How to delete messages

Android
iOS
KaiOS
Web
Windows
Mac
You can delete messages just for yourself or request that messages be deleted for everyone. If you want to edit a message instead, you can for up to 15 minutes after sending.
When you delete a message, there’s no way to get it back unless you’ve included the message in a backup.

Delete messages for everyone

Deleting messages for everyone allows you to delete specific messages you’ve sent to an individual or group chat. This is particularly useful if you sent a message to the wrong chat or if the message you sent contains a mistake. As a group admin, you can remove problematic messages sent by other members in the chat.
Messages you've sent that are deleted for everyone will be replaced with:
"This message was deleted"

Delete messages you've sent for everyone

  1. Open WhatsApp and go to the chat containing the message you want to delete.
  2. Tap and hold the message. Optionally, select more messages to delete multiple messages at once.
  3. Tap
    delete
    > Delete for Everyone.
Group admins can delete messages sent by another group member. This enables admins to manage their private groups and communities by deleting inappropriate or abusive messages or media for all members. When an admin deletes a message for everyone, it will be replaced with:
“This message was deleted by admin [admin name]”

Delete a message sent by another group member

  1. Open WhatsApp and go to the chat containing the message you want to delete.
  2. Tap and hold the message.
  3. At the top of the chats tab, tap
    delete
    > Delete for Everyone.
Note:
  • You and the message recipients must be using the latest version of WhatsApp.
  • Recipients using WhatsApp for iOS might still have media you sent saved to their Photos, even after the message is deleted from the WhatsApp chat.
  • Recipients might see your message before it's deleted or if deletion wasn’t successful.
  • You won’t be notified if deleting for everyone wasn’t successful.
  • You have two days after you’ve sent a message to request to Delete for Everyone.
  • Only group admins can delete messages sent by other group members.
  • Group admins have two days after someone else sends a message to request to Delete for Everyone.
  • Group members will be able to see which admin chose to Delete for Everyone.
  • Messages deleted by a group admin are not recoverable and cannot be appealed.

Delete messages for yourself

You can delete your copy of messages you've sent or received from your phone. This has no impact on your recipients' chats. Your recipients will still see the messages in their chat screen.
  1. Open WhatsApp and go to the chat containing the message you wish to delete.
  2. Tap and hold the message. Optionally, tap more messages to delete multiple messages at once.
  3. Tap
    delete
    at the top of the screen > Delete for me.
Note: After choosing Delete for me, you have 5 seconds to undo this action by tapping Undo before the message is permanently deleted. After 5 seconds, you can’t recover the deleted messages. Please be advised that WhatsApp is unable to recover deleted messages for you.

Delete media from a chat

You can delete your copy of media you've sent or received from your phone. This has no impact on your recipients' chats. Your recipients will still see the media in their chat screen.
  1. Tap and hold the media file.
  2. Tap
    delete
    .
  3. After selecting the first message, you can select other messages to delete before tapping
    delete
    .
There's no way to delete all media from a chat in one step. The easiest way to delete multiple media is to do the following:
  1. Open the chat.
  2. Tap the name of the chat to enter the chat info screen/
  3. Tap Media, Links, and Docs.
  4. Tap and hold any media you wish to delete.
  5. Tap
    delete
    .

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