How to delete a message in WhatsApp if you only deleted it for yourself?

How to delete a message in WhatsApp if you only deleted it for yourself - briefly?

To delete a message for everyone in WhatsApp after initially deleting it only for yourself, tap and hold the message, then select "Delete" > "Delete for Everyone".

How to delete a message in WhatsApp if you only deleted it for yourself - in detail?

If you've accidentally sent a message on WhatsApp and have already deleted it from your own device, there are still ways to ensure that the message is removed from the recipient's device as well. Here’s a detailed guide on how to handle this situation:

1. Check Message Status: First, confirm whether the message has been delivered or read by the recipient. If the message status shows two blue ticks (delivered and read), it means that the recipient has already seen the message. However, if there are no ticks or only one grey tick (sent but not yet delivered), you might still have time to delete the message from their device.

2. Delete for Everyone: WhatsApp offers a feature called "Delete for Everyone," which allows users to delete messages for all participants in a chat. This feature must be used within 7 minutes of sending the message. Here’s how to do it:

   • Open WhatsApp and go to the chat where you sent the message.
   • Long-press on the message you want to delete until the options menu appears.
   • Tap on the "Delete" icon at the top of the screen (the trash can icon).
   • Select “Delete for Everyone” from the pop-up menu.
3. Confirmation: Once you select “Delete for Everyone,” WhatsApp will replace the message with a notification saying, "This message was deleted." This confirms that the message has been successfully removed from both your device and the recipient’s device.

4. Limitations: It's important to note that the "Delete for Everyone" feature only works if:

   • The message is sent within 7 minutes of being received by the recipient.
   • Both you and the recipient are using the latest version of WhatsApp.
   • The recipient has not seen the message (it should show one grey tick or no ticks at all).
5. Additional Tips: To avoid such situations in the future, consider turning on read receipts to know when your messages have been delivered and read. Additionally, you can use the “Delete for Me” feature immediately after sending a message if you realize it was sent by mistake. However, this will only delete the message from your device, not the recipient's.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage situations where you need to delete a message in WhatsApp that has already been deleted from your own device.