You can delete messages on Airbnb, but only from your end—the other person still sees them
When you delete a message on Airbnb, it disappears from your inbox and message thread, but the recipient can still see it on their screen. Airbnb does not offer a "unsend" feature that removes messages from both sides of the conversation. Deletion is permanent on your account and cannot be undone, so make sure you want the message gone before you confirm.
The process takes about 10 seconds and works the same way on the Airbnb app and website. You do not need to contact Airbnb support to delete individual messages.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted messages disappear from your view only; the other person can still read them in their inbox.
- You can delete messages one at a time or select multiple messages to delete together.
- Deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed, so double-check before you confirm.
- The delete option appears when you long-press a message on mobile or right-click on desktop.
- You cannot delete entire conversations—only individual messages within them.
How to delete a single message on the Airbnb app
Open the Airbnb app and go to your Messages tab at the bottom of the screen. Find the conversation that contains the message you want to delete and tap it to open the thread.
Long-press (press and hold) the message you want to remove. A menu will appear with options including Delete. Tap Delete, and the message will vanish from your inbox when ready. The conversation itself stays open, and all other messages in that thread remain visible.
If you accidentally delete the wrong message, there is no undo button—you will need to send a new message if you want to communicate that information again.
How to delete messages on the Airbnb website
Log into your Airbnb account on a computer or tablet and click the Messages icon (usually a speech bubble) in the top navigation. Select the conversation you want to edit.
Hover your mouse over the message you want to delete. A small menu icon (three dots or a trash can) will appear on the right side of the message. Click it and select Delete from the dropdown menu. The message will be removed from your view.
On some browsers, you can also right-click directly on the message to bring up a context menu with the delete option.
Deleting multiple messages at once
If you want to remove several messages from the same conversation, you can select them together instead of deleting one by one. On the app, long-press the first message, then tap additional messages to select them. A counter at the top will show how many you have selected. Once you have chosen all the messages you want gone, tap the Delete button.
On the website, hover over each message and click the menu icon, or use your keyboard to select multiple messages if your browser supports it. Then click Delete to remove all selected messages at once.
What happens to deleted messages in your conversation history
When you delete a message, it leaves a gap in your message thread. The other person will see that a message was there (sometimes shown as "[Message deleted]" or a blank space), but they cannot read the content. Your side of the conversation will show nothing in that spot.
This means the other person knows you deleted something, but they cannot see what it was. If the message contained important information, you may want to send a new message explaining what you removed or why, rather than leaving them confused.
Reasons to delete messages and what to do instead
You might delete a message if you sent it to the wrong person, included a typo, or shared information you did not mean to reveal. Since Airbnb does not let you edit messages after sending, deletion is the only way to remove them from your view.
If you made a mistake in a message but the other person has already read it, consider sending a follow-up message clarifying what you meant. This is clearer than deleting silently, especially if the message contained booking details, house rules, or check-in instructions. For sensitive information like phone numbers or addresses, you can delete the message and then send the information through a different channel if needed.
Deleting entire conversations
Airbnb does not allow you to delete an entire conversation at once. You can only delete individual messages within a thread. If you want to remove all traces of a conversation, you would need to delete each message one by one, which is time-consuming for long threads.
If you want to hide a conversation from your inbox without deleting it, some versions of Airbnb let you archive messages. Check your Messages settings to see if an archive or hide option is available on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the other person see that I deleted a message?
They can see that something was deleted (it usually shows as a blank space or "[Message deleted]"), but they cannot read what the message said. If you delete a message when ready after sending it, they may not notice at all if they have not opened the conversation yet.
Can I recover a message I deleted by mistake?
No. Once you delete a message on Airbnb, it is gone permanently. Airbnb does not have a trash folder or recovery option. If you need to resend the information, you will have to type it again in a new message.
Does deleting a message affect my booking or reservation?
Deleting a message does not change your booking status or any reservation details. It only removes the message from your inbox. Your host or guest can still see the conversation history (minus the deleted message), and all booking information stays the same.
What if I want to delete all my messages with one person?
You have to delete messages individually—there is no bulk delete for an entire conversation. If the thread is very long, this will take time. Alternatively, you can stop messaging that person and let the conversation sit in your inbox without deleting anything.
Can I delete messages after a booking is complete?
Yes. You can delete messages at any time, whether the booking is active, completed, or cancelled. Deleting messages does not affect your booking history or reviews.