How to Delete a Group on Facebook Messenger

Last Updated: September 28, 2021 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to permanently delete a group chat from Facebook Messenger on a phone, tablet, or computer. As long as you are listed as an admin of the chat, you can remove all of the group members so they can no longer carry on the conversation. Once you remove the group members, you can delete the chat from your inbox so you don't have to see it anymore. Keep in mind that this will not remove the history of the chat from former group members' inboxes—it will only remove them from the group and prevent them from responding further.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Messenger Mobile App

1
Open the Messenger app on your phone or tablet. It's the blue, pink, and purple chat bubble icon with a lightning bolt inside. You'll find it on your home screen or in your app list.
2
Tap the Home or Chats tab. If you're using an Android, tap the icon of a house at the bottom of the screen.^{[1]
X
Research source} If you're using an iPhone or iPad, tap the speech bubble icon labeled Chats at the bottom of the screen.
- If Messenger opens up to a conversation, tap the back button to go back to your Home screen first.
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3
Tap the group chat you want to delete. This displays the contents of the chat.
4
Tap the name of the group chat. If the chat has a name, you'll see it at the top of the screen. If not, you'll see the names of a few people in the chat. Tapping this displays information about the chat.
5
Tap Members or See Group Members. This displays all members of the group.
6
Make sure you are a group admin. Only group admins can delete the group. To check if you are an admin, tap ADMINS at the top. If your name is there, you're an admin and can remove other members and delete the group.
- After checking, tap the ALL tab at the top to return to the full list of group members.
7
Remove all group members except for yourself. To delete the group, you'll need to remove all of the other members first and remain a member. To delete a member, tap their name and select Remove from Group. Repeat this until the only remaining member is yourself.
- If you leave a group without removing all the other members, the group chat will continue without you.
8
Tap the back button to return to the group details. Now that you've removed all the members, there are only a few remaining steps.
- At this point, if you don't mind keeping the message in your inbox, you can tap Leave group toward the bottom to leave the group yourself. If you actually want to delete the message from your inbox permanently, continue with this method.
9
Ignore future messages from this conversation. To be able to delete the chat permanently, you'll need to ignore it first. Tap Ignore Messages on the chat, and then tap Ignore to confirm. This moves the group chat to your Spam messages.
10
Open your Spam messages. Here's how:
- Tap the back button until you've returned to the Chats or Home tab. This is the tab that contains a list of all of your conversations.
- Tap your profile icon at the top-left corner.
- Tap Message Requests on the menu.
- Tap the SPAM tab at the top. This is where you'll find the group chat you ignored, as well as any messages that you've filtered as spam.
11
Swipe left on the message and tap Delete. A confirmation message will appear, asking if you want to permanently delete the conversation.
12
Tap Delete to confirm. This permanently deletes the group message from your inbox.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Messenger on the Web

1
Go to https://www.facebook.com/messages in a web browser. If you're not signed in, you'll be prompted to do so now.
2
Click a group chat on the left panel. This displays your chat in the center panel, and a list of chat members and other features in the right panel.
- You can also use the Search Messenger bar in the upper-left corner if you remember the group name, members, or the content of the chat conversation.
3
Make sure you're a group admin. Take a look at the far-right panel—you'll see a section called "Chat Members." As long as you see "Admin" listed below your name in the Chat Members list, you'll be able to remove group members and delete the chat.
- If you don't see the Chat Members list in the right panel, click the small "i" in a circle at the upper-right corner of the chat to expand it.
4
Remove all group members except yourself. To remove a group member, click the three horizontal dots on any name in the Chat Members list, select Remove Member, and then click Remove from Chat to confirm.^{[2]
X
Research source} Repeat this until you've removed everyone from the group except yourself.
- If you leave a group without removing all the other members, the group chat will continue without you.
5
Click the Privacy & Support menu. It's in the right panel below the Chat Members list. This expands more options.
6
Click Ignore Messages. Before you can delete a group, you'll need to ignore it, which will automatically move it into your Spam messages. It can be deleted from there. A pop-up warning will appear.
7
Click Ignore Messages to confirm. The message will now move away from your inbox and into your spam box.
8
Click the three horizontal dots next to "Chats" ••• . This is at the top of the left panel, above your list of conversations. A menu will expand.
9
Click Message Requests on the menu. Now you'll see a list of messages people have attempted to send you, as well as a section titled "See Spam."
10
Click See Spam. It's below any messages that appear in your Message Requests box. This is where you'll find the group chat you ignored.
11
Click the three horizontal dots on the chat ••• . A menu will expand.
12
Click Delete Chat and then Delete Chat again to confirm. The chat is now deleted.

Community Q&A

Question

Will the other people in the group still be able to see the chat?

Community Answer

Not if you remove them all as instructed. Once removed, the person will not be able to view or access the group.

Warnings

You have to be a group chat admin to remove other members from the conversation. You can still remove a group from your chats list by leaving without kicking other members, but the conversation will continue for other members.

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There is no way to prevent former members of the group from forming a new chat.

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