How to delete a message for everyone in WhatsApp on Android if a lot of time has passed?

How to delete a message for everyone in WhatsApp on Android if a lot of time has passed - briefly?

To delete a message for everyone in WhatsApp on Android after a significant amount of time has passed, simply long press the message and select "Delete" from the menu that appears. Then, choose "Delete for Everyone" to ensure it is removed from both your device and the recipient's device.

How to delete a message for everyone in WhatsApp on Android if a lot of time has passed - in detail?

To delete a message for everyone in WhatsApp on an Android device, even if significant time has passed since the message was sent, you can follow these detailed steps:

  1. Open WhatsApp: First, launch the WhatsApp application on your Android device.
  2. Navigate to the Chat: Locate and open the chat where the message you want to delete is present. This could be an individual chat or a group conversation.
  3. Select the Message: Long press on the specific message that you wish to delete for everyone. A menu will appear with several options.
  4. Delete for Everyone Option: From the menu, tap on the 'Delete' option. You will then see two options: 'Delete for Me' and 'Delete for Everyone'. Select 'Delete for Everyone'.
  5. Confirm Deletion: Confirm that you want to delete the message for everyone in the chat by tapping 'OK' or 'Delete'. WhatsApp will attempt to remove the message from all participants’ devices.
  6. Check Message Status: After selecting 'Delete for Everyone', check the status of your message. If successful, you should see a note saying "You deleted this message" on your screen. Recipients will see "This message was deleted" in place of the original text.

Important Considerations:

  • Time Limit: While WhatsApp allows you to delete messages for everyone even after a considerable amount of time has passed, there is still a time limit. If too much time has elapsed (usually more than 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds), the 'Delete for Everyone' option will not be available.
  • Recipient Action: Recipients must have an active internet connection to receive the deletion notice. If they are offline when you delete the message, they will see it once they come back online.
  • Backup: Deleting a message for everyone does not remove it from backups. To completely remove a message, you need to delete it from your backup as well.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and control the information shared in your WhatsApp chats, even if some time has passed since the original messages were sent.