Google Launches Message Deletion for Both Sides

Are you familiar with that stressful moment when you sent a message to the wrong person or with wording you regretted immediately after pressing send? While WhatsApp, Telegram, and iPhone users have long been accustomed to the ability to delete messages for everyone, Google Messages users have been left behind. Until now, deleting a message in the app only cleared your inbox, while the other party continued to see it as usual.

How it works and what has changed

The long-awaited change comes thanks to an update to the RCS Universal Profile v2.7 protocol. From now on, when you delete a message in a supported chat, the app will present two clear options: "Delete for me" or "Delete for everyone." Choosing the second option will remove the message from both sides of the conversation, just like in other modern messaging apps.

To utilize this feature, both you and your recipient must be using the latest version of Google Messages. It works in both private and group chats, provided all participants are connected to the RCS service and have an updated app. If you attempt to delete a message in a standard SMS or MMS chat, it will still only be deleted for you.

Important limitations

Although this is a significant upgrade, there are a few caveats to remember. The most prominent limitation is that it will not work with iPhone users. Although both platforms offer message deletion, they are based on different protocols that do not interoperate. Additionally, you have a window of only 24 hours from the time of sending to perform a deletion for everyone.

Of course, the new delete button is not a magic solution. Nothing prevents the other party from reading the message or taking a screenshot before you manage to delete it. Therefore, the best way to avoid unpleasantness is still to think twice before pressing the send button.