Accidentally sending a typo or the wrong message is a common occurrence. Thankfully, with the release of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura in 2022, Apple introduced a feature that allows you to edit or unsend iMessages.
Whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can take advantage of this feature to correct mistakes. Here’s how to do it, including details about some important limitations.
Important Limitations to Keep in Mind
Before diving into the steps, here are a few key things to remember:
- You can only edit or unsend iMessages, which are the messages that appear in blue bubbles. SMS messages (green bubbles) sent over the cellular network cannot be unsent or edited.
- You have 2 minutes to unsend an iMessage and 15 minutes to edit it after sending.
- If the recipient is using an older version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, they may still see the original message, and your changes will appear crossed out or marked as edited.
- Group chats will also notify you if any participants are running older versions of the OS, letting you know that some members may still see the original or unsent message.
How to Unsend or Edit an iMessage
Follow these simple steps to unsend or edit an iMessage on any Apple device running a supported OS version:
1. Long-Press or Control-Click on the Message
- On your iPhone or iPad, simply long-press the iMessage you want to edit or unsend.
- On macOS, Control + left-click on the message.
2. Select “Undo Send” or “Edit”
- After pressing on the message, a pop-up menu will appear with the options Undo Send and Edit.
- Choose Undo Send to completely remove the message from the conversation. A note will appear informing you that some recipients may still see the message if they’re on an older OS.
- Choose Edit if you want to change the content of the message.
3. Make Changes and Confirm the Edit
- If you select Edit, make the necessary changes to the message.
- Tap the blue checkmark to confirm your edit. The message will now display an “Edited” label, and recipients will be able to view the edit history.
Notes for Editing and Unsending on macOS
- On macOS, the process is nearly identical. Just Control + Left-click the message and choose the appropriate option to unsend or edit.
- The changes will sync across all your Apple devices, as long as they are signed in with the same Apple ID.
iMessage on Apple Watch
Starting with watchOS 10, you can also edit or unsend messages directly from your Apple Watch. Simply use a similar long-press gesture on the message and follow the prompts to undo or edit it.
What Happens After You Unsend or Edit?
- If you choose to unsend, the message will be removed from the conversation for both you and the recipient (if they’re using iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, or newer).
- If the recipient is using an older version of iOS or macOS, the original message might still be visible, and they’ll see a notification that the message was unsent.
- When editing a message, the recipient will see a label under the message indicating that it has been edited. They can tap to view the edit history, showing the changes you made.
Why This Feature is Important
The ability to unsend or edit iMessages offers a layer of flexibility that many users had been asking for. Whether it’s fixing a typo, retracting an accidental message, or clarifying information, this feature helps reduce communication errors. While some limitations remain—such as compatibility with older operating systems—the feature still makes iMessage a more versatile and forgiving platform.
Final Thoughts
The ability to unsend or edit iMessages makes Apple’s messaging platform more practical, especially for users who frequently communicate via text. With a simple long-press, you can correct mistakes or remove messages entirely, reducing the anxiety around sending the wrong text. While recipients on older OS versions may still see the original message, the option to make these corrections adds a new layer of convenience to the platform.
Next time you’re texting and accidentally send something you didn’t mean to, you’ll know exactly how to fix it in just a few taps!