How to delete a message in WhatsApp from a contact so that they don't see it - briefly?
To ensure a recipient doesn't see a sent message on WhatsApp, you can use the "Delete for Everyone" feature within seven minutes of sending the message. Simply long-press the message and select the trashcan icon to delete it for all participants in the chat.
How to delete a message in WhatsApp from a contact so that they don't see it - in detail?
Deleting a message on WhatsApp can be essential when you realize the content sent might cause discomfort or misunderstanding. However, it is important to note that while you can delete messages from your device and from the recipient's chat feed, this action does not guarantee that the recipient will never see the message. Here’s a detailed guide on how to delete a message in WhatsApp:
- Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your smartphone.
- Navigate to Chats: Tap on the “Chats” tab at the bottom of the screen to access your list of conversations.
- Select Contact: Choose the contact from whom you want to delete the message by tapping on their name or chat thread.
- Locate Message: Scroll through the conversation to find the specific message you wish to delete.
- Delete for Yourself: Long-press on the message until a menu appears at the top of the screen with several options, including “Delete.” Tap on “Delete” and then confirm by tapping “Delete for Me.” This will remove the message from your device but not from the recipient's device.
- Delete for Everyone: If you wish to delete the message for both yourself and the recipient (if within the allowed time frame), tap on “Delete” and then select “Delete for Everyone.” This option is available only if the message was sent less than 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 30 seconds ago. After this period, the “Delete for Everyone” feature will no longer be available.
It’s crucial to understand that even after using the “Delete for Everyone” function, WhatsApp cannot guarantee that the recipient has not already seen or read the message. The deletion process only removes the message from both devices but does not prevent the content from being viewed before the deletion.
Moreover, if the recipient has enabled notifications on their device and the message is displayed in the notification bar, they might still see its contents even after it’s deleted. Additionally, if the message is part of a group chat, all participants will receive a notification stating that a message was deleted, which can sometimes draw more attention to the action than intended.
To summarize, while WhatsApp provides options for deleting messages from both sender and recipient devices, there is no foolproof method to ensure that the message cannot be seen at all. It’s always best to think carefully before sending a message to avoid situations where you might need to delete it later.