# Discourse Chat

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-chat/230881>\
**Category:** Plugin\
**Tags:** official, chat, included-in-core\
**Created:** [July 4, 2022, 10:47am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-chat/230881 "2022-07-04T10:47:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 166

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**Author:** ![nathank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/nathank/32/290039_2.png) [@nathank](https://meta.discourse.org/u/nathank)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-chat/230881/166 "2024-07-30T00:04:25Z")

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> [@Discourse](#):
>
> ## Channel retention
> 
> By default, channels are configured to retain messages for 90 days and direct messages are configured to retain messages forever, but these are configurable site settings:
> 
> - `chat channel retention days` (default 90 days)  
> Choose how long to retain Chat messages for channels
> - `chat dm retention days` (default forever)  
> Choose how long to retain your Chat messages for personal chats

Are these messages retained in the database once deleted?

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-chat/230881)._