So, here you go. These were the different ways to delete text messages on Android on various devices. We hope this has helped you; hence, you can be more organized regarding text messages. We agree these ways come with a few disadvantages. For example, if you want to delete the entire thread but not just one or two messages, there is no easy way. 

There are multiple third-party applications that you can download from the Play Store that might help you to customize and be more organized with the text messages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I be sure all messages are permanently deleted?

It might be difficult to be 100% sure that all messages are permanently deleted. You can check your device to see if there is any backup of the messages on cloud services. If not, there is no need to worry, but if there is a backup, you need to look for the Delete Backup option.

Is it possible to recover deleted text messages on Android?

It is possible to recover deleted text messages on Android in most cases. But we recommend you not to delete any important text messages if you doubt them. So, first, you should look for a backup if your device has one. And you can restore your deleted text messages from there.

Are deleted text messages permanently deleted from the mobile device?

No deleted text messages are not permanently deleted from mobile devices. They are just deleted from the file allocation table. They are still available on the device and can be accessed with the help of professional Android data recovery software.