Remember that moment when it's late at night, and you're half-asleep, scrolling through your WhatsApp chats? You mean to send a cheeky message to your best friend, but in your sleepy haze, you send it to your boss. An uncertain panic sets in because it's the same boss you just had a meeting with earlier that day. In between, your mind races with worst-case scenarios, and WhatsApp's recall feature dives into the rescue.
This simple tap deletes the message from both ends of the conversation before the boss has a chance to see it. Mistakes happen, but knowing how to recall a WhatsApp message saves you from the aftermath. Thus, explore the following article, which contains proper, step-by-step tutorials for users with different devices. If recalling doesn't seem right, you can learn how to edit a message, regardless of your device.
In this article
Part 1. How Do Recall a WhatsApp Message Work? | Understanding Basics
We've all felt instant regret after sending a message, whether a typo or a misfire. To understand how to recall a message on WhatsApp, you first need to know how this works differently in individual versus group conversations:
For Individuals
When a person sends a message to a single contact on WhatsApp and needs to recall it, the "Delete for Everyone" option can be preferred. If you act within the allotted time window (up to 2 days), you can long-press the message and tap the trash icon to recall it. It will erase the message from both chats, replacing it with a note saying, "This message was deleted."
For Groups
The process is similar in group chats, but the impact is broader. When you choose to recall a message in a group, that message disappears from the chats of all group members. Additionally, it only works if you and the other group members are using the latest version of WhatsApp. Other members can see an alert that the message was deleted because it doesn't completely remove traces.
Part 2. How to Recall a Message on WhatsApp? [All Devices]
Once the basic working is determined, what matters is the 'how-to' part of the existing feature. In this section, you're about to learn how to recall a WhatsApp message through a detailed stepwise guide for all devices:
For Android
Instructions: To do so, first access WhatsApp on your Android phone and open chat for the particular contact to recall the message. After this, long-press the message you want to remove and navigate to the "Dust Bin" icon at the top. From the pop-up, choose the "Delete for Everyone" option to remove that text from the chat.
For iPhone
Instructions: On iPhone, access chat for a specific person and press the message you want to recall. From the appearing menu, choose the "Delete" option and proceed to the "Dust Bin" icon at the bottom left corner. Now, select the "Delete for Everyone" option to remove the chosen message from both conversations.
For Web
Step 1. To do this, access your contact chat and click the downward arrow to select the Delete option from the menu.
Step 2. Move ahead and locate the “Dust Bin” icon at the bottom right corner to reveal further options.
Step 3. Now, press the “Delete for Everyone” button to replace the existing message with “You Deleted This Message.”
For Windows/Mac
Step 1. To recall a message on Windows, you must first install the desktop version of the app. Afterward, connect your WhatsApp by scanning the QR code via "Link a Device" and wait a few minutes for your chats to load. Access the chat for the specific contact and press the downward arrow to select the "Delete" option from the menu.
Step 2. From the pop-up, check the “Delete for Everyone” option and click the “Delete” button to complete the recall.
Pro Tip. Track a Contact's Activity Before You Recall [Best WhatsApp Tracker]
On a busy day, when you accidentally send a confidential client update to the wrong group, stress is a natural response. Now, you immediately think of using the "Delete for Everyone" option, but what if someone in the group has already seen it? Before you rush to recall a message on WhatsApp, wouldn't it be great to know who's online? The best-suited solution is WaLastseen Online, an ultimate activity tracker for multiple contacts.
To see online activity details, users can access the calendar date and choose a custom duration. For tracking, it allows customizing the contact's name to maintain privacy from unwanted eyes. The process is simple and requires a plan to be purchased to reveal activity under respective sections. This platform provides quick and real-time notifications whenever your contact is online or offline.
Key Features
- Deep Analysis of Activities: This tracker reveals hidden last-seen statuses and WhatsApp usage activities in proper charts or graphs.
- Compare Chats Probability: Examines last-seen activities in detail and compares the online timelines of two contacts to determine the probability of chats in its app version.
- Scan the QR Code: To start tracking online, you need to link WhatsApp through a QR code on your phone.
