iOS 11.3 - Delete Message Confirmation

Dave in Oxford wrote:

Every so often Apple comes up with a "Feature" that so small and so annoying that begs the question as to whether they ever consult with a user. YES! Delete confirmation is an unnecessary addition to IOS and we can only hope that some security patch will remove it

No, Apple doesn't consult with users. Instead, they see what users do with their phones and often introduce features based on what they perceive as a real need. This is one such feature. Daily, multiple users come here to these user only forums begging for help to recover an accidentally deleted text message. In most cases, the only way to get the message back is to restore from backup, which often people simply don't have.

So, this very small change was introduced to help the countless thousands of users to ensure when they use swipe to delete that they truly do want to delete the message.

Are you aware there is another simple method to delete messages that will not ask you to confirm you want to delete? Yes, Apple provided the best of BOTH worlds to users. Simply use the Edit/Tap Messages(s)/Tap Trash icon and voila, message(s) delete without confirmation. That can't be any more cumbersome could it? It's three steps, just like it was before on swipe to delete.

What's funny about this entire thread is when it first posted, I went and deleted a message and got no confirm to delete reminder. I wondered why the OP was fussing. Turns out I've never gotten into using swipe to delete. That method seems foreign to me as one would have to do it for each individual message they want to delete. I have only ever used Edit/Tap/Trash to delete messages. I find it amazing the people who are so upset about this simple change can't see that Apple has indeed provided the best of both worlds for the user. Don't want to confirm a text delete? Don't use swipe to delete. How much simpler can this be?

Wes Adams wrote:

This is a huge setback! It’s like having to walk a letter to the trash can then walk the whole trash can to the outside garbage can just to throw away one letter! So much for efficiency!!

It's not a setback for the multitudes of people who accidentally delete a text message and come here daily begging us to help them get them back.

And you DON'T have to use swipe to delete. Had you bothered to read past the first post, you'd have learned, if you didn't know that all you have to do is tap Edit. Tap the message or messages you want to delete and then tap the trash can and voila, message(s) delete without a confirmation. Three steps, which is no less efficient.

Just spent 45 minutes of chipper chat with the support guy probably named Chip who was sooooo anxious to help me fix this, then elevated it to senior tech, making me hope that somehow it was a bug. Until he merrily told me it was a New Feature! And No, you can't turn it off!

Shoulda come here first, but then who would I rant about. I hate this. Went from ONE swipe to three interactions: Swipe, then tap delete, then confirm. A higher up with zero usability experience at Apple must have accidentally deleted a text and demanded a fix.

Horrendous usability. At least give users a choice.

They are not going to bring it back. With emails there was a way to retrieve them if you accidentally deleted them, go could go to the Trash mailbox, bring it back to your inbox, sigh, and say "that was close". With messages there is no such means to get one back. You have to completely restore your iPhone from your backup, if they were backed up, and then any texts since that date were gone.

The best you can hope for is making it optional but with iCloud messages coming I give this a low percentage of success. But you can always send Feedback to the proper place so you can be heard. You won't be here.

[Edited by Host]

I actually found it easier - in the MESSAGES PAGE

**push “EDIT” button at the top left corner

**check(✔) the message(s) you don’t want

**push “DELETE” bottom right corner

It doesn’t ask you to “Would you like to delete this conversation?”

It’s quicker and faster then the swiping one

Heenohawtukook wrote:

I actually found it easier - in the MESSAGES PAGE

**push “EDIT” button at the top left corner

**check(✔) the message(s) you don’t want

**push “DELETE” bottom right corner

It doesn’t ask you to “Would you like to delete this conversation?”

It’s quicker and faster then the swiping one

Yes, this has been explained, repeatedly, in this thread, including once already on this page. It's always a good idea to read a thread before posting in it.

Batterista wrote:

I used to be able to hold "option" and was able to delete without having to confirm. Apple, please fix this!!

To suggest something needs to be fixed, assumes something is not working. Apple changed this and it's working as designed, so it's not broken. If you don't like it, you need to let Apple know via this link: Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Given that messages can now be synced to the cloud, meaning deleting on one device deletes from all devices at the same time, you can expect this new option was quite intentional and won't be changed.

MaltyMatt wrote:

I did use the link to tell apple https://www.applei.com/feedback/iphone.html

And you are taking this way to personal. Chill today will end and tomorrow will come. Is there a solution to the problem that I didn’t see? I’m not going to read through 90 pages of forum to find the solution.

Apple did this to help the literally THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of posters who are not as perfect as you. People come here daily begging us to find a path back to a very important text message. Unless they backed up before they deleted the message, there is no path. So Apple, like Android has done since day one, finally made the decision to ensure people get a warning to confirm they really do want to delete a message. Smart.

But here's your solution. If you don't like the confirm to delete, you can bypass this altogether (which you'd have learned had you read this thread) by choosing Edit as opposed to swiping to delete. Tap Edit, then tap the circle on the left, then the trash can. Voila, message deleted without the need to confirm.

kashu1 wrote:

I hate this, too! Been trying to figure out to get rid of it myself, but you cannot. Apple - if you're listening, please get rid of this!! - or, like someone else said, give us the choice. Thank you.

No, Apple is not listening here. Use the Feedback page:

Product Feedback - Apple

Hi Jessica,

If you have multiple messages and you are tired of deleting messages as the new update of iOS 11.3 has a confirm Delete feature, just click on edit in messages and select the messages you want to delete and tap delete, it will not ask you to confirm delete.

Hope it solves your problem.

Karina181 wrote:

Howwwwwwww. Ugh. I hate this feature. So annoying. I thought there was previously a way to turn it off and on. I need it OFFFFFFF. like yesterday. Thanks.

There was never a way to turn it off because it is a new message. And depending on whether you have iCloud for Messages turned on or not, it provides two different messages. One stating it will delete the convo from all devices (iCloud Messages), the other stating it will delete the convo from this device. That is how it works now.

GB

If you don't want a delete confirmation tap Edit, then the message or messages you want to delete, then Delete. You will not be asked.

They should’ve given us the option to turn that feature on or off

But they didn't.

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://apple.com/feedback

RanbirK wrote:

The feature needs to be available again.

Then why are you telling us? No one here can implement the change you want. Only Apple can do that. Tell them.

Product Feedback - Apple