2023 GUIDE: How to Delete Messages on MacBook

The Messages app and iMessage platform of Apple allow you to sync your data across multiple Apple devices. This can be done on macOS computers, iOS, iPadOS, and even Apple Watch devices. But what are the methods on how to delete messages on MacBook and ensure they’re removed across devices?

Here, we will discuss how to delete messages to make sure you save up some space within the Mac system. We’ll show you the different methods you can implement to do that. In addition, we will recommend a tool you can use to get your MacBook optimized and more powerful.

Part #1: How to Delete Messages on MacBookPart #2: How to Clean Up Your Computer to Save More SpaceConclusion

Part #1: How to Delete Messages on MacBook

There are different methods on how to delete messages on MacBook. If you want to delete them across other devices as well, then you must activate Messages in iCloud on your MacBook computer.

However, if you want to delete the messages on your MacBook alone, without syncing the deletion process across all devices, you may deactivate the Messages within iCloud on your MacBook Pro. To do that, follow the steps below:

1. Visit the Messages app on your computer.
2. Click the menu for Messages and then select Preferences.
3. After that, choose the iMessage option.
4. On the box that says “Enable Messages In iCloud”, uncheck it.
5. After that, save your settings and exit the Preferences on your app.

If you delete or remove a particular message on your MacBook, these will be deleted. However, when conversations or messages are sent to your MacBook, these are not synced with other devices that have the same Apple ID because you disabled Messages within iCloud on your MacBook.

Method #1: Deleting Messages on Mac Computers through Terminal

If you want to use the Terminal in order to delete your messages, you can do so. For that, you have to follow the steps below:

1. Visit the Applications folder on your computer.
2. After that, go to the Utilities folder.
3. Within the Utilities folder, launch the Terminal app.
4. Type the command at the end of the colon and then run the command: rm –r ~/Library/Messages/chat.
5. After that, type in another command and run it if you wish to remove attachments as well: rm –r ~/Library/Messages/Attachments/??

These are the commands you have to run in your macOS computer’s Terminal in order to delete the messages (including attachments if you want) permanently. The task of emptying your Trash is not necessary in this case.

Method #2: Using Messages App to Delete Messages

How to delete messages on MacBook computers? Well, you can use the Messages app itself. To do that, you can follow the steps below:

1. Launch the Messages app on your computer.
2. Afterwards, right-click the particular conversation or thread you wish to remove.
3. Choose the option to Delete Conversion.
4. Once done, click the Delete button once again in order to confirm the process.

An alternative to this step is to use the Clear Transcript feature. Here’s how to do that on your macOS computer:

1. Launch the app for Messages.
2. Click the particular conversation or thread you want to remove.
3. After that, press the Edit menu.
4. Then, choose the option for Clear Transcript.
5. Press the option for Clear if you wish to confirm the process.

Method #3: Deleting Multiple Messages Using Finder

To do that, you can follow the steps below:

1. Visit the Finder on your computer.
2. On the upper menu, click GO.
3. After that, choose “GO TO FOLDER”.
4. On the search window that appears, type “~/Library/Messages” and click Go.
5. On the folder that will show up, delete the files below by moving them toward the Trash:

• db
• db-shm
• db-wal

6. Empty your Trash afterward.

If you want to remove the attachments using the Library folder, follow the steps below:

1. Launch another Finder window on your computer.
2. Then, click the Go menu and then visit the option for GO TO FOLDER.
3. In the window that appears, type “~Library/Messages/Attachments” and then click Go.
4. After that, delete the attachments that you see in the new folder that appears.
5. Then, empty your Trash afterwards.

Part #2: How to Clean Up Your Computer to Save More Space

If you want to how to delete messages on MacBook, then you’re in luck. You can use TechyCub Mac Cleaner to remove unnecessary files from your system. It has multiple utilities that will enable users to clean up their Mac and make it perform faster.

Mac Cleaner Scan your Mac quickly and clean junk files easily. Check the primary status of your Mac including the disk usage, CPU status, memory usage, etc. Speed up your Mac with simple clicks. Free Download

The best tool you can use to make your Mac's speed faster and more effective is TechyCub Mac Cleaner, an optimization program for Mac designed to make sure you have enough storage space. With only a few short mouse clicks, you may use it to locate unwanted files on your computer and delete them.

The program also comes with a variety of little utilities you may use to declutter your macOS computer and make it perform faster and less clogged. TechyCub Mac Cleaner is the best solution for anyone looking for a quick way to optimize their Macs.

The following are the steps to utilizing TechyCub Mac Cleaner:

1. After obtaining the installer from the company's online website, use this package to install the software on your Mac device.
2. After installing the program, just launch TechyCub Mac Cleaner on your computer.
3. On the left panel, you can discover a number of modules that may be used to optimize and clean up the performance of your macOS computer. We'll pick Junk Cleaner as our generic example.
4. Then, press the SCAN button. With the help of the program, you may locate and remove any unnecessary system files.
5. Select the unwanted garbage files you want to delete. You may also click Select All to select all of the worthless information from the list that appears.
6. Then click the CLEAN button.
7. Wait until the application shows the message "Cleaned Completed" to confirm that the process to clean up your macOS system is finished.

People Also Read iMessage Not Working on Mac? How to Fix the Issue A Quick Guide on How to Get Text Messages on Mac

Conclusion

This is the best and most comprehensive guide you can get on how to delete messages on MacBook computers. We talked about the different methods of deleting your files through the Terminal, through the Library folder, and through the Messages app itself.

If you’re deleting messages to save space, then you’re in luck. You can use TechyCubMac Cleaner in order to remove unnecessary files on your system, so you don’t have to delete important messages on your MacBook computer.

TechyCub Mac Cleaner, an optimization application for Mac created to ensure you have enough storage space, is the greatest solution you can use to make your machine quicker and more efficient. You may use it to find and remove the undesirable files from your computer with only a few quick mouse clicks.