How to Delete Messages on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide
Managing your messages on a Mac can be a bit more complex than on other devices, but with the right steps, you can efficiently delete unwanted messages and free up storage space. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you delete messages on your Mac.
Deleting a Single Message
To delete a single message on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Open the Messages App: Click on the Messages app icon in your Dock or find it in your Applications folder.
- Select the Message: Click on the message you want to delete. It will be highlighted in dark blue.
- Delete the Message: Right-click (or use two fingers to tap the bottom right corner of the touchpad) on the selected message and choose Delete. Alternatively, you can click Edit in the top menu bar and select Delete from the dropdown menu.
Deleting Multiple Messages
If you need to delete multiple messages at once, here’s how you can do it:
- Select Multiple Messages: Press the Command button and click on each message you want to delete. Alternatively, you can select one message, hold Shift, and select another message to select all messages in between.
- Delete the Messages: Right-click (or use two fingers to tap the bottom right corner of the touchpad) on the selected messages and choose Delete. You can also click Edit in the top menu bar and select Delete from the dropdown menu.
Deleting an Entire Conversation
To delete an entire conversation, follow these steps:
- Select the Conversation: In the Messages app, select the conversation you want to delete from the list on the left side.
- Swipe Left: Swipe left on the conversation to reveal the Delete option. Click on the red button with the trash can icon.
- Confirm Deletion: Click Delete to confirm the deletion of the conversation.
Deleting Attachments
Attachments can take up significant storage space. Here’s how to delete them:
- Access Attachments Folder: In the Finder, press Command + Shift + G, type
~/Library/Messages/Attachments, and press Enter. - Select and Delete Attachments: Remove the files and folders in the Attachments folder. After you remove the attachments, empty the Trash.
Using the Storage Settings to Delete Attachments
Alternatively, you can use the Storage Settings to manage and delete attachments:
- Open Storage Settings: Click the Apple menu and choose About This Mac > More Info > Storage Settings.
- Find Messages: Find Messages on the list and click the i icon.
- Select and Delete Attachments: In the main window, you will see a list of all the attachments. Select the first file, press and hold Shift, then select the last one to select all. Alternatively, select the first file and press Command-A to select all. Click Delete to remove the selected attachments.
Clearing iMessage Transcripts
To clear all files from a conversation, including photos, texts, videos, and documents, follow these steps:
- Open the Conversation: Open the conversation you want to clear.
- Clear Transcript: Click Edit > Clear Transcript and confirm the action.
Using Terminal to Delete Messages (Advanced)
If you are comfortable using Terminal, you can delete messages and attachments permanently:
- Open Terminal: Go to Applications > Utilities and open Terminal.
- Delete Messages: Paste the following command and press Enter:
rm –r ~/Library/Messages/chat. - Delete Attachments: To delete attachments, use this command:
rm –r ~/Library/Messages/Attachments/??.
By following these steps, you can efficiently manage and delete messages on your Mac, freeing up storage space and keeping your device organized.