- You can now automatically delete old text SMS messages to keep your inbox clean and protect your privacy.
- On Android, use an app like Google Messages or SMS Organizer to automatically delete OTP or promotional messages after a certain amount of time.
- iPhone users can choose to automatically delete messages older than 30 days by going to Settings > Messages > Keep Messages.
Have hundreds of old text messages piled up on your phone? Have you ever scrolled through your inbox wondering, “Do I really need all these old OTPs, delivery updates, and spam messages?” If yes, it’s time to learn how to auto-delete text SMS messages.
Deleting messages manually is a bit of a hassle. But luckily, there are smart, automated ways to clean up and keep your message inbox from getting cluttered without much effort.
In this guide, I’ll show you how you can set up auto-delete for SMS messages on both Android and iPhone.
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Why Auto-Deleting SMS Messages Is Actually a Smart Move
Auto-deleting messages isn’t just about saving space. Here’s how it works:
- Keeps your information private: Important messages like OTPs, account details, or updates don’t stay on your phone forever.
- Saves storage space: Messages and media can take up a lot of space over time, and this helps keep your phone from getting full.
I used to keep old messages for years without realizing they were just clutter. Turning on auto-delete made my phone feel lighter and more organized.
How to Auto-Delete Text Messages on Android
If you have an Android phone and want to automatically delete SMS messages, you can use the Google Messages app. Nowadays, every Android phone comes with the Google Messages app installed as the default messaging app.
It provides an auto-delete message feature that deletes OTPs and spam messages automatically after 24 hours. If you want to enable this feature, here’s how you can do it.
1. First of all, open the Google Messages app and tap on your profile icon located at the top right corner.
2. After that, select ‘Message Settings’.
3. Next, tap on General settings and then tap on the “Message organization” option from the list.
4. There, enable the toggle for ‘Auto-delete OTPs after 24 hours’.
That’s it! You are done. This will help you to delete SMS text messages after 24 hours automatically.
2. Use Third-Party Apps
If you want more control, apps like Microsoft’s SMS Organizer or Textra offer scheduled cleanup and auto-deletion of messages.
Example with SMS Organizer:
- Install SMS Organizer from the Play Store.
- Go to Settings > Message Rules > Auto-delete messages.
- Choose the message types (promotions, OTPs, etc.) and set auto-delete timing.
SMS Organizer has been my favorite app for quite some time now. It not only deletes old messages, but also sorts them into categories like transactions and promotions.
How to Auto-Delete SMS Messages on iPhone
If you’re an iPhone user, you can use the default Messages app to automatically delete SMS messages. Here are the steps to do it:
1. First, open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap “Messages.”
2. Next, scroll down and find the option that says “Keep messages”. Tap on it to open the list of options.
3. Now, you can choose how long you want to keep your messages before they are deleted. You can choose 30 days, 1 year, or forever. Then, after choosing, tap on Delete to confirm your choice.
And that’s it. Now this option will apply to all your messages, including iMessages and SMS.
Conclusion
Automatically deleting SMS messages is a little trick that makes a huge difference. It protects your privacy, saves storage, and keeps your inbox tidy, all without any extra effort. Whether you’re using Android or iPhone, it’s easy to set up and works instantly. Give it a try and enjoy a clean, clutter-free inbox.
FAQs
Yes, it will delete all the messages if not configured correctly. Always back up important messages before enabling this feature.
Yes, apps like SMS Organizer let you auto-delete only certain categories like promotions or OTPs.
Unfortunately, once a message is auto-deleted, it’s permanently gone. There is no “undo” button.
Yes, on iPhone, the “Keep Messages” setting applies to both iMessages (blue bubbles) and regular SMS messages (green bubbles). On Android, the Google Messages app handles both types of messages (RCS and SMS), so this setting will apply to all your conversations.
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