You can delete Airbnb messages one at a time from your inbox or conversation thread

Airbnb lets you remove individual messages from your inbox and from inside a conversation. The message disappears from your view, but the other person can still see it on their end — deletion is one-way. You cannot bulk-delete all messages at once, and you cannot delete an entire conversation thread without deleting each message separately. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using the Airbnb app or the website.

Deleted messages cannot be recovered. Airbnb does not have an undo feature or a trash folder where deleted messages sit temporarily. If you delete something by mistake, you cannot get it back through the app or website, so double-check before you confirm the deletion.

Key Takeaways

  • Messages delete only from your inbox; the other person still sees them in their conversation thread.
  • You must delete messages one at a time — there is no option to select multiple messages or wipe a whole conversation at once.
  • On the app, open the message, tap and hold it, then select delete from the menu that appears.
  • On the website, hover over the message and click the trash icon that shows up on the right side.
  • Deleted messages cannot be recovered, so double-check before you confirm the deletion.

Deleting messages on the Airbnb mobile app

Open the Airbnb app and go to the Messages tab at the bottom of the screen. Find the conversation that contains the message you want to remove. Tap into the conversation to open the full thread.

Locate the specific message you want to delete. Press and hold your finger on that message until a menu appears with options. Tap Delete from the menu. The message will disappear from your inbox when ready. If you want to delete multiple messages, you must repeat this process for each one — the app does not offer a way to select and delete several messages at the same time.

Deleting messages on the Airbnb website

Log into your Airbnb account on a web browser. Click the Messages icon (usually a speech bubble) in the top navigation or go to your Messages page. Select the conversation that holds the message you want to remove.

Hover your mouse over the message you want to delete. A trash icon will appear on the right side of the message. Click the trash icon. A confirmation prompt may appear asking if you are sure — click to confirm the deletion. The message will be removed from your inbox. Like the app, the website does not support selecting multiple messages at once, so you will need to delete each message individually if you want to remove more than one.

What happens when you delete a message

When you delete a message, it vanishes from your Messages inbox and from that conversation thread on your account. The other person — whether a host or a guest — will still see the message in their own conversation thread. Deletion is not shared across both accounts, so removing a message on your side does nothing to their copy of the conversation.

Once a message is deleted, you cannot recover it. Airbnb does not have an undo feature or a trash folder where deleted messages sit temporarily. If you delete something by mistake, you cannot get it back through the app or website. Your only option is to ask the other person to resend the information or clarify what was in the message.

Why you might want to delete messages

Hosts and guests delete messages for different reasons. You might remove a message that contains a typo or unclear wording, though the other person will still see the original. You might delete messages to clean up your inbox if you have many old conversations. You might also delete messages that contain personal information you do not want sitting in your account history.

Keep in mind that deleting a message from your side does not erase it from the other person's records. If you are concerned about privacy or want to remove sensitive information from a conversation, deletion only works on your end. The host or guest will still have access to the message in their own inbox.

Clearing your entire message history

Airbnb does not have a built-in feature to delete an entire conversation at once. If you want to remove all messages from a host or guest, you must delete each message individually, which can be time-consuming for long conversations. There is no shortcut or batch-delete option available on either the app or the website.

An alternative is to archive conversations instead of deleting them. On the app, swipe left on a conversation (or long-press and select the archive option) to move it out of your main inbox. On the website, look for an archive button or option within the conversation. Archived conversations are hidden but not deleted, and you can search for them later if needed.

Messages that cannot be deleted

System messages — notifications from Airbnb itself about booking confirmations, cancellations, or policy updates — may not be deletable in the same way as regular messages. These are generated by Airbnb's system rather than by another user, and they often serve as records of your transaction.

If you are trying to delete a system message and the delete option does not appear, that message is likely part of your booking record and is kept for your protection and reference. You will not be able to remove these messages through the standard deletion process.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I delete a message, can the other person still see it?

Yes. Deletion only removes the message from your inbox and conversation thread. The host or guest you were messaging will still see the message in their conversation with you. If you need to remove information from a conversation, you cannot do it on their end.

Can I delete a message after a long time has passed?

Yes. There is no time limit on deleting messages. You can delete a message from a conversation that happened months or years ago, as long as the conversation still exists in your account.

What if I delete a message by accident?

Airbnb does not have an undo or recovery option for deleted messages. Once a message is gone, it cannot be restored. If you deleted something important, your only option is to ask the other person to resend the information or clarify what was in the message.

Can I delete messages before a host or guest reads them?

You can delete a message at any time, whether the other person has read it or not. However, they may have already seen it before you delete it. Deletion does not prevent them from having seen the message earlier.

Does deleting a message affect my booking or reservation?

No. Deleting messages does not change your booking status, reservation dates, or any agreements you made with a host or guest. Messages are separate from your booking record, and removing them has no effect on the reservation itself.