Cannot delete messages in Messages app using the keyboard

Question

Level 1

82 points

Cannot delete messages in Messages app using the keyboard

Since I have upgraded to Big Sur, I have lost the ability to delete any messages with they keyboard. The little x that shows up on the right-hand side of a conversation is gone. The delete key doesn't work. Backspace doesn't work. ⌘+backspace doesn't work. ⌘+delete doesn't work. I've tried shift. I've tried option. I've tried shift-option. I can only delete by right clicking and choosing Delete Conversation. Then I get prompted asking if I really want to delete the conversation.

I'm pretty sure this didn't have with Catalina. Is anyone else seeing this?

Mac mini, macOS 11.0

Posted on Nov 22, 2020 6:34 PM

Reply

Answer 1

bailier

Community Specialist

Nov 30, 2020 5:32 PM in response to amp68

Hello amp68,

Thanks for reaching out in Apple Support Communities. We understand that you're having trouble deleting messages on your Mac. You can only delete the messages by right clicking and then selecting Delete Conversation. We’re happy to help.

Check out the following support article:

Delete messages and conversations in Messages on Mac

If you would like to send feedback about this feature, send it here: Product Feedback

Cheers!

Reply

Answer 2

amp68 Author

Level 1

82 points

Dec 19, 2020 7:40 PM in response to bailier

I cannot believe you took away the ability Messages using ANY keyboard shortcut? Who that this was a good idea?

I have 2 weeks of Messages to go through (been sick and just got well enough to get out of bed), and I have to right click on each individual message, choose "Delete Conversation" and then confirm the delete?

This is so unbelievably backwards compared to Messages in the previous MacOS. I just want to be able to Shift+click a bunch of messages and hit ⌘+delete, like every other MacOS app. How did the make it past the HIG team?

I think you need to make the old version of Messages available as a download for Big Sur users till you can fix this.

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 25, 2020 10:03 AM in response to bailier

Unbelievable and absurd! I too will be sending some select feedback about this bass-ackward "option" as well!

Reply

Cannot delete messages in Messages app using the keyboard

Similar questions