How to delete a read message in a WhatsApp group?

How to delete a read message in a WhatsApp group - briefly?

To delete a read message in a WhatsApp group, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the WhatsApp group chat where the message is located.
2. Long-press on the message you want to delete until the options menu appears, then select "Delete" and confirm your choice.

How to delete a read message in a WhatsApp group - in detail?

Deleting a read message in a WhatsApp group is a common requirement for various reasons, such as removing sensitive information or correcting a mistake. Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not provide a direct option to delete messages once they have been read by other members of the group. However, there are a few workarounds that can help you achieve this:

1. Delete Message for Everyone: If you need to delete a message before anyone in the group reads it, you can use the "Delete for Everyone" feature. This option allows you to remove the message from all participants' devices within 1 hour of sending or receiving it. To do this:

   • Open WhatsApp and go to the group where the message is located.
   • Long-press on the message you want to delete until a menu appears at the top of the screen.
   • Tap on "Delete" in the top right corner.
   • Select "Delete for Everyone".

2. Leave and Rejoin the Group: If the message has already been read, leaving and rejoining the group might help remove the message from your device. However, this method does not delete the message from other participants' devices. Here’s how to do it:

   • Open WhatsApp and go to the group where the message is located.
   • Tap on the group name at the top of the screen.
   • Scroll down and tap "Exit Group".
   • Confirm that you want to leave the group.
   • Ask an administrator to re-add you to the group or wait for an invitation.

3. Revoke Administrative Privileges: If you are an admin of the group, revoking your own administrative privileges can sometimes remove messages from your device. This method is less reliable and should be used with caution.

   • Open WhatsApp and go to the group where the message is located.
   • Tap on the group name at the top of the screen.
   • Scroll down and tap "Group Info".
   • Tap on your name in the list of participants.
   • Tap "Dismiss as Admin".

4. Factory Reset: As a last resort, you can perform a factory reset on your device to delete all WhatsApp data, including read messages. Note that this will erase all data on your device, so ensure you have backups before proceeding.

   • Go to "Settings" on your phone.
   • Navigate to "General Management" (or similar) and select "Reset".
   • Choose "Factory Data Reset" and follow the prompts.