How to delete messages
Android
iOS
KaiOS
Web
Windows
Mac
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 the message you sent contains a mistake. As a group admin, you can remove problematic messages in a 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
- Open WhatsApp and go to the chat with the message you want to delete.
- Click.
- Click Delete message > 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 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
- Open WhatsApp and go to the chat with the message you want to delete.
- Click>.
- Click Delete message > Delete for everyone > Delete for everyone > OK.
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 can't 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.
- Open WhatsApp and go to the chat with the message you want to delete.
- Click within your chat message.
- Click Delete message > Delete for me.
Note: After choosing Delete for me, you have 5 seconds to undo this action by clicking Undo before the message is permanently deleted. 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 device. This has no impact on your recipients' chats. Your recipients will still see the media in their chat screen.
- Hover over the media file and then click .
- Click Delete.
- Click Delete for me.