How to Permanently Delete iMessages from iPhone or iPad

After you delete a text message or iMessages on iPhone or iPad, you may be wondering “once you delete an iMessage, is it gone forever?” Actually, in the old version of iOS, deleted iMessages/messages weren’t completely erased from your iPhone or iPad. Those messages will be presented again when performing a search on the Spotlight search. Over time, iOS has gotten better at managing your deleted data, so this issue does not persist in the latest iOS version. If you’d like to fix this problem permanently, updating is the best way to go. While there might still be users wonder how to delete iMessages permanently? Here we provide you five potential ways to permanently delete iMessages from iPhone or iPad.

Method 1. Delete on iOS Device

This is a basic method, generally, all iPhone users would start from it. Here are the detailed steps:

• Go the Message app and long-press the target message.
• Tap “More” to edit the iMessage chat history.
• Choose one or two iMessage to delete, or you can just tap “Delete All” to erase the whole iMessage conversation.

If you have updated to the latest iOS, you won’t see the deleted messages when running a search on Spotlight.

Method 2. Delete Messages in iCloud Backup

If you have enabled iCloud backup on your iPhone, both the iMessage and text messages will be automatically stored in your iCloud. If you want to completely delete your iPhone messages, you could delete the backed up messages from iCloud. Below are the detailed steps of how to do it:

• Go to “Settings” on your iPhone and tap on [Your Name], enter iCloud.
• Tap “Manage Storage” below the iCloud section.
• Find and tap Messages, then tap “Disable&Delete”.
• Then both the iMessage and messages stored on your iCloud will be deleted.

Can’t Miss: How to Retrieve Deleted SMS/iMessage Messages on iPhone/iPad>

Method 3. Erase All Content & Setting

There is also a kind of rude solution to delete iMessage permanently, go to Setting > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This is a method that applies to all iOS devices. However, this method hasn’t been highly recommended, because ALL contents and settings will be wiped – back to a new device setting. This would be the last choice you make, and definitely not recommended.

Method 4. Permanently Delete iMessages with PhoneClean

PhoneClean is a professional iOS-cleaning utility that helps keep privacy and free up space by removing unwanted junk files and personal data. It can clean up text messages and iMessages with the attached files. It also clears out call history, browsing history, Safari history, Webmail caches for keeping privacy from being exposed with permanent deletion. Download PhoneClean to take a tour >

Step 1. Open PhoneClean, connect your iPhone to it > Select Privacy Clean, and click the Scan button to continue.

Step 2. After the scan is over, double click Sensitive Data to view the messages on your iPhone. Choose the messages you want to delete, and then back to the result page.

Step 3. Click the Clean button to remove messages from iPhone. You can click each “Review Details” to select the messages or messages attached files you want to remove.

Method 5. Sync iDevice with iTunes

Regularly update and sync with iTunes will remove cache files or other items. It makes changes for iDevice and all the data could be covered by fresh information. However, please pay attention that messages will be backed up to iTunes. So, if you want to erase messages of the original one, you’d better make sure that there is a difference between copies on iTunes and iOS devices. Also, be careful with another point: other information will also be synced at the same. That means original personal data will be lost while syncing. So to easily delete iMessage for forever, Method 4 would be better and easier.

Don’t Miss: How to Delete iMessages on Mac Permanently >

The Bottom Line

PhoneClean has been highly recommended because it saves too much time and keeps personal privacy out of danger. Now, just take a tour for PhoneClean >