How to delete a sent message for another person in WhatsApp on Android after some time?

How to delete a sent message for another person in WhatsApp on Android after some time - briefly?

Deleting a sent message for another person in WhatsApp on Android after some time is not possible. Once a message has been delivered and read by the recipient, it cannot be deleted from their device.

How to delete a sent message for another person in WhatsApp on Android after some time - in detail?

Deleting a sent message for another person in WhatsApp on an Android device can be a useful feature when you need to correct a mistake or retract information that was accidentally shared. However, it's important to note that this function has specific time constraints and conditions. Here is a detailed guide on how to accomplish this:

Understanding the Time Limit

WhatsApp allows users to delete messages for everyone within 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds of sending them. After this window closes, the message can only be deleted from your own device and not from the recipient's. This time limit is crucial to keep in mind when attempting to delete a message for another person.

Steps to Delete a Message for Everyone

If the message was sent within the allowed time frame, follow these steps:

  1. Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your Android device.
  2. Navigate to the Chat: Go to the chat where you sent the message you want to delete.
  3. Select the Message: Long-press on the message you wish to delete until a menu appears at the top of the screen.
  4. Choose Delete Option: In the menu, tap on the "Delete" option. This will open another prompt with two options: "Delete for Me" and "Delete for Everyone".
  5. Select 'Delete for Everyone': Tap on "Delete for Everyone". This will delete the message from both your device and the recipient's device.

What Happens After Deletion

Once a message is successfully deleted for everyone, WhatsApp replaces the message with a notification stating: "This message was deleted." The content of the message will no longer be visible to anyone in the chat.

Important Considerations

  • Message Status: If the recipient has already read the message before you delete it, they will still see the "This message was deleted" notification.
  • Group Chats: In group chats, all participants will see the "This message was deleted" notification once a message is deleted for everyone.
  • Backup and Forwarding: Even if a message is deleted, it may still exist in backups or if it has been forwarded to other chats.

When Deletion is Not Possible

If more than 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds have passed since sending the message, you will only see the "Delete for Me" option. Selecting this will remove the message from your device but not from the recipient's device.

Conclusion

Deleting a sent message for another person in WhatsApp on Android is a straightforward process when done within the specified time limit. By following these steps, you can ensure that any mistakenly sent messages are promptly removed from both your and the recipient's chat history.