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How To Recall and Unsend iMessages After Sending Them

iMessage is Apple’s popular messaging service that allows iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to send messages, photos, videos, and more to each other. A great new feature introduced in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura is the ability to recall (unsend) and edit messages you have already sent. This can be invaluable if you notice a mistake or accidentally send a message to the wrong person.

Unsending iMessages

Unsending an iMessage removes it completely from the conversation on both the sender’s and recipient’s devices. Here is how to unsend an iMessage:

Requirements

  • The sender and recipient must both be using iOS 16+, iPadOS 16+, or macOS Ventura+ on their devices. Unsend will NOT work if the recipient is on an older OS version.

Steps to Unsend an iMessage

  1. Open the Messages app and navigate to the conversation with the message you want to unsend.
  2. Long press on the message bubble.
  3. Tap Undo Send.

A note will appear indicating the message has been unsent.

Time Limit

  • You only have 2 minutes after sending a message to unsend it. After 2 minutes, the Undo Send option will disappear.

Caveats

  • If the recipient has already viewed the message, unsending will remove it from their device but they may still have seen the content.
  • Unsending only works between Apple devices using iMessage. It does not work for SMS/MMS messages to non-Apple devices.

Editing Sent iMessages

You can also edit the content of messages you have already sent, with some caveats:

Steps to Edit a Sent iMessage

  1. Long press on the message bubble.
  2. Tap Edit.
  3. Edit the message content.
  4. Tap the checkmark to re-send the edited message.

Time Limit and Caveats

  • You have 15 minutes after sending a message to edit it.
  • The recipient can view your edit history and see all previous versions of the message.
  • Editing only works on iMessage between Apple devices, not SMS/MMS.

Other Important Notes

  • If you disable iCloud backups, your iMessage history is NOT backed up anywhere. All message history will be permanently lost if you switch devices or delete the Messages app.
  • On a work or school-managed Apple device, administrators may have access to view your iMessage history.

Using the unsend and edit message features for iMessage gives you more control over your conversations. But it’s important to understand the limitations before relying on these tools. Follow the steps outlined above to remove or alter messages after sending them.

Recommended Safety Practices

In addition to unsending, here are some other best practices to keep your iMessage conversations safe and private:

Be Careful What You Share

  • Assume anything you send via iMessage could potentially be seen by someone else if your device is compromised. So be cautious about sharing private information.

Encrypt iCloud Backups

Beware of Linked Devices

  • If you link devices to your Apple ID like Apple Watch or Mac, those devices can also access your iMessages. So only link devices you fully trust.

Use Screen Locks

  • Anyone with physical access to your device could potentially read messages if there is no lock screen setup. So be sure to use Face ID, Touch ID, passcode, etc to lock your devices.

Following good privacy practices for all your devices and online accounts is always wise to keep your digital life secure. But with the unsend and edit features, Apple has given iPhone users even more control over their iMessage conversations after sending messages.

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