How to Delete Multiple Instagram DMs at Once

Cleaning out your Instagram DM inbox can feel like an endless chore, especially when there's no simple select-all and delete button in sight. If you've been searching for a faster way to declutter your conversations, you've come to the right place. This guide covers how to delete multiple Instagram DMs at once using the tools available, a few clever workarounds, and best practices for managing your inbox without the headache.

Does Instagram Actually Let You Delete Multiple DMs at Once?

Let's address the big question right away: No, Instagram does not have a native, built-in feature to select multiple direct message conversations and delete them all in one tap. Frustrating, right? While you can delete entire conversations, you have to do it one by one within the app. There’s no checkbox or "edit" mode that lets you bulk-delete DMs like you can with emails in your Gmail inbox.

Why is this the case? Instagram likely designed its messaging system this way to prevent accidental mass deletion and to discourage spam or malicious activities where users might try to erase conversations quickly. While that makes sense from a security perspective, it leaves regular users, creators, and marketers looking for more efficient ways to manage their ever-growing inboxes.

So, while the perfect "delete all" button doesn't exist, don't worry. There are several effective strategies and workarounds you can use to speed up the process and take back control of your DMs.

The Standard Method: Deleting Instagram Conversations One by One

Before moving on to the more advanced tricks, it’s important to master the standard method. This is your baseline and, for most one-off deletions, the quickest and safest way to go. The process is slightly different depending on your device.

How to Delete DMs on an iPhone

1. Open the Instagram app and tap the messenger icon in the top right corner to access your DMs.
2. In your inbox, find the conversation you want to delete.
3. Swipe left on the conversation.
4. Two options will appear: More and Delete. Tap the red Delete button.
5. A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap Delete again to permanently remove the conversation from your inbox.

Remember, this deletes the chat for you but not for the other person in the conversation. They will still have a copy of the messages unless you unsend them individually before deleting the chat.

How to Delete DMs on an Android Device

1. Open Instagram and go to your DM inbox by tapping the messenger icon.
2. Find the chat you want to get rid of.
3. Tap and hold on the conversation.
4. A menu will pop up with several options. Select Delete.
5. Confirm your choice by tapping Delete once more. The conversation will be gone from your inbox.

What About Unsending Individual Messages?

If you don't want to delete an entire conversation but just a single message you sent, you can "unsend" it. This removes the message from the chat for everyone, not just for you. It's a great tool if you sent something by mistake or want to remove a specific piece of information from a conversation.

• Simply tap and hold the message you sent.
• Select Unsend from the menu that appears.
• The message will disappear from the chat for all participants.

Smarter Workarounds for Mass Deleting DMs

Since the one-by-one method is slow, especially for old or spam-filled inboxes, here are some more creative strategies that achieve a similar clearing-out effect much faster.

Strategy #1: Use Vanish Mode for Self-Destructing Chats

The best way to avoid a cluttered inbox is to prevent messages from sticking around in the first place. This is where Vanish Mode comes in handy. It’s an Instagram feature that makes messages automatically disappear after they've been seen and the chat is closed.

This is a proactive approach. It's perfect for casual-yet-private conversations that you don't need a permanent record of.

How to Turn on Vanish Mode:

1. Open an existing DM conversation.
2. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
3. The screen will turn dark, and you'll see a notification that indicates you've entered Vanish Mode. All messages sent in this mode will disappear once the other person reads them and you close the chat.
4. To turn it off, simply swipe up again.

Vanish Mode won't help you clean out your existing inbox, but using it with new contacts can keep your DM list short and manageable moving forward.

Strategy #2: The Nuclear Option - Block and Unblock

This method truly is a "mass delete" function for a specific user’s conversation, and it works surprisingly well. When you block someone on Instagram, the entire message thread you have with them is deleted from your inbox. The interesting part is that if you immediately unblock them, the chat history does not return.

This is an aggressive but highly effective way to permanently wipe a long, unwanted conversation without swiping and deleting manually.

Here’s the process:

1. Go to the profile of the person whose chat you want to delete.
2. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of their profile.
3. Select Block and confirm.
4. The entire DM conversation will instantly disappear from your inbox.
5. If you wish, you can immediately go back to their profile and unblock them. The messages will remain gone.

Use this with caution. While the user won't get a notification that you blocked and unblocked them, it is a blunt instrument. It's best reserved for junk mail, spam accounts, or conversations you are 100% positive you no longer need.

Strategy #3: Declutter with a Professional Account Filtering System

For brands, creators, and businesses, simply deleting DMs isn't always an option. Many of these messages are from customers or clients and need to be kept for records. But that doesn’t mean your primary inbox has to be a mess.

By switching to a free professional (Creator or Business) Instagram account, you unlock powerful inbox filtering tools. Your inbox gets split into three tabs: Primary, General, and Requests.

• Primary: Your main inbox for important conversations from friends, family, and top clients.
• General: A secondary inbox for less urgent messages. Notifications for this tab are turned off by default.
• Requests: For messages from people you don’t follow.

Instead of deleting conversations, you can simply move them from Primary to General. This acts like an "archive" folder. Your primary inbox stays clean, focused, and free of clutter, but you still have an organized record of all conversations.

A Word of Caution on Third-Party Apps

In your search for a mass-delete solution, you'll likely come across third-party apps, browser extensions, and online services that claim to automate DM deletion on Instagram. While tempting, using these tools is incredibly risky.

Here’s why you should be very careful:

1. Security Risks: To use these services, you almost always have to provide your Instagram username and password. This gives them full access to your account, leaving you vulnerable to being hacked, having your data stolen, or having spam posted from your profile.
2. Violation of Instagram's Terms of Service: Instagram’s policy strictly prohibits the use of automated scripts and third-party apps that access their API without permission. Using these tools could result in your account being flagged, temporarily suspended, or even permanently banned.
3. Unreliability: Instagram frequently updates its platform, which can cause these unauthorized tools to stop working without notice. They are often buggy and can cause more issues than they solve.

The convenience is not worth the risk of losing access to your account. It's always a better idea to stick with official methods or the safe workarounds mentioned above.

Final Thoughts

While Instagram doesn't offer a simple "select all" button for deleting DMs, you can manage your inbox effectively by deleting conversations one by one, using Vanish Mode for temporary chats, or switching to an organized filtering system with a professional account. These official methods keep your account secure while helping you reclaim your inbox from clutter.

The daily struggle of DM overload is exactly why we built our unified inbox at Postbase. Instead of fighting against Instagram's limitations, we bring all your DMs and comments from every social platform into one clean, manageable space. Our Engagement tool lets you collaborate with your team, assign conversations, and stay on top of important messages, turning community management from a chaotic chore into a streamlined process.