How to Delete Chats and Messages from Snapchat

Elsa Updated on Mar 19, 2025 Filed to: Parent Control

Snapchat is all about quick convos and fun snaps. But have you noticed that your Snapchat is overflowing with old and countless conversations over time. If so, it is time to get rid of clutter or clear some messages for privacy. So, how to delete a chat on Snapchat? Let's break it down!

First at first, tell me why you are here:

If you just want a clean chat feed on Snapchat, skip to >>>
If you need to permanently erase Snapchat message history, direct to >>>

*Since the steps described below vary greatly, be sure to choose the one that suits your needs.

How to Clear Chat from Snapchat Feed

Snapchat allows you to clean up your Snapchat chat feed, and this doesn't erase the messages in that chat. You can utilize this to keep your chat list organized. Here's how to clear Snapchat chat from the chat feed.

Delete Chat One by One

If you need to delete a certain chat from your list of conversations without deleting the messages themselves, you have the ability to do so right within the Chat tab. Just follow:

Step 1.On Snapchat, go to the "Chat" tab to open your conversations.
Step 2.Scroll through the chat list and locate the conversation you want to remove.
Step 3.Press and hold the chat until a pop-up menu appears. From the menu, select "Chat and Notification Settings."
Step 4.Tap "Clear from Chat Feed."

Once done, this chat will be hidden from your Snapchat while the conversation history reserved.

Delete Multiple Chats

If you would rather delete conversations in bulk rather than individually, Snapchat offers the capability to do so through the "Settings" menu. Using this method is most appropriate for clearing your chat stream quickly.

Step 1.Tap on your Bitmoji in the top-left corner of Snapchat.
Step 2.Then, tap on the "Settings" icon.
Step 3.Under the "Privacy Controls" section, select "Clear Data > Clear Conversations."
Step 4.A list of all your recent chats will appear, with an "X" icon next to each conversation.
Step 5.Just tap "X" next to each chat you want to remove from your feed.

How to Delete Snapchat Chat History Permanently

Snapchat, known for its ephemeral messaging feature, messages can be permanently erased and cannot be recovered from both sides. Now, let's see how to delete messages from Snapchat chats.

Use the Auto-delete Feature

I believe you are all familiar with Snapchat's disappearing messages, which are automatically deleted after a certain period.

By default, messages disappear after they are viewed. That is, if you haven't changed the settings, Snapchat automatically deletes messages without you having to delete them yourself. Surely, saved messages will not be deleted unless you manually unsave them.

To make sure your messages are deleted after viewing, please follow:

Step 1.Press and hold any Snapchat conversation.
Step 2.Then, tap "Chat and Notification Settings" from the menu.
Step 3.Look for "Delete Chats..." to confirm that.

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Manually Delete Messages

Unlike the automatic deletion function, the process allows you to delete individual messages anytime, even if you or the other party have saved them. Nevertheless, recipients will notice that it was deleted due to Snapchat's notification mechanism. To do so:

Step 1.Open the conversation where you want to delete a message.
Step 2.Locate the specific message you want to remove.
Step 3.Press and hold on to the message. Then, tap "Delete" from the options.

To delete a saved message on Snapchat, please long-press it to unsave it at first.

Clearing Chat Feed vs. Deleting Chat History

By far, we've introduced two main options to help you delete chat from Snapchat. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:

	Clearing Snapchat Chat Feed	Deleting Snapchat Chat History
Purpose	Hides the conversation from the chat list	Removes messages within a conversation
Effect on Chat History	Just hides the chat history	Deletes related chat history
Delete for Both Sides?
Reversibility	Can be undone by receiving or sending a new message	Irreversible once the message is deleted

FAQs about Snapchat Message Deletion

Does Snapchat notify you when you delete a chat?

Yes, when you manually delete a message in a conversation or change the auto-delete timer, Snapchat notifies the other party. Typically, the notification looks like the picture below.

Can the other person still see the chat after I delete it?

It depends on how the chat was deleted:

If you clear the chat feed, the messages remain in the conversation and are still visible to the other person. If you manually delete messages in a conversation, they are removed from both devices.

Do Snapchat messages disappear if not opened?

Yes. For Snapchat one-on-one chats, unopened messages disappear after 31 days if the recipient doesn't open them. For Snapchat group chats, messages disappear after 7 days if no one views them.

How to find cleared conversations on Snapchat?

If you delete a chat from your chat list, you will still see it if you receive a new message from the person. You also have the choice of reopening the chat manually as follows:

Step 1.Open Snapchat and tap the search bar at the top. Type the username of the person whose chat you cleared.
Step 1.Tap on their profile to reopen and access the deleted conversation.

But note that if the conversation was deleted automatically by Snapchat or manually by one of you, it is impossible to get them back.

Conclusion

Snapchat provides different options, such as sweeping chats out of your feed to clean up your screen or erasing messages entirely to keep your communications private. Now, just use this guide to manage your Snapchat chats efficiently whether you need to make your chat feed organized or keep your privacy intact.

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Elsa

Elsa has worked on a number of iOS & Android solutions, she can always find her way around almost any application. She is an accomplished, skilled and versatile writer with more than 7 years of technical article writing experience.

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