You can now delete messages on WhatsApp

Sent a message to a wrong group/chat? Don't fret. WhatsApp will now allow you to delete messages minutes after it being sent.

Key Highlights

• Messages to groups and self can now be deleted from WhatsApp.
• Messages can only be deleted seven minutes after it being sent.
• Customers should have latest version of WhatsApp to avail of the recall facility.

Instant messaging platform, WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature to let its subscribers delete certain messages.

“You can delete messages for everyone or just for yourself,” the company’s FAQ stated.

On successful deletion of messages, customers will be notified with ‘This message was deleted.’ WhatsApp will allow messages to be deleted in its WhatsApp groups as well.

“Messages you successfully delete for everyone will be replaced with "This message was deleted" in your recipients' chats (*). Similarly, if you see "This message was deleted" in a chat, it means that the sender deleted their message for everyone.”

However there are certain dos and don’ts that need to be followed in order to use this new feature of WhatsApp.

Firstly the deletion of messages can only be done within a specified time limit.

“You can only delete messages for everyone for up to seven minutes after sending. Once seven minutes have passed, there is no way to delete messages for everyone,” WhatsApp said.

To delete messages for everyone:

• Open WhatsApp and go to the chat containing the message you wish to delete.
• Tap and hold the message. Optionally, tap more messages to delete multiple messages at once.
• Tap Delete at the top of the screen > Delete for everyone.

To delete messages only for yourself:

“Deleting messages for yourself allows you to delete your copy of messages you've sent or received from your phone. This has no effect on your recipients' chats. Your recipients will still see the messages in their chat screen,” the company said.

• Open WhatsApp and go to the chat containing the message you wish to delete.
• Tap and hold the message. Optionally, tap more messages to delete multiple messages at once.
• Tap Delete at the top of the screen > Delete for me.

The new features on WhatsApp will only work if both parties have the latest version for Android, iPhone and Windows Phone.

If the deletion was unsuccessful then customers will not be notified.

“You will not be notified if deleting for everyone was not successful. Recipients may see your message before it's deleted or if deletion was not successful,” WhatsApp said.