> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://guides.mangoapps.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://guides.mangoapps.com/admin-guide/compliance/self-destruct.md). # Self Destruct Configuring the auto-delete settings for chat messages ### Overview Network admins in MangoApps have the ability to set up automatic deletion of chat messages—both private and team chats—after a specified period. This feature helps maintain data security, message retention policies, and ensure compliance with organizational guidelines. *** ### Configuring Self-Destruct Chat Settings Admins can configure chat self-destruct settings by selecting a predefined time-period after which private and team chat messages will be automatically deleted from the system. This setting applies to private messages as well as team messages, including chats within projects, groups, departments, and ad-hoc chat groups Once the self-destruct settings are applied, chat messages will be permanently deleted from MangoApps servers and **CANNOT be recovered**. Any modification to the Self Destruct Chat settings is recorded in the **Audit Log** for tracking and compliance purposes. *** ### Why Configure Self-Destruct for Your Domain? Enabling chat self-destruction provides several benefits for organizations, including: * **Data Security** - Automatically deleting chat messages reduces the risk of sensitive information being stored indefinitely, mitigating potential data leaks. * **Compliance with Data Retention Policies** - Organizations with strict data retention policies can ensure that chat messages are only available for a specific duration, helping maintain compliance with industry regulations.