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How to Delete Messages on Apple Watch in 2024

Apple Watch filled to the brim with unwanted messages? This guide will explain how to delete messages on Apple Watch so that you can organize them and even save some space.

Apple Watch is a versatile wearable device that has tons of useful functions. While Apple is aiming for the Apple Watch to be more of a fitness companion, it still has software features that make it a complete smartwatch.

One of the most useful Apple Watch features is its ability to receive and respond to text messages. You can receive SMS and iMessages on your Apple Watch and respond to them too.

These messages get stored locally on your Apple Watch so if you want to delete them but don’t know how then continue reading. This article will teach you how to delete messages on Apple Watch and more. This method will work for all Apple Watch models.

Press the Digital Crown, choose Messages, swipe left on a message, and then choose the Trashcan to delete it. Only one message can only be deleted at a time.

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How to Delete Messages on Apple Watch

Why you should delete messages on Apple Watch

Apple Watch can display messages that you receive on your iPhone. You can even reply to these messages right from your Apple Watch. Apple Watch stores the messages your receive locally on its storage.

Why you should delete messages on Apple Watch

So that means any images, videos, gifs, etc will also get stored on your Apple Watch. These could take up space over time and older Apple Watch models with low storage capacity can get filled up easily. So, deleting these messages that you don’t want on your Apple Watch can free up space.

Another important reason to delete Apple Watch messages is to keep the Messages app on your Apple Watch organized which will make it easy to access important messages and conversations. So you can delete unwanted conversations and spam messages to make it convenient for you.

So if you want to know how to delete messages on Apple Watch Series 7, you have come to the right place. This method will work for all Apple Watch models.

Along with deleting Apple Watch messages, I will explain other tips and tricks when it comes to messages on Apple Watch.

How To Clear Apple Watch Message Notifications

Let’s start by clearing your Apple Watch notifications. All you have to do to remove a notification for a new message from your Apple Watch’s notification panel is the following:

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Step 1 From the top of your Apple Watch, swipe downward.

Step 2 On the notification, swipe left.

Step 3 To clear or dismiss it, tap the red “X” icon.

This is true for all Apple Watch notifications, including SMS. Additionally, your iPhone and Apple Watch both receive notifications. When you turn off message notifications on your iPhone, the Apple Watch likewise stops receiving them.

How to delete messages on Apple Watch

You can delete the messages you receive on Apple Watch if needed. To delete a message thread or conversation on your Apple Watch, do the following,

Step 1 Press the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch to access the app screen.

How to delete messages on Apple Watch

Step 2 Tap on Messages and scroll down to any conversation you want to delete.

Step 3 Swipe left on the conversation, this will reveal two options.

How to delete all messages on Apple Watch

Step 4 Tap on the red Trash Can icon to delete the conversation.

Does deleting messages from Apple Watch delete from iPhone

Step 5 You can repeat this process for any conversation that you want to remove from your Apple Watch.

Now you have deleted the conversation from your Apple Watch. This method will work for all Apple Watch models. Learn more about deleting messages on Apple Watch below.

Can you delete all messages on Apple Watch?

It can be a tedious process to delete conversions one by one on your Apple Watch. Now that you know how to delete messages from Apple Watch, you might be wondering if there’s a way to delete multiple or all messages at once from your Apple Watch but sadly this is not an option.

The Apple Watch doesn’t have a feature that lets you delete multiple messages, it also doesn’t feature a delete all option. This means that users who want to delete more than one conversation on Apple have to delete them one by one.

The only option to keep your inbox on Apple Watch clean is to delete unwanted conversations as soon as you receive them. This is a big oversight from Apple’s fault, as deleting multiple messages is a necessary feature. I hope Apple adds this ability to delete multiple messages on Apple Watch in a future update.

Does deleting messages from Apple Watch delete from iPhone?

Unlike many apps that sync between Apple Watch and iPhone, Messages don’t sync between your iPhone and Apple Watch.

So even though you’ll receive messages from your iPhone on your Apple Watch, they don’t actually sync in real-time. So if you delete a message/conversation on your Apple Watch it will only be removed from your Watch and not on your iPhone.

Similarly, if you delete a message on your iPhone, the conversation will still remain on your Apple Watch.

Does deleting an iMessage delete it from all devices?

iMessages work differently from normal SMS messaging. And if you have enabled Messages in iCloud, then if you delete an iMessage from your iCloud or any device, then the iMessage will delete the conversation across all your devices, including Apple Watch.

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And remember that once you delete an iMessage from your iCloud, you can’t get it back. Here’s how you can set up Messages in iCloud and how delete them across multiple devices.

