It appears there's no longer a delete shortcut key in the Messages app for Big Sur.
Is there a way to set one up?
There's also no 'X' at the end of selected message to delete.
The functionality now is to right click on the message and select delete.
Perfect, I added it and used the exact name in the Messages app.
1) Add the shortcut via the Keyboard/Shortcuts tab
2) Select App Shortcut
3) Use the drop down to find the Messages app
4) Click on the + option while selecting on All Applications
5) Type in the exact name of the menu you wish to setup up a shortcut for (e.g., Delete Conversation...)
6) Pick the shortcut keys and done
7) Check the Messages app and now there is a shortcut key for deleting a converstion
Perfect, I added it and used the exact name in the Messages app.
1) Add the shortcut via the Keyboard/Shortcuts tab
2) Select App Shortcut
3) Use the drop down to find the Messages app
4) Click on the + option while selecting on All Applications
5) Type in the exact name of the menu you wish to setup up a shortcut for (e.g., Delete Conversation...)
6) Pick the shortcut keys and done
7) Check the Messages app and now there is a shortcut key for deleting a converstion
After selecting App Shortcuts, click the Add button ( + ) to create a new shortcut.
Choose the app it applies to (Messages) and type in the name of the command as it appears in the menu.
Click in the Shortcut field and type the command you want to use to invoke the menu item.
Instructions, here: Create keyboard shortcuts for apps on Mac - Apple Support
You have to type the command exactly as found in the menu, including the ellipsis if there is one. On a US keyboard, option-; creates an ellipsis. Or, it will take three periods (or it should).
Here is the help page for creating custom shortcuts: Create keyboard shortcuts for apps on Mac - Apple Support
The irony is that Apple support page says all you need to do is press delete after selecting the message 🤦🏻♂️:
https://support.apple.com/guide/messages/keyboard-shortcuts-ichtc78b3bff/mac
No, it doesn't. It says you can delete a message by selecting it, then pressing the delete key.
This thread is not about deleting a message. It is about Conversations.
A message is a single item in a Conversation. Selecting one and pressing the delete key will delete the message after confirmation.
So I tried the lame-o suggestion with the shortcut key. Really useless - when the action is greyed out in the message menus.
The "X" was perfect and was not an issue If i am specifically placing my mouse on the "X" i am intentionally looking to delete. why do I need to confirm delete. history of messages is always there. Simply if it was not broken, then why fix it what is not broken. Feels like a a bigger mouse trap.
The swipe is not even acceptable, But this is HIGH FRICTION - which goes against all of Apples principles.
Lastly a major point, apparently the designer and even the developer may be out of touch with Fitts's Law
Viola - Formula for Complete Disaster. I preferred the Old Apple Low Friction, form and design.
same here. I have no idea how to do this. I added this shortcut to app shortcuts via messages and then added the cmd + D key for move them to the trash. it does nothing. Can Barney do a step by step with pics on this. it is super annoying.
Did you select App Shortcuts from the category list?
No. However, if you keep holding down the command key and then press d again when the dialog appears, it should “click” the delete button.
If you use the command key for your shortcut, it essentially becomes a two key press operation.
Thank you for your help! I was able to get the CMD-D to work - which brings up the dialog box to confirm the deletion or cancel. At that point I tried using CMD-D again to "click" the delete box, but it does nothing... Just wondering if you, or anyone else has found a workaround for clicking the delete box? TIA
They must have dropped that functionality on that dialog box in Big Sur.
I've used it on other dialogs in other apps, but maybe they are stripping it out or just failed to implement it on Messages "Delete Conversation…" Cmd+<first letter of button> was fairly common on most macOS apps.
I suppose the next best thing is to turn on "Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls" in the Shortcuts tab of Keyboard system prefs. You would then need to tab to the delete button and hit spacebar to activate it.
I'm 100% on board with you... Big Sur was supposed to make the Mac experience similar to that of the iPhone or iPad... I can still select/delete multiple messages on my phone and tablet... Hopefully this will be fixed in a future release of Big Sur... Does make you wonder who is doing the "testing" of new releases though...
If they gave ANY weight to the input from beta users like me and MANY others we wouldn’t be in this boat... I have responded with the feedback app on my Mac regarding several issues I’ve come across and NEVER even received a note back from them... And YES - I did send them a feedback on this very issue like 4 beta releases ago... oh well I (we) tried....
Very kludgy workaround. Just bring back the "X", and swipe left ONCE, not twice ... good grief!
And by the way, this is NOT "Solved." 🙄
Why are you telling me? I can't mark it solved nor can I do anything about the issue.
If you turn on "Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls" you're going to break other things in messages currently — e.g. being able to use the arrow keys in your messages box or being able to start a new message and hit enter to select the person you want to send the message too. It's quite buggy currently.
I have no idea what you are describing. I've never used arrow keys in Messages. If I am editing a message, I can arrow around in the text.
However, I have no problem selecting a person from the list with the return key.
Big Sur - Keyboard shortcut key for deleting messages in the Messages app?
