diff --git a/app/src/main/aidl/com/geeksville/mesh/IMeshService.aidl b/app/src/main/aidl/com/geeksville/mesh/IMeshService.aidl
index 8b5010c86..8242c67be 100644
--- a/app/src/main/aidl/com/geeksville/mesh/IMeshService.aidl
+++ b/app/src/main/aidl/com/geeksville/mesh/IMeshService.aidl
@@ -66,8 +66,7 @@ interface IMeshService {
     */
     void send(inout DataPacket packet);
 
-
-    void delete(int position);
+    void deleteMessage(int packetId);
 
     void deleteAllMessages();
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/model/MessagesState.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/model/MessagesState.kt
index 6e98fb5d4..a678034fc 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/model/MessagesState.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/model/MessagesState.kt
@@ -95,12 +95,12 @@ class MessagesState(private val ui: UIViewModel) : Logging {
         addMessage(p)
     }
 
-    fun deleteMessage(packet: DataPacket, position: Int) {
+    fun deleteMessage(packet: DataPacket) {
         val service = ui.meshService
 
         if (service != null) {
             try {
-                service.delete(position)
+                service.deleteMessage(packet.id)
             } catch (ex: RemoteException) {
                 packet.errorMessage = "Error: ${ex.message}"
             }
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class MessagesState(private val ui: UIViewModel) : Logging {
             try {
                 service.deleteAllMessages()
             } catch (ex: RemoteException) {
-
+                errormsg("Error: ${ex.message}")
             }
             removeAllMessages()
         }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/MeshService.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/MeshService.kt
index ec276708d..ac0737ce8 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/MeshService.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/MeshService.kt
@@ -1782,10 +1782,12 @@ class MeshService : Service(), Logging {
                 this@MeshService.setOwner(myId, longName, shortName)
             }
 
-        override fun delete(position: Int) {
-            if (position >= 0) {
-                recentDataPackets.removeAt(position)
-            }
+        override fun deleteMessage(packetId: Int) {
+            val packet = recentDataPackets.find {it.id == packetId}
+            if (packet != null) {
+                recentDataPackets.remove(packet)
+                debug("Deleting message id=${packet.id}")
+            } else debug("Nothing to delete, message id=${packetId} not found")
         }
 
         override fun deleteAllMessages() {
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/ui/MessagesFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/ui/MessagesFragment.kt
index 20c6dbc96..cf8edcf2f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/ui/MessagesFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/ui/MessagesFragment.kt
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ class MessagesFragment : ScreenFragment("Messages"), Logging {
             return ViewHolder(contactViewBinding)
         }
 
+        var messages = arrayOf<DataPacket>()
+        var selectedList = ArrayList<DataPacket>()
+
         /**
          * Returns the total number of items in the data set held by the adapter.
          *
@@ -212,9 +215,114 @@ class MessagesFragment : ScreenFragment("Messages"), Logging {
 
             } else
                 holder.messageStatusIcon.visibility = View.INVISIBLE
+
+            holder.itemView.setOnLongClickListener {
+                if (actionMode == null) {
+                    actionMode = (activity as MainActivity).startActionMode(object : ActionMode.Callback {
+                        override fun onCreateActionMode(mode: ActionMode, menu: Menu): Boolean {
+                            mode.menuInflater.inflate(R.menu.menu_messages, menu)
+                            mode.title = "1"
+                            return true
+                        }
+
+                        override fun onPrepareActionMode(mode: ActionMode, menu: Menu): Boolean {
+                            clickItem(holder)
+                            return true
+                        }
+
+                        override fun onActionItemClicked(
+                            mode: ActionMode,
+                            item: MenuItem
+                        ): Boolean {
+                            when (item.itemId) {
+                                R.id.deleteButton -> {
+                                    val deleteMessagesString = resources.getQuantityString(
+                                        R.plurals.delete_messages,
+                                        selectedList.size,
+                                        selectedList.size
+                                    )
+                                    MaterialAlertDialogBuilder(requireContext())
+                                        .setMessage(deleteMessagesString)
+                                        .setPositiveButton(getString(R.string.delete)) { _, _ ->
+                                            debug("User clicked deleteButton")
+                                            // all items selected --> deleteAllMessages()
+                                            if (selectedList.size == messages.size) {
+                                                model.messagesState.deleteAllMessages()
+                                            } else {
+                                                selectedList.forEach {
+                                                    model.messagesState.deleteMessage(it)
+                                                }
+                                                mode.finish()
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                        .setNeutralButton(R.string.cancel) { _, _ ->
+                                        }
+                                        .show()
+                                }
+                                R.id.selectAllButton -> {
+                                    // if all selected -> unselect all
+                                    if (selectedList.size == messages.size) {
+                                        selectedList.clear()
+                                        mode.finish()
+                                    } else {
+                                        // else --> select all
+                                        selectedList.clear()
+                                        selectedList.addAll(messages)
+                                    }
+                                    actionMode?.title = selectedList.size.toString()
+                                    notifyDataSetChanged()
+                                }
+                            }
+                            return true
+                        }
+
+                        override fun onDestroyActionMode(mode: ActionMode) {
+                            selectedList.clear()
+                            notifyDataSetChanged()
+                            actionMode = null
+                        }
+                    })
+                } else {
+                    // when action mode is enabled
+                    clickItem(holder)
+                }
+                true
+            }
+            holder.itemView.setOnClickListener {
+                if (actionMode != null) clickItem(holder)
+            }
+
+            if (selectedList.contains(msg)) {
+                holder.itemView.background = GradientDrawable().apply {
+                    shape = GradientDrawable.RECTANGLE
+                    cornerRadius = 32f
+                    setColor(Color.rgb(127, 127, 127))
+                }
+            } else {
+                holder.itemView.background = GradientDrawable().apply {
+                    shape = GradientDrawable.RECTANGLE
+                    cornerRadius = 32f
+                    setColor(ContextCompat.getColor(holder.itemView.context, R.color.colorAdvancedBackground))
+                }
+            }
         }
 
-        private var messages = arrayOf<DataPacket>()
+        private fun clickItem(holder: ViewHolder) {
+            val position = holder.bindingAdapterPosition
+            if (!selectedList.contains(messages[position])) {
+                selectedList.add(messages[position])
+            } else {
+                selectedList.remove(messages[position])
+            }
+            if (selectedList.isEmpty()) {
+                // finish action mode when no items selected
+                actionMode?.finish()
+            } else {
+                // show total items selected on action mode title
+                actionMode?.title = "${selectedList.size}"
+            }
+            notifyItemChanged(position)
+        }
 
         /// Called when our node DB changes
         fun onMessagesChanged(msgIn: Collection<DataPacket>) {