Deleting a conversation in Google Messages should not make the app freeze, stop sending, or look empty. Start with the fixes that reset Messages without touching your texts, then use the deeper repair options only when the problem keeps coming back.
Restart the phone first
On most Android phones, hold the phone's Power button for about 30 seconds, or until the phone restarts. On some Android phones, tap Restart, then tap Restart again. On Pixel phones the buttons depend on the model: Pixel 5a and earlier use the Power button, while Pixel 6 and later need Power + Volume up held for a few seconds, then a tap on Restart.
Open Google Messages after the phone comes back on and repeat the action that failed. This is the fastest fix when Messages freezes, will not open, or stops responding right after you delete messages.
If Messages still will not work, update the app and Android next.
Update Google Messages and Android
Get the current app and system updates before changing deeper settings.
- 1.Open Google Play Store and tap your Profile icon.
- 2.Tap Manage apps & device, then under Updates available, tap See details.
- 3.Next to Google Messages, tap Update.
- 4.Open Settings > System > Software updates > System update.
- 5.Tap Check for update and follow the on-screen steps.
Force stop Messages and clear its cache
The most common cause is a stuck app process or a temporary cache problem after the delete action.
Open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Google Messages, then tap Force stop and confirm with OK.
Reopen Google Messages and check whether it loads normally.
If it still acts broken, go back to Google Messages in Settings, tap Storage and cache, then tap Clear cache. This removes temporary files that Messages can rebuild.
Make Messages your default texting app
This fixes cases where Google Messages opens, but new SMS or MMS messages do not send or arrive through it.
Open Google Messages.
Follow the on-screen instructions if it asks to become your default messaging app.
If you do not see the prompt, open Settings.
Go to Apps > Default apps > SMS app.
Select Google Messages.
Recover chats that only look gone
Use this when the app works, but the missing conversation is the real problem. Google Messages can restore deleted conversations from Trash for 30 days before they are permanently deleted.
Open Google Messages, tap your Profile picture or More, then tap Trash. Touch and hold the conversation you want back, then tap Restore.
To restore everything in Trash, open Trash and tap Restore without selecting individual chats.
If the thread was archived instead of deleted, open Google Messages, tap More, then tap Archived. Touch and hold the conversation and tap Unarchive.
Clear storage or reinstall only after safer fixes
This fixes stubborn crashes or launch failures, but clearing storage erases data saved in the app.
Open Settings.
Tap Apps > See all apps > Google Messages.
Tap Storage and cache.
Tap Clear storage or Clear data.
Confirm with OK.
If Google Messages was installed by you, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Google Messages.
Tap Uninstall, then confirm with OK.
Reinstall Google Messages from Google Play.
On Pixel phones where normal uninstall is unavailable, touch and hold Google Messages.
Tap App info > More > Uninstall updates, then confirm with OK.
Test Google Messages, then update it again from Google Play.
Fix sending, receiving, and RCS trouble
The most common cause is not the deleted thread itself, but a messaging requirement that failed at the same time.
Confirm Google Messages is updated, your SIM card is inserted properly, your carrier supports SMS, MMS, or RCS, your plan or credit balance is active, your phone has signal, and Airplane mode is off. For RCS specifically, Google also expects Google Play services to be updated to the latest version.
If you use Google Fi, open the Google Fi app and sign in.
For RCS, open Google Messages, tap your Profile picture or Initial, then go to Messages settings > RCS chats and check the status. If you cannot find RCS chats, tap Chat features instead. If Verify your number appears, tap it and confirm your phone number.
If you see RCS chats has been disabled by your carrier, contact your carrier, then tap Retry. If RCS still is not connected, tap Details > Submit feedback.
For failed RCS sends, open Messages settings > RCS chats > Automatically resend as text (SMS/MMS) and turn it on. Do not repeatedly turn RCS chats off and on, because Google says that can remove you from group chats.
For group texts that split into separate replies, go to Messages settings > Advanced > Group messaging, then choose Send an MMS reply to all recipients (group MMS).
If only MMS is failing, reset APN settings to default in your device's Settings. The exact APN menu depends on the phone and carrier.
Repair Messages for web
Use these steps when Google Messages works on your phone, but the web version stops connecting after you delete or clean up conversations.
- 1.On your phone, turn Wi-Fi off and back on, then make sure both the phone and computer have a strong internet connection.
- 2.Restart the phone if the connection problem continues.
- 3.Turn off your VPN and try Google Messages for web again.
- 4.In Chrome, turn off extensions one by one to find anything interfering with the connection.
- 5.Open Settings > Network & internet > Data usage > Mobile data usage > Google Messages, then turn on Background data.
- 6.Unpair from Google Messages > account menu > Device Pairing: next to the computer you want to disconnect, tap Delete > Unpair, or tap Unpair all computers. Then pair again by signing in to Google Messages for web with the same Google Account and tapping the matching emoji on your phone.
Check permissions and managed phone limits
If permissions were removed, open Settings > Apps > Google Messages > Permissions, tap the permission that matches the broken feature, then choose Allow. If Android paused the app because it was unused, open Settings > Apps > Google Messages and turn off Pause app activity if unused.
For a supervised child account, the parent can open Family Link, select the child, then use Controls > Contacts, calls & text > Allowed calls & texts to allow texting. Google supports these contact limits on Android 14 and up phones and Wear OS 5 and up watches, so older child devices will not show the control. When contact limitation is on, changing default apps needs parent permission, so the parent can allow it from Screen time by selecting the child's device and turning on Change default apps. Google warns that if the child then swaps their default communication apps, the contacts, call, and text settings the parent chose may stop working.
On work-profile phones, SMS and RCS are generally not available from inside the Work Profile. Use Google Messages in the personal profile, or ask your organization whether a work messaging app is allowed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing the Google Messages cache delete my texts?
No. Clearing cache removes temporary app files that Google Messages can rebuild. Clearing storage or data is different and can erase data saved in the app.
Can I get back messages I deleted in Google Messages?
Yes, if your version has Trash and the deletion happened within 30 days. Open Google Messages, go to Trash, select the conversation, and restore it.
Why did Google Messages stop sending after I deleted a conversation?
The deleted conversation usually is not the direct cause. Check that Google Messages is the default SMS app, the app is updated, Airplane mode is off, your SIM and signal are working, and your carrier plan supports SMS, MMS, or RCS.
Should I turn RCS off and on to fix Google Messages?
Do not use that as a routine fix. Google warns that turning RCS on and off is not advised because you can be removed from group chats.
