Where to find and delete your Airbnb messages
You can delete messages in Airbnb through the messaging section of your account on either the website or the mobile app. The process is the same on both: open the conversation you want to delete from, find the message or thread, and select the delete option. Airbnb does not permanently erase messages from the other person's inbox — it removes them only from your own view.
Messages stay in your Airbnb account until you remove them manually. There is no automatic deletion, and Airbnb does not have a setting to auto-delete old messages. If you want to clean up your message history, you will need to go through and delete conversations one at a time.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a message in Airbnb removes it from your inbox only, not from the other person's account.
- You can delete individual messages or entire conversations through the Messaging section on the website or app.
- Once deleted, a message cannot be recovered from your Airbnb account.
- Airbnb keeps a record of messages related to active or past bookings for dispute resolution, even if you delete them from your view.
How to delete a single message on the Airbnb website
Log into your Airbnb account on a computer or browser. Go to your Messages section by clicking the message icon in the top navigation bar, or select Messages from your account menu. Find the conversation containing the message you want to remove.
Open the conversation and hover your mouse over the specific message. A trash or delete icon will appear on the right side of that message. Click it to delete. The message will disappear from your view when ready. If you change your mind within a few seconds, you may see an undo option, but once you navigate away from the conversation, the deletion is permanent on your end.
How to delete a single message on the Airbnb mobile app
Open the Airbnb app and tap the Messages icon at the bottom of your screen (on iPhone) or in the menu (on Android). Select the conversation you want to edit.
Press and hold the message you want to delete until a menu appears with options. Tap Delete or the trash icon. The message will be removed from your inbox. On some versions of the app, you may need to swipe left on the message first to reveal the delete button.
How to delete an entire conversation in Airbnb
If you want to remove a whole conversation rather than individual messages, the process is faster. On the website, go to your Messages section and find the conversation in your list. Hover over it and click the three-dot menu icon or trash icon that appears. Select Delete Conversation.
On the mobile app, find the conversation in your Messages list, press and hold it until options appear, and tap Delete. The entire thread will be removed from your inbox. Again, this only affects your view — the other person will still see the conversation in their account.
What happens to messages after you delete them
Deleting a message from your Airbnb account does not erase it from the other person's inbox. If you send a message and then delete it, the recipient will still see it on their end. Deletion is a one-way action that only cleans up your own message history.
Airbnb also maintains records of messages tied to bookings for safety and dispute resolution. Even if you delete a message from your view, Airbnb's systems may retain it for a set period. This is especially true for messages related to active reservations or ongoing issues between a guest and host. You cannot permanently delete these records yourself.
Why you might want to delete messages
People delete Airbnb messages for different reasons. Some want to clean up their inbox after a stay is complete. Others delete messages to remove personal information they shared during the booking process. A few delete conversations to start fresh with a host or guest after a dispute.
Keep in mind that deleting a message does not change what the other person saw or knows about you. If you shared your phone number or address in a message and then delete it, the recipient already has that information. Deletion is only useful for organizing your own account, not for controlling what others have learned about you.
Messages you should not delete
If you are in the middle of a booking or have an active dispute with a host or guest, hold onto your messages. These conversations are evidence of what was agreed to, what went wrong, or what was promised. If you need to contact Airbnb support about a problem, having the full message thread makes it much easier for them to help you.
Similarly, if you are waiting for a refund or have filed a claim, do not delete messages until the issue is fully resolved. Airbnb support may ask you to provide screenshots or details from your conversation, and having the original messages in your account makes that process simpler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a message I sent but the other person already read?
Yes, you can delete any message from your inbox at any time, whether it has been read or not. However, the other person will still see the message in their account. Deletion only removes it from your view.
What if I delete a conversation by accident?
Once you delete a conversation, it is gone from your inbox and cannot be recovered through an undo button. However, if you message that person again, a new conversation thread will start. Airbnb support cannot restore deleted messages for you.
Does deleting messages affect my host or guest rating?
No. Deleting messages does not change your rating, reviews, or standing on Airbnb. Ratings and reviews are separate from your message history and are not affected by what you delete.
Can a host or guest see that I deleted a message?
No. When you delete a message from your inbox, the other person does not receive a notification or see any indication that you deleted it. They will still see the message in their own account.
Are deleted messages really gone from Airbnb's servers?
Deleted messages are removed from your personal inbox, but Airbnb may retain copies on its servers for legal, safety, and dispute-resolution purposes. You cannot permanently delete messages from Airbnb's systems yourself, though they may be removed after a certain period according to Airbnb's data retention policy.