If you delete messages in WhatsApp, will they be deleted for everyone - briefly?
When you delete a message in WhatsApp, it is only removed from your device and not from the recipient's device. However, using the 'Delete for Everyone' feature allows you to remove messages from both your and the recipient's devices within seven minutes of sending.
If you delete messages in WhatsApp, will they be deleted for everyone - in detail?
When you delete a message in WhatsApp, it is not automatically deleted from the recipients' devices. Instead, WhatsApp offers two main options for handling message deletions: "Delete for Me" and "Delete for Everyone."
- Delete for Me: This option allows you to remove the message from your device only. The message will still be visible in the chat history of the recipients. This is useful if you want to clean up your chat screen without affecting others.
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Delete for Everyone: This feature enables you to delete a message from both your own device and the devices of all participants in the chat. However, there are several conditions and limitations:
- Time Limit: You have 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds after sending a message to delete it for everyone. After this period, the "Delete for Everyone" option will no longer be available.
- Read Status: If a recipient has already read the message before you attempt to delete it, they will still see the content in their chat history. The message will only be removed from unread chats.
- Quotes and Forwarding: Even if you successfully delete a message for everyone, recipients might have quoted or forwarded the message to other chats. In such cases, the deleted message may still exist in those quoted or forwarded conversations.
- Backup and Notifications: Deleted messages can sometimes be retrieved from backups if the recipient has enabled backup functionality on their device. Additionally, notifications about the message might still appear on the recipients' devices.
In summary, while WhatsApp provides a "Delete for Everyone" feature, it is not foolproof and comes with certain limitations. It is always good to be cautious when sending messages that you may later regret or need to delete.