Unable to swipe to delete iMessage on MacBook

I was experiencing the issue the OP described. I quit the Messages app and reopened it, and swipe to delete is back (on both my Magic Trackpad and my Magic Mouse).

So @backpropper – try quitting Messages and reopening it, and if no joy try rebooting your Mac.

However, this time all I had to do was quit Messages and relaunch it and it's working again. So clearly there is still a bit of a bug.

Please refer to the Apple Support document when using the Trackpad

Excerpt from above

Delete messages and attachments

1. Go to the Messages app  on your Mac.
2. Select a conversation.
3. Select one or more messages (including text messages, photos, videos, files, web links, audio messages, or emoji) in the transcript, press Delete, then click Delete in the dialog.

Note: When you delete a message, it’s moved to the Recently Deleted folder on your device, but not anyone else’s. When you want to delete a message for everyone, use Undo Send within 2 minutes of sending it.

This appears to be be a bug in 26.1. Bugs can be reported to Apple here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

@Owl-53, see

Delete messages and conversations in Messages on Mac - Apple Support (I added the highlighting).

1. Go to the Messages app  on your Mac.
2. Search for a conversation.
3. Delete any of the following:

• A single conversation: Select a conversation, Control-click, then choose Delete. 
  • Tip: If you have a trackpad or a Magic Mouse, swipe left with two fingers on the conversation in the sidebar, then click .

Same here. M4 MacBook Air. Restarting messages fixes it, but it eventually fails again.

Working on a M4 Desktop with Tahoe 26.1

Using Magic Mouse

To delete an individual message within a Conversation is doable

Secondary click >> Sub Menu appears

For what it is worth

So I restarted my computer again... and it actually worked.

Then the next day, without restarting, it stopped working again. So apparently it only works for a limited time after each restart?

HUM

Maybe I am misunderstanding at late stage in the day. Been at this since about 03:30 AM today so please be gentle with me, my friend

Using a 15 " M4 MBA with Taloe 26.1 and the builtin Trackpad

Swipe Left to delete the AMEX conversations appears to be working

As mentioned, been a very long day

lrez57 wrote:

My MacBook won't swipe delete messages after installing 26.1. I have close Messages and reopen for it to work but then it loses that function again. Delete key doesn't work either.

This would appear to be localized and unique issue with your computer setup

" Using a 15 " M4 MBA with Taloe 26.1 and the builtin Trackpad

Swipe Left to delete the AMEX conversations appears to be working "

Good to know all is good again 👍

I've quit messages, and have also restarted at least a couple of times since I updated to 26.1. Still not able to swipe away my messages.

My MacBook won't swipe delete messages after installing 26.1. I have close Messages and reopen for it to work but then it loses that function again. Delete key doesn't work either.

OMG same with me. First it was my Macbook Po and now my Macbook Air also - so irritated I cannot swipe to delete anymore.

Swipe to delete is NOT working. I'm using a magic mouse. Have checked settings for the app and my mouse. Help please?

Thank you.

how does this solve the problem, its not that we can't delete its we can't swipe to delete