Editing or deleting a message

You can edit or delete your own chat message — but only within 5 minutes of sending it. This article explains how that works and why the options are sometimes greyed out.

Step 1: Open the message menu

1. Go to the conversation (1-on-1 or group chat) that contains the message you want to change.
2. Press and hold the message (right-click on a computer).

Step 2: Choose Edit or Delete

1. Choose Edit to change the text, or Delete to remove the message.
2. Confirm the deletion in the pop-up that appears.

An edited message gets an "edited" label so the recipient can see it. A deleted message is replaced in the conversation by the text "This message has been deleted".

Good to know

• Editing and deleting only work on your own messages, never on someone else's.
• It's only possible within 5 minutes of sending the message.
• Too late? Then Edit and Delete appear greyed out in the message menu. Tap them and you'll see a notice explaining that this only works within 5 minutes.
• These rules apply to both 1-on-1 chats and group chats.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I delete my message anymore? More than 5 minutes have probably passed since you sent it, or it isn't your own message. Both restrictions are deliberate, so a conversation can't be changed retroactively.

Can I delete someone else's message? No, not even if you're a group admin — only the sender can edit or delete their own message.

Will the other person see that I edited or deleted a message? Yes. An edited message gets an "edited" label; a deleted message shows "This message has been deleted" instead of the original text.