In an eagerly anticipated move, WhatsApp users can now edit their sent messages, according to an announcement made today by Mark Zuckerberg. This highly requested feature comes as a response to Apple’s implementation of message editing in iMessages with the release of iOS 16 last year.
The method for editing WhatsApp messages was outlined in a blog post published by the company on Monday morning. Users will have a 15-minute window to edit their messages after sending them. To access this feature, tap and hold the message in question and select the “edit” option.
The 15-minute time limit mirrors Apple’s policy for editing iMessages, which also restricts editing capabilities to five times per message. Furthermore, each change made to an iMessage is logged and visible to both the sender and the recipient. This means any modifications will readily be apparent to the person receiving the message.
On the other hand, WhatsApp has not imposed a specific limit on how many times a message can be edited. Additionally, the app does not display a history of changes to the recipient. Instead, it discreetly denotes the edited status with a small “edited” icon.
This new feature empowers users to rectify simple spelling errors or provide additional context to their messages. All it takes is a long press on the sent message, followed by selecting “Edit” from the menu within a 15-minute timeframe.
The “edited” label will be displayed alongside the modified posts, ensuring recipients know about any corrections without exposing the revision history. As with all private messages, media, and calls on WhatsApp, the messages and any subsequent changes made are end-to-end encrypted.
We previously shared that WhatsApp Introduces “Chat Lock” Feature for Enhanced Privacy.
WhatsApp is rolling out support for message editing starting today. The company states the feature will be “available to everyone in the coming weeks.” To ensure prompt access to this functionality once it becomes accessible for your account, it is recommended to download the latest version of WhatsApp from the App Store.
