Quick delete in messages

Go to System Preferences, through Apple Menu or Launchpad.

Open Keyboard, open Shortcuts tab, scroll down lefthand menu to 'Apps Shortc...'

A window will open with a plus and minus box at the bottom left.

Click +, a new menu will appear. Open 'All applications' and click down on Messages.

In the menu title type, Delete Conversation... (note the 3 periods)

In the Keyboard Shortcut box type 'option Command k' without the quotes. you can choose whatever variation you like.

Click 'Add'

Then ensure you tick the 'Use keyboard navigation to move etc.' box.

Job done. Hope it works for you.

I had to reconfigure keyboard shortcut to Option+Cmd + k (only because that it what it used to be) through System Preferences. Ensure that you put three periods after Delete Conversation.

Highlight the message you wish to delete, then use the above combination. That should bring up a Cancel Delete box.

Tab to shift highlight to 'Delete', then press spacebar.

I still trying to work out multiple deletions...

Hope it helps.

This feature seems to be gone right now.I use to be able to stay on the keyb and del massive messages via keyb commands but can't do that under Big Sur.

Err... let’s get this right,

you deleted a conversation on your MacBrook Pro, but it’s still on your other devices, so you still have it don’t you?

Copy and paste or screen shot it before the whole lot disappears via the Cloud. (That is if you use Messages back up on the Cloud), if it’s that important.

Good luck!

Thank you for your swift reply...

Hi, Steve,

First, I had wanted only to delete one message, not the whole convo...but I must have misunderstood the other messages in the thread, as I thought I would be deleting just one message. (I am happy that the convo does exist on my other devices, as I hadn’t wanted to delete it.)

2) I would have *wanted* to delete just that one message, but on every device, including anyone I’d have sent it to. I don’t get the usefulness of deleting a message or convo on just one device.

Even though your response didn’t help me, here, I am grateful for your swift reply. 😊

Lois Cooper wrote:

2) I would have *wanted* to delete just that one message, but on every device, including anyone I’d have sent it to.

There is no way to delete a message on the device you send it to. Once received by someone else, that message is theirs to keep or delete.

Thank you!

Well dang! It's not working. I'll restart and see if that helps. Again, thanks for showing me this. I had no idea!

Thanks....I took your directions and it worked....PLEASE find a way to select multiple messages for deletion, and I'll gladly pay for the instructions.....Thanks again!

All I wanted to do was to delete ONE message. Now, the whole conversation has been deleted with no way to restore it. 😢

Furthermore, the convo deleted on my MacBook Pro is still there on my other computer, iPad and iPhone. Useless. Irritating.

How do you reconfigure a keyboard shortcut?

Thanks....