Simple Tutorial to Track a Contact's Activity Before Recall
If you are thinking about recalling messages on WhatsApp without making things worse, explore the given tutorial to track their activity first:
- Step 1. Sign in WaLastseen and Add a Contact to Track
First, sign in to WaLastseen Online and add a contact that you need to track. For this, choose the Country Code and enter the name and number of the person to hit the "Track Now" button for addition.
- Step 2. Connect Your WhatsApp Account
After this, use “Link WhatsApp” to connect your account and start tracking activities online. Upon entering the QR Code window, scan the QR code on your phone via WhatsApp. If the attempt fails to link, press the "Retry" button to try again until it is successful.
- Step 3. Access the Online History of Your Target
Once a suitable plan is purchased, reveal the WhatsApp online history of the targeted contact. It will display them in separate tabs, allowing you to add contacts for multiple tracking purposes. From the calendar date near the upper left corner, select 'Custom Duration' to view activity details.
Part 3. Reasons: Why Won't I Recall a Message on WhatsApp?
Although the “Delete for Everyone” feature is a lifesaver, it still doesn't always work as expected. When you learn how to recall a WhatsApp message but can't make it happen, the following reasons might be the cause:
- Missed Time Limit: The app only allows you to recall a message within the 2-day time frame after it's been sent. Once that window closes, the "Delete for Everyone" option disappears, leaving the "Delete for Me" option behind.
- Recipient Not Using Latest Version: For the recall to work, all the participants in the group must have an updated version of WhatsApp. When even a single person runs an older version, the message might not be deleted on their end.
- Unstable Internet Connection: A weak or interrupted internet connection can prevent WhatsApp from processing the recall request. When your phone isn't properly connected, and you try to delete it, the change may not be synced.
- The Message was Quoted: In group conversations, if someone has already replied or quoted your message, recalling it won't remove the quoted content. This eventually makes it harder to entirely remove the context, even if the original message is deleted.
Part 4. Recalling a WhatsApp Message Doesn't Seem Right? Learn How to Edit it.
Not every message requires a full recall, as it may be just a typo, a missing word, or a quick clarification. Despite choosing to recall a message on WhatsApp, you can follow the stepwise guide for a quick edit:
For Android
Instructions: On Android, long-press the text and navigate to the “Three-Dots” icon at the top to reveal the drop-down menu. Select the “Edit” option from the list and edit the text in the given text bar. In the end, press the “Tick” button to confirm the alteration.
For iPhone
Instructions: To edit text on iPhone, access the chat for a particular person on WhatsApp and hold the message that was accidentally delivered. Doing this, choose the "Edit" option from the revealing menu and edit the message in the provided text bar. Finally, hit the "Tick" button to finalize the modification and resend the message.
For Web
Step 1. To initiate, enter a contact's chat and press the “Downward” icon on the message to choose the “Edit” option from the menu.
Step 2. In the new window, edit the text in the provided bar and click the “Tick” button to confirm the changes.
For Windows/Mac
Step 1. After linking the app version with the desktop one, choose the specific chat to edit the message. Now, press the “Downward” arrows beside the message and click the “Edit” option from the menu.
Step 2. In the given text space, edit your text and press the “Tick” option to confirm the changes made.
Conclusion
In conclusion to the article above, knowing how to recall a WhatsApp message can be a lifesaver when you've hit send too soon. With the Delete for Everyone feature, you can retract your message within a specific time window, saving you from costly mistakes.
Before you recall, is it helpful to know if the message was even seen? If so, we recommend WaLastseen Online Web, an online tracker for WhatsApp online and offline activities.
FAQs
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Q1. Will recalling a message also delete it from linked devices?
Once learned how to recall a WhatsApp message, if the recipient uses the app on multiple linked devices, their recalled message will be deleted from all. In this situation, all linked devices should be synced and up to date to receive any messages from the app. -
Q2. Can I recall media files, such as photos or videos?
You can recall photos, videos, voice notes, and documents with the help of the "Delete for Everyone" option. However, please note that this function is only available within the 2-day time limit, and both parties must have updated apps. -
Q3. Will recalling a message remove media from the recipient's phone gallery?
Yes, if the recipient receives the photos or videos, they will be removed from their gallery upon recall. When a screenshot is taken before the message is recalled, it will stay in the receiver's gallery until they delete it themselves.
