This Is How To Delete Messages On Tinder

As someone with way too many apps, there's scarcely a day that goes by that I don't get the "low storage" notification on my phone. Because of this, I am constantly looking for ways to make room for just one more selfie. When I noticed how much space Tinder takes up on my phone, along with other dating apps, I went on a mission to delete some messages from my inbox so I could free up some space. So how can you delete messages on Tinder, and is there a way to do it efficiently?

Luckily yes, there's a way to delete messages — but it's kind of a pain. If, like me, you've had the app for a long time, chances are you have tons of conversations going, and those take up tons of storage. I've used the app in Chicago (during college) and NYC, so a lot of my Tinder matches weren't even relevant anymore. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to filter out people by location, otherwise I could have just waved a magic wand, deleted any messages from Chicago men, and called it a day. Since that wasn't an option, and I was desperate for storage, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and delete Tinder altogether (I hadn't used it for weeks, anyway).

For many people, though, deleting a dating app entirely is a bit drastic, and I have to admit there are days when I miss it. But until the day comes when Tinder has an option similar to iMessage's "keep messages for 30 days" to cycle them out more regularly, you'll have to make due. In the meantime, here are a few options for deleting old Tinder messages.

1. Delete Your Account & Make A New One

Believe it or not, this is actually a pretty good option, particularly if you've had Tinder for years. If you delete your account and make a new one, you get to start from scratch: Write a new bio, choose new photos, and swipe on a whole new batch of people. (Of course, don't do this if there was anyone you'd been chatting to semi-recently who you had yet to exchange numbers with.) This way, you're back to square one and have the option to be a bit more mindful of how many messages you have. Ideally, you'd learn from your mistakes and spend some time every week deleting conversations that end up being duds.

2. Block Users

When you block someone on Tinder (because you're creeped out or just disinterested), the app also gets rid of your message thread with that person. Sure, you don't need to go on a blocking spree as a way to get rid of unwanted messages, but it's worth noting that when you decide to block a match, it will also have the super handy bonus of freeing up the tiniest bit of storage.

3. Do It The Old Fashioned Way

If you want to play Tinder on hard mode, you'll just simply have to scroll through your convos and delete them one by one (swipe left on the conversation and click delete, like you would in iMessage). I recommend scrolling all the way to the bottom and starting with the oldest messages, because they're less likely to matter in the long run. Once you start, put on some music and try to zone out — this could take a while.

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