When it comes down to storing messages, Telegram is similar to WhatsApp in more ways than one. The developer behind Telegram speaks of privacy but by default, the app automatically stores your messages in the cloud just like WhatsApp, but not 100 percent the same. The big question is, then, how does one remove their messages and chat history from Telegram for good? Well, we are going to do our best to explain how things work with this article.
How to delete Messages and History in Telegram
Deleting messages from Telegram is quite simple, so keep reading the information below to learn how.
Open the Telegram app
To begin, please open Telegram on your computer. You can locate the icon either on your desktop or from within the Start Menu area. If you’ve added the icon to your Taskbar.
Navigate to the preferred chat
OK, so the next step, then, is to go to the chat where you want to have the messages removed. You should see the chat at the left section of the Telegram app. Click on it, then your messages will populate the right side.
Delete a single message
When it comes down to deleting your messages, you can do so one by one. Simply right-click on the message, then click on Delete. Now, depending on the settings of the chat, you may see the option to delete the message for yourself, or for everyone.
Delete multiple messages
Now, you may want to remove more than a single message, so what to do? Well, simply right-click on a message, then click on Select. From there, click on all the messages you want to delete, then complete the task by clicking on the Delete button at the top of the window.
Delete all messages from your account
The best way to get all of your messages to disappear for good, even from the servers, is to cut your losses and get rid of your account entirely.
To do this, click on the hamburger button at the top-left corner of the app, then select Settings from the dropdown menu. After that, click on Privacy and Security > Delete My Account. For faster deletion, select the one-month period then hit Save.
Uninstall the Telegram app from your computer and other devices and ensure you never install it again until a month has passed for all your messages to disappear for good.
Read: How to create Telegram bot with no coding knowledge.
Is Telegram a harmful app?
Most users agree that Telegram is safe to use, so if you want to move your chats to that platform, then so be it. However, they made it clear that when it comes down to privacy out of the box, Signal is the better choice.
Can Telegram be hacked?
Telegram has multi-device support, which means, you can access a single Telegram account from other devices all at the same time. Because of this, if anyone has access to one of your many devices connected to your Telegram account, they could take advantage and run havoc. It is best to ensure only devices you use on a regular basis are still connected.
Is Telegram a Chinese app?
No, Telegram is not a Chinese app, but Russian. It was launched back in 2013 by Russian entrepreneurs Pavel and Nikolai Durov, and since then, it has amassed a large following.
How do Telegram and WhatsApp differ with storing content in the cloud?
As we’ve laid out above, Telegram automatically stores all of your messages in the cloud by default. The moment you hit the Enter key to send, the messages and some media files are uploaded to the cloud. The same cannot be said for WhatsApp as Meta do things differently.
You see, with WhatsApp, you have to decide if you want your content stored in the cloud via Google’s own service or the Apple equivalent if you’re using an iPhone. From there, the app will upload messages at a specific time, not instant on the spot.
Was it always possible to delete Telegram messages?
Yes, but it was only until Version 5.5 of the app it became possible for anyone to delete a message from a one-o-one chat, no matter the device. This means, you can delete messages you’ve sent, and messages received. Not only will the messages be removed from all devices, but the Telegram servers as well.
Bear in mind that cloud chats with more than one participant work differently. The ability to delete messages from everyone’s device is restricted to the first 48-hours. After that, you can only delete messages for yourself.
