You can delete messages from both sides of a conversation on Airbnb, but the other person will still see that a message existed
Airbnb lets you delete messages you have sent or received, but deletion is not the same as erasing. When you delete a message, it disappears from your inbox and message thread, but the other person's copy remains on their end. They will see a note that says "This message has been removed" instead of the text. If you want to remove a message because you sent it by mistake or want to clean up your inbox, deletion works. If you want to unsend something so the other person never sees it, that is not possible on Airbnb.
The process takes less than a minute on either the app or website, and deleted messages cannot be recovered. You should only delete a message if you are certain you do not need it later.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a message removes it from your view only; the recipient will see a placeholder saying the message was removed.
- You can delete messages you sent and messages you received from the other person.
- The process is the same on the Airbnb app and website: find the message, tap or click the menu, and select delete.
- Deleted messages cannot be recovered, so make sure you want to remove it before confirming.
- Airbnb does not have an unsend feature that removes messages from the other person's inbox.
How to delete a message on the Airbnb app
Open the Airbnb app and go to the Messages section at the bottom of the screen. Find the conversation that contains the message you want to delete and tap it to open the thread. Scroll to the message you want to remove.
Press and hold the message until a menu appears. On iOS, you will see options including "Delete". On Android, tap the three-dot menu icon next to the message and select "Delete". Confirm the deletion when prompted. The message will disappear from your view when ready.
How to delete a message on the Airbnb website
Log into your Airbnb account on a computer or mobile browser. Click the Messages icon (usually a speech bubble) in the top navigation. Select the conversation containing the message you want to delete.
Hover your mouse over the message you want to remove. A three-dot menu icon will appear on the right side of the message. Click it and select "Delete message". Confirm the deletion. The message will be removed from your inbox.
What happens when you delete a message
When you delete a message, it vanishes from your message thread and your inbox. The other person, however, will see the message still exists but will read "This message has been removed" in place of your original text. They cannot click on it or see what you wrote. This applies whether you delete a message you sent or a message you received.
Deleted messages are permanent and cannot be recovered through Airbnb. If you delete something by mistake, you cannot undo it. If the information was important, you may need to send a new message with the same details.
Reasons to delete messages and when it makes sense
Hosts and guests delete messages for different reasons. You might delete a message to clean up your inbox if you have a long conversation and want to remove clutter. You might delete a message that contains a typo or unclear wording that could confuse the other person. Some people delete messages to remove personal information they shared by accident, such as a phone number or address they later decided not to share.
Keep in mind that the other person will still know a message was there. If you sent sensitive information and then deleted it, they may wonder what you removed or may have already read and saved it. Deletion is useful for tidying your own records, not for hiding information from the other person.
Deleting entire conversations
If you want to remove an entire conversation instead of single messages, Airbnb lets you do that too. On the app, find the conversation in your Messages list, press and hold it, and select "Delete conversation". On the website, hover over the conversation in your list and click the trash icon that appears. The entire thread will be removed from your inbox.
Like individual message deletion, removing a conversation only affects your view. The other person's copy of the conversation remains intact. You can still message that person again in the future, and a new conversation thread will start.
What you cannot do with Airbnb messages
Airbnb does not have an unsend or recall feature. Once you send a message, the other person receives it when ready and you cannot pull it back. You can only delete it from your own inbox after the fact. Airbnb also does not let you edit messages after you send them. If you need to correct something, you have to send a new message with the correct information.
You cannot delete messages from someone else's inbox or force them to delete a conversation. You also cannot see whether someone has read your message or when they read it, though some hosts and guests infer this from response time.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I delete a message, can the other person still see it?
No, they will see "This message has been removed" instead of your text. However, they will know a message was there and that you deleted it. If they read the message before you deleted it, they already saw the content.
Can I delete a message I received from someone else?
Yes. You can delete messages sent to you the same way you delete messages you sent. The other person will not know you deleted their message from your inbox.
What if I accidentally delete an important message?
Deleted messages cannot be recovered through Airbnb. If the information was critical, ask the other person to resend it or send a new message asking them to repeat what they said.
Does deleting a message affect my reservation or booking?
No. Deleting messages does not change your reservation status, cancellation policy, or any agreement you made with the host or guest. It only removes the message from your inbox.
Can I delete messages before the host or guest reads them?
You can delete a message from your inbox at any time, but if the other person has already received and read it, they have seen the content. Deletion only removes it from your view, not from theirs.