How to Delete All Messages in Google Messages at Once Without Clearing App Data

If you’ve been using Google Messages for a long time, you’ve probably noticed one annoying limitation: it doesn’t let you delete all messages at once. Sure, you can delete one message or even multiple selected messages, but there’s still no built-in “Delete All” button. And if you’re someone who has hundreds or even thousands of old SMS conversations piling up, going through them one by one can feel like a never-ending chore.

I know how frustrating that can be. Maybe your storage is getting full, or maybe you just want to clean up your inbox because everything looks too messy. Whatever the reason, scrolling forever and tapping endlessly is definitely not the ideal solution. But don’t worry—there’s actually a much easier way to clear every message at once without using the “Clear data” option, which would also remove your settings, chat backups, RCS configurations, and basically reset Google Messages to zero. We don’t want that.

So here’s the good news: Android actually gives you a handy workaround that works perfectly. The trick is to use your phone’s built-in SMS app. If you’re using a Samsung, for example, your device probably has two messaging apps installed: Google Messages and Samsung Messages. We’re going to take advantage of that. By temporarily switching your default SMS app, we can access features that Google Messages doesn’t provide—and one of those features is selecting and deleting all messages at the same time.

Pretty cool, right? Let’s dive into the full tutorial so you can clean up your inbox in just a few minutes.

How to Delete All Google Messages at Once Using the Default SMS App

Alright, grab your phone and follow these steps. I’ll walk you through everything from start to finish, and it won’t take long at all.

1. Open your phone’s built-in SMS app

Every Android phone comes with a default system messaging app. On Samsung devices, this app is called Samsung Messages. If you don’t use it often, it might be hidden somewhere in your app drawer—so go ahead and search for it. Once you find it, open the app.

2. Set it as your default SMS app

Before Samsung Messages can load all your conversations, you’ll need to set it as your default SMS app. Your phone will automatically show a prompt asking whether you want to switch defaults. Tap Set as default so the app can access your messages.

3. Tap and hold any message

Now that the app is open, pick any one conversation thread and tap-and-hold on it. When you do this, the message will be selected, and you’ll see some action buttons appear at the top of the screen.

4. Tap the “All” checkbox to select everything

Here’s where the magic happens. On Samsung Messages, after selecting one message, you’ll see an option at the top labeled All. Tap it, and the app will instantly select every message thread you have—whether that’s ten, a hundred, or thousands.

5. Delete all messages at once

Once everything is selected, tap Delete all. A confirmation message will pop up, so go ahead and confirm the deletion. This will remove all SMS messages stored on your device in just a single step.

6. Remember: Samsung uses a Trash folder

On Samsung phones, deleted messages don’t disappear permanently right away. Instead, they move into a folder called Trash, where they stay for 30 days. During that time, you can still restore them if you change your mind.

7. If you want to delete permanently, empty the Trash

If you’re absolutely sure you want to delete all messages forever, here’s what to do:

• Tap the three-dot menu button in Samsung Messages
• Open the Trash folder
• Select all messages again
• Tap Delete all to permanently remove them

Once you do this, your messages are gone for good—no waiting for the 30-day auto-delete.

8. Switch back to Google Messages

After everything has been cleared, you can switch your default SMS app back to Google Messages. Just open Google Messages, and the app will prompt you to set it as the default again. Tap Yes, and everything goes back to normal.

9. Check your inbox

Now, open Google Messages and look at your inbox. You’ll notice that every SMS conversation is gone. All that remains are draft messages, which Google Messages keeps because they’re stored differently from actual SMS history.

10. Done!

And just like that, you’ve successfully deleted your entire Google Messages inbox without clearing app data or losing any settings. It’s fast, simple, and way more efficient than deleting messages one by one.

Video Tutorial

If you prefer learning visually or want to follow along step-by-step, you can also watch the full video tutorial here:

This video breaks down the same method and shows the exact process on a real Samsung device, so it might help clarify anything you’re unsure about.

Conclusion

Cleaning up your Google Messages inbox doesn’t have to be a painful process. Even though the app still doesn’t offer a “Delete all” feature, Android gives us a clever workaround by letting us use the built-in messaging app temporarily. This method saves time, keeps your settings intact, and works perfectly even if you have thousands of messages stored.

So the next time your SMS inbox starts overflowing, you won’t have to dread tapping through every single message thread. Just switch to your phone’s default SMS app, mass-delete everything in one move, and switch right back. It’s simple, fast, and honestly something Google should’ve added a long time ago.

Hopefully, this guide helps you keep your phone clean and organized without any hassle. If you found it useful, feel free to check out the video tutorial linked above. Happy cleaning!