UK Edition
WhatsApp finally lets users unsend messages they regret
WhatsApp users at last have a way to hastily unsend embarrassing messages after a new update added the ability to delete sent messages for the first time.
The new feature offers users the option to "delete messages for everyone" in a chat within seven minutes of the initial message being sent.
After a message has been deleted users will see a notification saying "this message was deleted" in place of the original message. Both users require the latest version of WhatsApp on iOS or Android for the delete message function to work.
The ability to unsend embarrassing messages has long been sought after by users and is part of the appeal of services like Snapchat, which automatically delete messages after a short time limit.
Other apps have started implementing unsend functions, such as Google's Gmail.
WhatsApp appears to be slowly implementing its latest feature, and a guide to using the function has appeared on the app's FAQ page.
The feature has been activated for some users in the UK, although it does not appear to be live on all devices just yet. Users will be notified if a deletion was unsuccessful for everyone in a chat.
How to unsend WhatsApp messages
- Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp for iOS or Android, you can find this in the App Store or Google Play Store
- Open WhatsApp and go to the chat with the message you want to delete within seven minutes of sending
- Tap and hold the message. You can also tap multiple messages to delete more than one
- Tap the Delete icon at the top of the screen > tap Delete for Everyone
- Everyone on your chat will see the message: "This message was deleted" - so you may still have some explaining to do