How To Mark All Messages as Read on iPhone

On iPhone, there’s actually a built-in way to mark all SMS messages as read or delete them all at once, but honestly, Apple’s interface changes a lot with each iOS update, and it’s often a pain to find these options. Sometimes they hide crucial functions behind layers of visual tweaks, which makes this kind of bulk action more complicated than it needs to be. If clearing out a cluttered Messages inbox or marking everything as read in one go is the goal, here’s a quick rundown. This isn’t exactly straightforward—Apple likes to keep things “simple, ” but that sometimes means you need to dig a bit or know which menu path to follow. When it works, it’s a real time-saver, especially if you get bombarded with hundreds of texts daily. Just don’t expect a simple “Mark All as Read” button in the main Messages screen. It’s kinda buried, and on some setups, the steps can differ slightly or require more taps than you’d hope.

How to Mark All Messages as Read on iPhone

To actually mark all messages as read on the iPhone, you can’t do it directly from the main Messages app like on Android or PC. Instead, you need to use the Mail app trick if you’re tired of scrolling through unread messages. But that only works with emails. For SMS, here’s what’s usually the way, even if it feels kinda convoluted. This applies if your unread badge won’t go away, or you’re trying to clear out a cluttered message list without individually opening everything.

Try this if you want a bulk mark as read:

• Go to Settings > Notifications > Messages. Ensure Allow Notifications is enabled—if it’s off, your badge won’t update properly.
• Open the Messages app, then tap Filters at the top left (depending on iOS version, you might need to tap Edit in the list view or use different gestures).If you see the All Messages view, that’s where you’ll work.
• Tap on the ellipsis icon (three dots in a circle) in the top right corner—this is usually visible in the list view or within a conversation thread. Not all iOS versions have this exactly, but on iOS 16, for instance, you might find it through different menus or third-party apps.
• From the options that pop up, choose Select Messages. Now, it’s time to manually select messages, which is a pain because Apple doesn’t give you a one-click bulk mark as read for all messages. You might need to select each conversation or message thread individually, then mark as read or delete.

Honestly, the only built-in way to mark *everything* as read in one go isn’t officially in iOS. Some people use third-party tools or jailbreak tweaks (not recommended for everyone), or sync Messages with iCloud and manage messages on a Mac. On the Mac, selecting all and marking as read is dead simple. So, if this is a continuous pain point, consider managing messages from a macOS device—way easier to do bulk operations there.

How to Delete All Messages on iPhone?

This one’s more straightforward, but still not perfectly one-click. Same thing, you need to go into the Messages app, tap Filters, then select All Messages. In some versions, you might see a Edit button on the corner, which allows you to choose multiple conversations or threads. Then, tap Delete for each or choose Clear All if you’re in the thread view. Unfortunately, iOS doesn’t let you delete every message across all conversations in one swoop without some manual work. What you *can* do is:

• In Messages, long-press a conversation to see if you get a Delete option. Or, tap Edit in the top corner, select multiple conversations, then hit Delete.
• For cleaning out a lot of old messages, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages. From there, you can review large attachments and delete older conversations more efficiently.
• If you want to wipe everything, the nuclear option is to perform a backup and restore, which definitely clears every message. Not ideal, but sometimes necessary.

Just make sure you’re aware that messages in the Recently Deleted folder won’t be gone immediately. After deleting, go into that folder in the Messages app, and tap Delete All to permanently remove them. Otherwise, they’ll stay in that folder for 30 days before auto-deletion. That folder is a thing—it’ll keep your messages around unless you empty it manually.

Why bother marking messages as read or clearing them?

Honestly, it’s all about keeping your message count manageable and making sure you’re not flooded with unnecessary notifications. Marking unread messages as read can help you focus on new stuff instead of getting annoyed by the number badge constantly showing ‘99+’.Plus, deleting old messages frees up storage—though not much, but still. It’s just a way to stay a little more organized without manually opening everything or scrolling through endless chatter.

On some setups, on the other hand, this whole process feels kinda clunky — Apple could’ve made this way easier. But hey, if you’re tech-savvy, you can use shortcuts or automate these actions with scripts or third-party tools. Just depends how deep you want to go.

Anyway, hope this gets one update moving — or at least makes your message management a little less painful. Good luck!

Summary

• Bulk marking all messages as read isn’t straightforward on iPhone; often involves manual selection or third-party tricks.
• Deleting all messages is easier but still needs multiple steps, especially around checking the Recently Deleted folder.
• Using your Mac or third-party tools might save a lot of hassle if you’re dealing with thousands of texts regularly.

Wrap-up

Figured out a way to clear or mark messages as read without pulling all your hair out? Sometimes, just knowing the right menu or shortcut makes a big difference. Apple’s interface isn’t always friendly for bulk actions, but if the goal’s to clean up or keep on top of things, a little patience or workarounds go a long way. Fingers crossed this helps someone avoid endless scrolling or notifications overload — and hopefully, it’s not as much of a chore on the next iOS update.