Imagine this: you accidentally send a message via Instagram that you would rather not have sent. Can you still delete it? More importantly, does it also disappear from the recipient’s mind?
In this blog, we explain all about deleting Instagram chat messages, including options, limitations, and frequently asked questions about privacy and visibility.
Can you delete an Instagram message with the recipient?
Yes, Instagram allows you to undo individual posts. If you use this feature, the selected message will be deleted from both you and the other person. No notification is left of the deleted message – it looks like it was never sent.
Note that this only applies to individual messages. Deleting an entire conversation can only be done from your own inbox, and does not affect the recipient’s inbox.
🛠️ How does “undoing” a message work?
- Open the Instagram app and go to your DMs (direct messages).
- Open the conversation in which you want to delete something.
- Press and hold the message.
- Tap “Undo.”
- Confirm that you want to delete the message.
After confirmation, the message disappears with both people in the chat – regardless of whether it was already opened.
❗ When can you no longer effectively delete a message?
While technically you can always delete a post, there are situations where that has little effect:
- If the message has already been read: The recipient already knows what it said.
- If a screenshot was taken: Instagram does not alert you to screenshots.
- If the recipient has push notifications turned on: The text of the message may have already been visible.
- For slow connection or error message: Sometimes deletion does not succeed immediately.
- If you first block someone and then want to remove them: In some cases, it then fails.
In short: acting quickly is crucial if you want to prevent the other person from seeing the message.
Delete entire chat? Only for yourself
You can delete an entire Instagram conversation from your inbox, but this has no effect on the other person. With the recipient, everything just remains visible until that person deletes the conversation themselves.
This is how you delete an entire conversation:
- Go to your DM overview.
- Swipe the call to the left (iOS) or press and hold (Android).
- Select “Delete.”
⚠️ The other person receives no notification of this and retains the conversation.
Can anyone see when you delete a post on Instagram?
Although Instagram doesn’t send a notification when you delete a message, that doesn’t mean the action goes completely unnoticed. Of course, if the recipient has already opened or read the message, they will know what you had sent – even if you delete it immediately afterwards. Moreover, push notifications on iPhones and Android devices can often show a preview of the message. In that case, some of the content may have already been visible, even if the message has since been deleted. Screenshots make it even more sensitive: Instagram does not let you know if someone took a screenshot of a DM, so it is always possible that a message will be preserved despite deletion. So deletion is effective, but not foolproof.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Can you delete a post on Instagram? Yes, you can delete each individual post via “undo”.
- Can anyone see when you delete a post on Instagram? No, there will be no notification. But they may have already read it or seen it in a push notification.
- Can anyone see that you deleted a post? No, Instagram does not show a “message deleted” notification like WhatsApp does.
- What happens if I delete an Instagram post? The message disappears completely with both parties. It is permanently deleted and cannot be retrieved.
- When can you stop deleting a post? You can technically always delete it, but it’s of little use if the message has already been read, saved or screen-shot.
- Can you also delete photos and videos? Yes, you can undo any type of sent media in the same way.
- Can I delete messages in group conversations? Yes, messages in group chats can also be undone. They disappear with everyone.
Add comment