Delete or turn off your message history

When you delete your message history, this is deleted from Gmail and classic Hangouts on all your devices.

If you use Google Chat and not classic Hangouts, visit Turn history on or off in Google Chat.

Important: Google Hangouts is now Google Chat. You can no longer access Hangouts on mobile devices or the web. Learn about the switch from Google Hangouts to Google Chat.

Find & search Hangouts messages in Gmail

Find your Hangouts messages in Gmail

If you turn off Hangouts history, you won’t find your message history in Gmail.

1. On your computer, open Gmail with the same account you use for Hangouts.
2. On the left, click More Chats.
3. Click to open a Hangout.

Search for past Hangouts messages

Important: This won't include Google Chat messages created after classic Hangouts deprecation. 

1. On your computer, open Gmail with the same account you use for Hangouts.
2. In the search box, enter in:chats, followed by a word or phrase that could help you find the message you’re looking for.
3. Click Search .
4. In the search results, Hangouts messages display a Hangouts icon .

If you delete Hangouts archived messages in Gmail

If you delete your classic Hangouts message history in Gmail, messages may be removed in Hangouts but not in Google Chat.

• Messages are removed in Hangouts after they're deleted forever in Gmail. Learn more about deleting items in Gmail.