Before it's too late, learn how to edit and unsend a message on iPhone.

All of us have felt that sudden surge of anxiety following the sending of a text message, be it a typing error, an unintended recipient or a message we wish we could retract.

Thankfully, if you're an iPhone user, there's good news.

The latest iOS updates allow you to edit or unsend your iMessages, preventing embarrassment.

How to edit a sent iMessage

• Open the Messages app and find the iMessage you want to change
• Long-press on the message
• A pop-up menu will appear; tap on Edit.
• Adjust the text as needed
• Tap the blue check mark to confirm your changes

Important notes about editing a sent iMessage

• You have 15 minutes after sending a message to edit it.
• You can edit the same message up to five times.
• Original: "I am an AI assistant that helps people find information." Edited: "I am an AI that assists people in locating information."

How to unsend an iMessage

• Open the Messages app and locate the message.
• Long-press on the message
• In the pop-up menu, choose Undo Send
• The message will vanish from both your device and the recipient's screen.

Key considerations about unsending an iMessage

• You only have two minutes after sending a message to unsend it.
• The recipient may still see a notification that you unsent a message.
• This feature is exclusive to iMessages (blue bubbles) and does not apply to SMS texts (green bubbles).

Limitations you should know

While these features are incredibly useful, they come with some limitations.

• You and the recipient must be using iOS 16 or later for full functionality.
• Original: "Hey, can you send me the report?" Rewritten: "Could you please forward the report to me?"

Kurt's key takeaways

Easily correct mistakes or retract messages with the simple steps of editing and unsend.

What messaging features would you like to see added to iMessage or other messaging apps in the future? Please share your thoughts with us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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