4 Easy Ways to Remove Photos from Facebook Messenger

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Easily delete photos you sent on Messenger with this guide
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If you sent a photo over Facebook Messenger that you want to remove, you can easily unsend a message or photo or remove it just for you. You can also delete an entire conversation. This wikiHow teaches you how to delete photos that you've sent over Facebook's direct messaging app or page.

Quick Steps

  1. Tap and hold the photo you want to remove.
  2. Tap More ⋯ at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Tap Remove .
  4. Tap Unsend or Remove for You .
  5. Tap Remove .
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Removing a Photo on Mobile

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  1. Tap the Messenger app icon, which resembles a blue speech bubble with a white lightning bolt. This will open a list of your current conversations if you're logged into Messenger.
    • If you aren't logged into Messenger, enter your phone number and password when prompted before continuing.
  2. Tap the conversation that contains the photo that you want to delete. Doing so opens the conversation. [1]
    • If Messenger opens to a page that doesn't have conversations, first tap the Home tab in the bottom-left corner of the screen (iPhone) or the top-left corner (Android).
    • If Messenger opens into a conversation you don't want to use, tap the "Back" button in the top-left corner of the screen to get back to the Home page.
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  3. Scroll through the conversation until you find the photo you want to delete.
    • This process will also work for videos.
  4. This will prompt a menu to appear at the bottom of the screen.
  5. It's in the menu at the bottom of the screen in the lower-right corner. This displays another menu.
  6. It's the last option in the menu at the bottom of the screen.
  7. Tapping Unsend , will remove the photo from the conversation. If you tap Remove for You , you will not be able to see the image, but the other person(s) will still be able to see it.
  8. This confirms that you want to remove the picture and removes it from the conversation.
    • When you remove a message or image, it will be replaced with a message that says you unsent the message.
  9. While deleting the photo from the conversation will typically also remove it from the "Media" section of the conversation's settings, you can double-check to make sure: [2]
    • Tap the person's name at the top of the conversation (iPhone) or the ⓘ icon in the top-right corner of the screen (Android).
    • Scroll down and tap View media, files and links .
    • Tap the Media tab at the top.
    • Look for the photo you deleted.
    • If you find the photo, try closing and re-opening Facebook Messenger to see if the photo disappears from the "Shared Photos" section. If that doesn't remove it, you'll need to delete the whole conversation .
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Removing a Photo on Desktop

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  1. Go to https://www.facebook.com/messages/ in your browser. This will open your most recent Facebook Messenger conversation if you're logged into Facebook in your browser.
  2. Click the conversation that contains the photo that you want to delete. [3]
  3. Scroll through the conversation until you find the photo you want to delete.
    • This process will also work for videos.
    • Hover over the photo. Place the mouse cursor over the photo. This will display a small menu to the side of the photo.
  4. It's next to the photo. Clicking this icon prompts a menu to appear.
    • If you sent the photo, this icon is to the left of the photo. If someone else in the conversation sent the photo, you'll see this icon to the right of the photo.
  6. Selecting "Unsend for everyone" will remove the image from the entire conversation. Selecting "Remove for you" will only remove the photo for you but leave it in the chat for everyone else to see.
  7. It's the blue button at the bottom of the pop-up window. This will remove the photo from the chat.
    • When you remove a message or image, it will be replaced with a message that says you unsent the message.
  8. While deleting the photo from the conversation will typically also remove it from the "Media" section of the conversation's settings, you can double-check to make sure: [4]
    • Click Media files and links in the sidebar to the right.
      • If you are on your Facebook feed, click the name of the conversation at the top and then click Open in Messenger .
    • Click Media .
    • Look for the photo you deleted.
    • If you find the photo, try closing and re-opening your browser. If that doesn't remove the photo, you'll have to delete the conversation .
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Deleting a Conversation on Mobile

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  1. Tap the Messenger app icon, which resembles a blue speech bubble with a white lightning bolt. This will open a list of your current conversations if you're logged into Messenger.
    • If you aren't logged into Messenger, enter your phone number and password when prompted before continuing.
  2. This should be the conversation that contains the photos you can't delete.
    • If Messenger opens to a conversation, tap the "Back" button in the top-left corner of the screen.
  3. Doing so will prompt a pop-up menu to appear after a moment.
    • If you have an iPhone 6S or later, be sure to lightly tap and hold the conversation to avoid activating 3D Touch.
  4. It's in the pop-up menu next to an icon that resembles a trashcan.. [5]
  5. Doing so will remove the conversation and any associated images from your Facebook Messenger app.
    • Keep in mind that the other person(s) will still have full access to the conversation and photos unless they also delete the conversation.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Deleting a Conversation on Desktop

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  1. Go to https://www.facebook.com/messages/ in your browser. This will open your most recent Facebook Messenger conversation if you're logged into Facebook in your browser.
    • If you aren't logged in, enter your email address (or phone number) and password, then click Log In .
  2. Place your mouse cursor over the conversation that contains the photos you want to delete in the menu to the left. You should see an icon with three dots next to the conversation name.
  3. The icon with three dots appears when you hover your mouse cursor over a conversation. A drop-down menu will appear.
  4. It's near the bottom of the drop-down menu next to an icon that resembles a trashcan.
  5. Doing so will remove the conversation and any associated images from your side of Facebook Messenger. [6]
    • Keep in mind that the other person(s) will still have full access to the conversation and photos unless they also delete the conversation.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I desperately wish to delete a photo sent wrongly to someone. Can you help?
    Community Answer
    Only the receiver can delete the photo, within his account. In case this account is shared with you, then you can login into his/her account and delete the picture. Unfortunately, once a message or picture is sent, it cannot be undone from your phone.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 17 Helpful 22
  • Question
    I can't delete photos from Messenger, even after following the steps above. Why not?
    Community Answer
    As of February 2017 there is no longer a way to delete Facebook photos from your Messenger unless you delete the whole conversation, which can be done via the settings tool. Even after deleting a photo, the user you have sent your photo to will still be able to see it unless they delete it through their account by deleting the whole conversation.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 54 Helpful 49
  • Question
    How do I delete my Facebook messenger profile photo?
    Community Answer
    Your messenger profile is also your Facebook profile. To delete or change your profile picture, you will need to log on to your Facebook account and delete it there. You can do so by clicking on your photo, going into settings and hitting the ''delete'' button. Or you can upload a new Facebook profile picture.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 4
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      Tips

      • On both mobile and desktop versions of Facebook Messenger, you may have to close and re-open Messenger before the deleted photo will disappear from the "Media, files and links" section of Messenger.
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      Warnings

      • Removing a photo just for you only removes the photo from your side of the conversation and does not delete it from the other person's side.
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      • When you unsend a photo or message, it leaves behind a message alerting the other person(s) that the message was unsent.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app/242107552657620
      2. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app/566167593908940
      3. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app/242107552657620
      4. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app/566167593908940
      5. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app/242107552657620
      6. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app/242107552657620

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Facebook Messenger
      2. Tap a conversation.
      3. Tap and hold a photo.
      4. Tap Delete
      5. Tap Delete when prompted.

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