How do I delete multiple messages in OS X

Hi,

There is now a Messages feedback page https://www.apple.com/feedback/messages.html

This has come in to being since this Thread started.

It is much more likely that it comes form the fact you could not do it in iChat either.

8:00 pm Tuesday; May 23, 2017

Hi,

This outdated page Feedback - Messages - Apple will server you just as well as it serves us.

Apple don't read the Discussions Boards for suggestions.

8:41 pm Tuesday; November 21, 2017

now here we are in the year 2525 and there's no one left alive to help you delete multiple text messages - despite much wailing and gnashing of teeth since 2013 - it was found that those in that great icloud in the holy Cupertino couldn't give a F@8K about their loyalists pain & anguish

Hi, I know this is 5 years later and the old method, command & delete, then enter, no longer works. If you alt(option), command, and press K at the same time, it will pop up asking if you are sure about deleting and you press enter and you are good to go.

I figured it out. You can click the individual messages you want to delete (within a text thread), while holding down the SHIFT key. This will allow you to select multiple messages at once. Then you go up to the top bar and go to iMessages<Edit<Delete. And done! Hope this helps others. 🙂

Not super simple, but quick enough... select the first conversation/message, hold down option and command at same time, then press and hold delete key.

Shift click.

Hi,

Multiple Conversations (iMessages) or Chat (Buddy connections) cannot be selected using shift + click to be deleted or closed.

In an open Conversation or Chat individual IMs or Messages also cannot be selected to be deleted.

Highlighting one message and then using CMD + Backspace will produce the Pop up to delete the whole Conversation/Chat.

If you have Messages Menu > Preferences > Messages > Save on closing chat then you have to close the chats or conversations individually to be saved.

They do get Saved "en masse" as it were on Quit (as in Per session).

The Sync process for iMessages is only "Display on all Devices" and not any more sophisticated than that.

It means you have to delete the conversation manually on each device.

An option to delete a Conversation on a Sync basis would create even more pop ups to ensure people were undertaking the exact action they wanted.

10:37 PM Monday; April 22, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

"Multiple Conversations (iMessages) or Chat (Buddy connections) cannot be selected using shift + click to be deleted or closed."

Yes they can be deleted on mass by selecting one and shift clicking on the others. Then selecting Delete will get rid of all the messages selected. Give it a try.

Hi Sig,

Maybe I am not following this as I should.

I created two "New Messages" in the list on the left. (I rarely keep old Chats/Conversations open)

One to my Apple ID as an iMessage (to my iPhone essentially) and the other to an AIM Screen Name I have.

I sent text to both to ensure that there was a "Conversation" as such.

I then made sure one item in the list was highlighted.

Holding Shift down and clicking the other Chat/Conversation only highlights the second item.

This is what I tried before I posted before and I have just tried it again with the method above.

8:10 PM Tuesday; April 23, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

What about messages that you send and recieve in a conversation?

I do this all the time. I select the first message and shift click on the second, third, etc and then hit the Delete key.

Then perhaps I misunderstood what it is you want to do. Sometimes it's difficult not being in the same room. Imprecise terminology also gets in the way