The newest iOS 11.3 update enables a feature that asks if you're sure you want to delete a text message/iMessage once you choose the delete option. It's making me crazy! I tried searching through the settings to remove this deletion confirmation, but can't find anything on the topic. Is there any way to remove this feature?
iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 11.2.6, iOS 11.3
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.
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.
Just did iOS update and was looking for answers to this new feature. Thanks to those who shared that it isn't toggle-able, and for those who shared the edit-select-delete option. That is certainly quicker when deleting multiple threads.
I'm not going to Android, or back to Windows, or anything else. Just hope Apple gets a little common sense on this one. I'm not a programmer/developer, just a happy user. But it seems the toggle-able "ask before deleting" option in Mail settings would be easy to add for Messages, and would fit the preferences of the greatest number of users. This seems like it would be "low-hanging fruit" for Apple. Pun intended. :-)
Many Apple experts and/or employees monitor this group, provide answers to users, and report back to apple on possible improvements.
Apple employees are not reading here and reporting back about this issue. The Host read posts to make sure that people behave. And, sometimes, if there is an issue that an engineer is tasked with resolving, they may come read the forums. But, as this is not something that's broken, it's not going to happen in this case.
We're looking for solutions and sharing information.
Only Apple can make the change you want. This is a user-to-user forum. Apple is not reading here for suggestions. Please use the feedback page if you want them to know your opinion:
With iCloud Messages coming soon, and the many posts here, and calls to AppleCare, asking how to retrieve accidentally deleted messages, I seriously doubt it will be changed back. The best anyone can hope for is an option to turn it off but Apples isn't really known for doing that.
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.
No one here can turn it off. And, it's highly unlikely Apple will now that iCloud syncing has been released. But, give Apple your feedback if you want. The link has been posted repeatedly in this thread.
Batterista wrote:
If you have only one message to delete. ANNOYING when you have to delete multiples!
Then don't use swipe to delete if you have multiple messages to delete. Use Edit, tap all the messages you want to delete, then tap the trash can and voila, multiple messages are gone and without a need to confirm deletion. Had you bothered to actually read the thread, you'd have seen this option as well.
dude996tt wrote:
I wonder if Apple even looks at these request? It can’t hurt to try. I sent the below this a.m.
“As you well know by now, the software update 11.4.1 requires one to swipe, then delete, and then delete again. This a useless, annoying feature that *****. What next, are they going to require the user to add their Apple ID to delete. This is a stupid feature and we should have control to turn off.”
No, Apple does not look at the posts in this forum. They have feedback links for that. This is a user to user support forum. Apple is not here except for the Host team.
And it is highly unlikely that the need to confirm your delete is going to change or that you are going to get a Setting to be able to turn it off. The more people that start using Messages in iCloud, the more important this feature will become. Because if you are using Messages in iCloud and you delete a message, you currently cannot retrieve it. It is not backed up and cannot be recovered. The last thing that anyone needs is for an option to be something that someone can turn off or on, and which has an entirely different effect on final recovery of a message depending on how you have Messages set up.
So, time to move on and find something that really has an impact on your life to worry about.
GB
Jcole613 wrote:
do you know if you turn off messages for the iCloud account if the delete confirmation will go away and you can simply swipe left to delete the text message thread?
No, whether you use the cloud or don't, the confirm to delete is hard coded into messages.
No you cannot. I submitted a bug report for this about 2 weeks ago. Hopefully enough will complain and they will remove. It’s utterly stupid.
You can select Edit then tick the box for the messages you want to delete. Sort of a lame work around but it doesn’t prompt you at least. Mr. Jobs is missed...
michaelcallan wrote:
Take this prompt away as soon as possible, Apple.
Nope, not going to do it.
No.
How odd (or maybe dumb) it is that if you click “Edit” and choose even ONE message in the list, it doesn’t ask for confirmation that you want to delete it !
rwyke wrote:
I searched too and could find no way to disable it.
That's because you can't.
iOS 11.3 - Delete Message Confirmation
