At Apple’s WWDC 2022 occasion, it adopted its common custom of saying its subsequent main software program updates, together with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9. Amongst new options in Messages is the power to unsend and edit iMessages, particularly on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
The place it received’t work
Initially, there are some limitations. Clearly, you received’t be capable of unsend SMS messages, that are those that present up in inexperienced bubbles. One other key limitation is that as of proper now within the preliminary iOS 16 and macOS Ventura betas, you possibly can unsend or edit an iMessage for a time frame, but when the recipient is working an older model of iOS or macOS, they’ll nonetheless see the unique message.
The Messages app goes to warn you of this. It can let you know that the message has been unsent or edited, and that the recipient should see it as a result of they’re working an older model of iOS (sure, it nonetheless calls out iOS particularly even in the event you’re utilizing macOS). The identical goes for group texts, because the app will particularly point out the folks within the group which are working the older model.

All of that is topic to alter, in fact, being that that is the primary beta.
Lastly, to be clear, you can not unsend or edit an iMessage on watchOS 9. If you happen to ship a message from watchOS and also you need to change it, you’ll must take your iPhone out of your pocket such as you’re dwelling in 2012 as a substitute of 2022.
Methods to unsend or edit an iMessage
The strategy of unsending or enhancing a message is fairly simple.
- Lengthy-press on an iMessage you despatched, or on macOS, Ctrl + click on on the message.
- Choose ‘Undo Ship’ or ‘Edit’.
- If you happen to’re enhancing, regulate the message as wanted and hit the blue checkmark.
That’s it. The message will both be unsent or modified based mostly on what you simply did, assuming that the recipient is on iOS 16 and/or macOS Ventura.
Please be aware that this was written based mostly on habits within the first developer betas for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9. It’s all topic to alter, and we might be updating this text accordingly.