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Google Messages Rolls Out "Delete for Everyone" Feature to Unsend Texts

Say goodbye to those embarassing texts you mistakingly sent out

Ajaay Srinivasan profile picture
by Ajaay Srinivasan

Published 7 days ago

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close up shot of an Android phone showcasing the Google Messages app icon on the home screen

Image Credit: Tada Images/ Shutterstock

Summary

  • Google Messages is adding a 'Delete for everyone' feature to let users unsend texts.
  • The option will be available inside RCS-enable chats, including both one-on-one and group conversations.
  • Additionally, the app is also rolling out a new Snooze notifications option to mute notifications for a specific time.

Google Messages is rolling out a new feature that lets users delete messages they sent to someone. The feature has been in development for a few months and was previously available to some beta users.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google Messages has added a new Delete for everyone option for sent messages. With this option, users will be able to unsend messages that they sent to someone recently. The functionality works only for RCS-enabled conversations, not for regular text messages sent via SMS. Fortunately, the feature will be available inside on-on-one conversations as well as group chats.

To access the new option, users can open a conversation inside Google Messages, long-press on a text they want to delete and tap on the trash icon. The app will then offer two options – Delete for everyone and Delete for me. Choosing 'Delete for everyone' will let users delete messages on the recipients' devices as well as on their end and once the action is performed, the text will appear as "Message deleted" inside the chat thread.

screenshot showing the Delete for everyone option inside Google Messages app on Android
Image Credit: 9to5Google
screenshot showing the Delete for everyone option inside Google Messages app on Android
Image Credit: 9to5Google

It's still unknown as for how long someone can access the Delete for everyone option after a message is sent. Since the app's existing Edit message feature, which allows users to modify sent texts, is accessible for up to 15 minutes, we expect the same duration to apply to the Delete for everyone feature.

Other than Delete for everyone, the app is also rolling out a new Snooze notifications option. This allows users to mute notifications inside a conversation for 1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours or Always. Besides that, Google Messages now allows users to customize RCS group chat icons and change colours inside new chat pages.

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Ajaay Srinivasan profile picture
Ajaay Srinivasan

Guides Editor

Expertise :

Ajaay's love affair with technology started young, with the Nokia N-Gage piquing his interest. Since 2016, he's channeled his passion for tech into crafting explainers and guides on iOS, macOS, Android, social media, privacy & cybersecurity, and AI. When it's time to unplug, Ajaay enjoys playing EAFC, unwinding to music on a pair of open-backs, building his dream audiophile gear, or watching Arsenal struggle to keep a clean sheet.

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