If I delete a message in WhatsApp before it's read, will the recipient see it - briefly?
Yes, if you delete a message in WhatsApp before the recipient reads it, they may still see it briefly. However, this feature is dependent on both parties having the latest version of the app and the message being deleted within a short window of time after sending.
If I delete a message in WhatsApp before it's read, will the recipient see it - in detail?
When you send a message on WhatsApp and then decide to delete it before the recipient reads it, there are several factors that determine whether the recipient will still be able to see the message.
Firstly, it's important to understand how deletion works in WhatsApp. When you delete a message, WhatsApp does not actually remove the data from its servers immediately. Instead, it marks the message for deletion and then eventually removes it during its routine maintenance cycles. This means that if the recipient has not yet read the message or downloaded any attachments associated with it, they may still receive the notification or see a preview of the message in their chat list.
Secondly, the timing of the deletion is crucial. If you delete the message very quickly after sending it—before WhatsApp has had a chance to deliver it to the recipient's device—the recipient is less likely to see the message at all. However, if there is even a slight delay before you delete the message, the recipient may still receive and read it.
Thirdly, whether the recipient sees a preview of the deleted message can depend on their phone settings. If the recipient has enabled message previews in their notification settings, they might see a snippet of the deleted message even if they haven't opened WhatsApp yet. Similarly, if the recipient has their chat list open and refreshes it after you delete the message, they may still see a preview or remnants of the message before it gets fully removed from their chat history.
It is also worth noting that WhatsApp's "Delete for Everyone" feature only works within a certain timeframe. If the message has been read by the recipient or if too much time has passed since sending, you will not be able to delete the message for everyone. In such cases, the recipient will still see the message in their chat history even after you have deleted it from your end.
In summary, while deleting a message before it is read can help mitigate the chances of the recipient seeing it, there are no guarantees. The timing of the deletion, WhatsApp's delivery process, and the recipient's phone settings all play a role in determining whether the message will be seen or not. Therefore, it is always best to exercise caution when sending messages that you might later regret.