Google's Messaging Service to Allow Users to Erase Sent Messages for All Recipients
Rewritten Article:
In days gone by, sending a message was a done deal. Typos, sent to the wrong person – once you hit the 'send' button, it was out of your hands, and the recipient was stuck with it until they wanted to part ways with it. Nowadays, technology's got our backs, enabling us to dodge such cringeworthy moments. Many chat apps offer the option to retract a message, be it editing for a typo or deleting it altogether, making it disappear from the chat. Of course, this doesn't mean that the recipient didn't catch it before it vanished, but it does make it less conspicuous.
Plenty of popular chat apps support this delete option, from WhatsApp to iMessage. However, one major player that's been holding out is Google Messages. If you've unwittingly sent a message that you'd rather forget, you could edit it within a 15-minute window, but deleting it was off the cards. But it looks like change is afoot. In February 2025, 9to5Google first spotted the "Delete for everyone" option in Google Messages. Now, it's being rolled out, albeit gradually.
Here's the deal: RCS, the messaging protocol that Google Messages now defaults to, has had this option since last July's "Universal Profile 2.7" update, which enabled users to "Edit, Recall, and Delete messages." When the feature lands in your Google Messages app, you'll have two options when you delete a message: "Delete for me" (which functions as usual) or "Delete for everyone," which eliminates the message for all compatible versions of Google Messages users.
However, there's a catch. The message will only be removed from users who have an updated, compatible version of Google Messages. It won't be erased from older app versions. This limitation is the feature's Achilles' heel, shared by most chat apps offering "Delete for everyone": You'll never truly know whether the message was deleted unless you're positive that all parties involved are using an up-to-date version of Google Messages.
As per 9to5Google, the feature is being introduced gradually. For instance, one user running the Google Messages beta has the feature for a group chat with 12 participants, but not for single chats. 9to5Google doesn't have the option, either.
If you're eager to try out the feature ASAP, consider enrolling in the Google Messages beta. Just head to the Google Messages Play Store page, select "BECOME A TESTER," follow the on-screen instructions, and you'll be on your way to potentially unstable, but speedy, access to the messaging app's latest features.
- Tech advancements in messaging have significantly improved over the years, allowing users to edit or delete sent messages, thereby reducing awkward moments.
- Google Messages, a prominent chat app, has recently introduced the "Delete for everyone" option, following the lead of other popular apps like WhatsApp and iMessage.
- This new feature in Google Messages, part of the RCS messaging protocol, allows users to select between deleting messages for themselves or deleting them for everyone, ensuring compatibility among up-to-date Google Messages versions.
- While the rollout of the "Delete for everyone" option is gradual, those enthusiastic about trying it out can enroll in the Google Messages beta to access the feature more quickly, though they should be prepared for potential instability.
