Are you an iPhone user, and have you ever accidentally texted something by mistake? Are you looking for options to unsend your message? Then, just Relax! Apple has developed a new feature in iOS 16 that allows the user to unsend or edit the iMessages that they have already sent to any of their contacts on the messages app. So apart from using Live Text in a Video in iOS 16, you can quickly unsend the messages on iPhone that you regret sending.
Things to Note Before You Unsend Messages on iPhone
Recently, Apple has developed a striking feature to Unsend the messages on the iPhone on iMessages app. The feature is one of the most noteworthy and valuable features from recent upgrades. In addition, iOS has also come up with a handful of two other interesting features. The features include the option to edit iMessages and mark text messages as unread messages.
However, the unsend iMessages feature on iOS 16 does not allow you to unsend or delete your sent messages whenever needed as it comes up with a time limit. The feature allows you to unsend or deletes an iMessage only if you decide to unsend within 2 minutes after sending the messages. This unsend feature works only when the sender and receiver use an iPhone. And also, the iPhone on both the sending and receiving side should run on iOS 16 or later version.
If you are texting to another Apple device that runs on iOS 15 or older versions, the message will be removed on your end, but the message on there remains unchanged. Remember that if you unsend a message on your iPhone, the recipients who receive the message will see a message that says, “Your name/phone number unsent a message.” The feature works like WhatsApp in terms of notifying the recipient about the deletion of the message by the sender.
Note: The unsend feature on iPhone in IOS 16 version is available only for iMessages, which is an encrypted messaging service that works over the internet, wifi, or cellular data. You can’t unsend Text messages, as they are sent via your carrier. Messages sent through carriers can’t be changed or unsend once they leave your iPhone.
Updating your iPhone
As mentioned earlier, the unsend message feature is available only on iOS16 and newer versions of iPhone. So it is essential to update your iPhone to iOS 16 if you want to use this feature.
1). On your iPhone, go to Settings.
2). Under the Settings menu, select General.
3). Then, select Software Update.
4). Tap on Upgrade to iOS 16 to upgrade the software. You can also enable the automatic update option if needed.
5). After iPhone completes downloading the software, click Install Now.
6). If it shows the option to Download and Install instead, choose it to download and install the software update.
7). If the system prompts you to enter your passcode, enter it and then tap on Install Now.
Updating your iPhone takes a certain amount of time, and waiting until your updation is complete. iOS updates usually come up with lots of software patches for fixing software bugs and other issues. Sometimes, the iPhone will also be restarted more often while updating the software. Leave your iPhone undisturbed until the software updation is complete.
How to Unsend the Messages on iPhone
Let’s see how you can unsend messages in your iOS 16 with the following steps.
One-Step Guide: With iPhone updated to iOS 16, open the Messages app > Select a chat > Choose the conversation > Long press the message > Select Undo Send.
1). On your iPhone ( iOS16 or newer), launch the Messages app.
2). Get into the chat from where you want to unsend the message.
3). From the conversation, select the specific message which you want to unsend by long pressing on the message.
4). Now, the Undo send option appears on the chat along with various other options like reply, edit, translate, send to email address, speak, and More. Tap on Undo Send to unsend the selected message.
5). After tapping Undo Send option, the iMessage sent on your iPhone disappears immediately with a small bursting animation. In the place of the sent message, you will see another message that says, “You unsent a message.“
How to Edit a Sent Message on iPhone
If you have sent a message and if it isn’t crossed 15 minutes, you shall edit it.
1). On Messages, select the conversation and click on the message you need to edit.
2). Just touch and hold the message bubble and select Edit.
3). Go ahead to make changes to the messages.
4). Hit the blue tick icon once you are done.
- Clicking on X will revert the message.
Important Note: The edited message will be marked as Edited in the conversation transcript. Undo Send option on iPhone does not ask for any confirmation to act.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to unsend the message before the message has been sent to the receiver, turn on your AirPlane mode immediately. When you quickly tap the AirPlane icon, it will disconnect your iPhone from the network connection. It will dismiss the sending message and indicates as Not Delivered with red letters. Then, delete the message you want to unsend and then turn on your AirPlane mode.
If you can’t find Undo send button in the Messages app on your iPhone, then it indicates two things.
1). Your iPhone is not updated to iOS version 16 and running on version iOS 15 and below.
2) The time limit of 2 minutes to Unsend messages is over.
No. You can’t unsend a text message (SMS) on your iPhone even after updating your device to iOS16. Because this feature is applicable only for iMessage, which use the internet to send and receive messages, but not carrier signals.