Can You Unsend a Text? How to Edit Sent Text Messages

We’ve all sent a text we wanted back. Maybe it went to the wrong person, had the wrong meaning, or you hit send before you were done. The question is whether tapping delete actually makes that message disappear for the other person.

In some cases, you can unsend a text, but it depends on your phone, the type of message, and how quickly you catch it. Here’s how to unsend a text, when deleting a message only removes it from your own device, and what you can do when unsending isn’t an option:

How to Unsend a Text on iPhone and Android

The steps for unsending a text depend on your device and the type of message you sent. Here’s how this often looks:

How to Unsend a Text on iPhone:

If you’re using iMessage, you have up to two minutes after sending a message to unsend it.

1. Open the conversation in Messages.
2. Touch and hold the message you want to remove.
3. Tap Undo Send.

That message will disappear from the conversation, and a note will show that you unsent it. This feature only works with iMessage, so SMS, MMS, and RCS messages cannot be unsent this way. If the recipient is using an older version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, they may still be able to see the original message after you unsend it.

How to Unsend a Text on Android:

Google Messages lets you delete certain RCS messages for everyone within a limited window, which can range from 15 minutes to 24 hours depending on your app version and feature rollout.

1. Open the conversation in Google Messages.
2. Touch and hold the message you sent.
3. Tap Delete.
4. Select Delete for everyone if the option appears.

If you only see Delete for me, removing the message won’t delete it from the recipient’s side of the conversation. Feature availability also depends on the message and whether the conversation is using supported RCS features.

How to Edit a Sent Text Message

If the message doesn’t need to be removed entirely, editing it may be the better option. Like unsending, the time limit and steps depend on your device and the type of message.

On iPhone, you can edit an iMessage up to five times within 15 minutes of sending it. Touch and hold the message, select Edit, make your changes, and tap the checkmark to save them. The message will be marked as edited, and the recipient can view its edit history.

On Android, supported RCS messages in Google Messages can also be edited for up to 15 minutes after they’re sent. Touch and hold the message, tap Edit, make your changes, and tap the checkmark to save.

Can You Unsend a Text on Other Messaging Apps?

Many messaging apps have their own options for editing or unsending messages, although the rules and time limits vary by platform. Some popular examples include:

• WhatsApp: You can delete a message for everyone for about 2 days (60 hours) after sending it, or edit a message within 15 minutes. A note remains in the chat when a message is deleted.
• Facebook Messenger: You can delete a sent message for everyone in the chat at any time, or edit a message within 15 minutes.
• Instagram: You can unsend a message from chat, which removes it for everyone in the conversation. You can also edit a message within 15 minutes.

Regardless of the app, unsending a message doesn’t guarantee the recipient never saw it. They may have already opened the conversation or seen the message in a notification preview.

Can You Unsend a Text in Burner?

Burner does not currently let you unsend a message after it’s been delivered. Deleting a text or conversation from the Burner app removes it from your device, but it doesn’t remove the recipient’s copy.

Instead, Burner gives you more control over the number you use before you start a conversation. You can call and text without sharing your personal phone number, keep different conversations connected to different Burner numbers, and replace a number when you no longer want to use it, depending on your plan.

Frequently Asked Questions About Unsending Texts

Can someone still see a message after you unsend it?

The recipient may have read the message before you unsent it or seen its contents in a notification preview. Unsending removes the message under the app’s rules, but it can’t guarantee the recipient never saw it.

Can you unsend a text before it’s read?

Whether a message has been read generally doesn’t determine whether you can unsend it. What matters is whether the messaging service supports unsending and whether you’re still within its allowed time window.

Can you unsend a photo or video?

Whether you can unsend photos and videos depends on the messaging service. Apps that allow messages to be unsent may also let you remove photos, videos, and other attachments, but the same time limits and restrictions apply. The recipient may also have viewed or saved the attachment before you remove it.

Keep Your Personal Number Out of the Conversation with Burner

Burner gives you a separate phone number for the conversations you don’t want tied to your personal one. Use it to call and text while keeping your primary number private, whether you’re meeting someone online, selling something, signing up for a service, or just deciding who gets direct access to you.

And when your needs change, your number can change with them. Depending on your plan, you can keep a Burner number for ongoing conversations, manage multiple numbers, or replace one you no longer need—all without giving up your personal number in the process.

Get Burner and start texting with a number that gives you more control.