To turn on Messages in iCloud using iPhone, iPad, or iPod,

Step 1 Open the Settings app on your device.

Step 2 Tap on your name.

Step 3 Tap on iCloud.

Step 4 Toggle on the Messages option here.

To turn on Messages in iCloud using Mac,

Step 1 Open Messages.

Step 2 In the menu bar, choose Messages and then Preferences.

Step 3 Click on iMessage.

Step 4 Enable Messages in iCloud by selecting the box next to it.

Once you have enabled Messages in iCloud, you can delete iMessages across all your devices easily. To do this,

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod

Step 1 Open the Messages app.

Step 2 Swipe left over the conversation that you want to delete.

Step 3 Tap on the Delete icon.

Step 4 Confirm by tapping on Delete.

On your Mac

Step 1 Open the Messages app.

Step 2 Control-click on the conversation you want to delete.

Step 3 Choose the Delete Conversation option.

Step 4 Click on Delete.

Doing these will delete messages across all the devices you have iCloud set up on. This includes your Apple Watch. But remember that this works only for iMessages.

Does Deleting Text Messages Free Up Space on Apple Watch?

One of the reasons to delete messages on your Apple Watch is to make it easier to navigate and find important conversations. Another reason is to free up space on your Apple Watch. So now you know how to delete messages on Apple Watch, you can free up some space too.

While a message conversation might not free up a ton of space, older Apple Watch models with less storage space could benefit from deleting conversations. Conversations with lots of photos, gifs, videos, etc, can take up some space, so deleting such conversions could help.

How Long Do Messages Stay on Apple Watch?

The messages you receive on your Apple Watch from your iPhone don’t stay forever. After every 30 days, the messages are automatically deleted from your Apple Watch.

The primary reason for receiving messages on your Apple Watch is to provide users with the ability to quickly check and respond to them.

While this is smart, an option to choose messages to be stored on your Apple Watch for longer or permanently would be good. This means you can always have instant conversations with people that you are regularly in touch with.

How to Mute a Messages Conversation on Your Apple Watch

If you don’t want to delete a conversation on your Apple Watch, you can just mute the conversation’s notification. So if you are busy and don’t want to receive notifications from a particular conversation, you can turn it off for that particular conversation.

How to Mute a Messages Conversation on Your Apple Watch

This feature is useful if you want to mute a group conversation but still want to use your Apple Watch for work. Follow these steps to mute a Message conversation,

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Step 1 Open the Messages app on your Apple Watch from the home screen or by pressing the Crown to bring up the app screen.

Step 2 Swipe left on the conversation that you want to mute.

Step 3 Tap on the Do Not Disturb icon (Moon) to mute the conversation.

Now you won’t receive any notifications from the conversation you muted. You will receive texts from the conversation but you won’t be notified about them. A muted conversation will have a Do Not Disturb icon next to the name. You can unmute the conversation by tapping on the Do Not Disturb icon again.

Disadvantages of Deleting Messages on Apple watch

This is not a disadvantage, but rather a drawback. There is no feature that syncs message deletion between Apple Watch and iPhone. 

When you delete messages from your iPhone, they will still be available on your Apple Watch. Likewise, if you delete messages on your Apple Watch, you will still find them on your iPhone. 

This means you have to delete messages from both devices which can be time consuming. Also since Apple Watch doesn’t allow deleting all messages at once, it is a tedious process. 

So if you are wondering how to delete all messages on Apple Watch at once, you can’t.

If you don’t care about deleting or organizing messages on your Apple Watch, then the watch will delete them automatically after 30 days. 

How to delete messages on Apple Watch – Conclusion

So, there you have it, now you know how to delete messages on Apple Watch. Deleting unwanted messages can free up space and make it easier for you to find important conversations.

I have also explained some frequently asked questions when it comes to Apple Watch and messages like message syncing, muting individual conversations, and more. You can now organize the messages on your Apple Watch as you like.

How to delete messages on Apple Watch – FAQs

Can you delete all text messages at once on Apple Watch?

No, you can’t. Apple Watch doesn’t have the option to delete all text messages at once. You can only delete individual images or delete the messages of contact at once. Learn how to delete messages on Apple Watch in our guide.

Why won’t my messages delete on my Apple Watch?

Only message delivery is synced between iPhone and Appl Watch, message deletion is not. So when you delete a message on your iPhone, it won’t get deleted on your Apple Watch. Similarly, deleting messages on Apple Watch won’t delete them on your Apple Watch. 

How long do Messages stay on Apple Watch?

Messages that you receive on your Apple Watch will stay on it for 30 days. After 30 days, your Apple Watch will automatically delete the messages.

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