Really frustrated we can't unsend messages still in Messages. Really thought this was coming in iOS 14. I've used this feature several times in WhatsApp and it's really a huge advantage.
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Still Can't Unsend/Delete in Messages
- Thread starter blairh
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Messages supports regular texting and that works kind of like email where once it's sent it's out there so there's nothing that can be unsent or deleted in the sense of it being deleted for others as well.
text messaging doesn’t work that way. iMessage works like a text message but via internet, that is why iMessage requires carrier registration. I am sure this feature will never come to iMessage
That's a real shame. I'll never be able to embrace it.
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Shame. It's an invaluable feature.
Short of SMS technology being totally redesigned, it won't happen.
Agreed, it sucks that they didn't release it for iOS 14 (or at least not yet?).
And don't listen to the lies being spewed by some people in this thread, it is certainly possible to add an unsend feature to iMessage because unlike what some have been saying in here, iMessage is NOT sms/mms! All iMessage texts are sent over the internet just like apps such as WhatsApp and they have no problem adding that feature.
All that's needed is for your client to send an "undelete command" to the other persons device, telling their device to delete that particular text which is only stored locally on that persons device at that point.
And don't listen to the lies being spewed by some people in this thread, it is certainly possible to add an unsend feature to iMessage because unlike what some have been saying in here, iMessage is NOT sms/mms! All iMessage texts are sent over the internet just like apps such as WhatsApp and they have no problem adding that feature.
All that's needed is for your client to send an "undelete command" to the other persons device, telling their device to delete that particular text which is only stored locally on that persons device at that point.
iMessage can potentially add it in, but the Messages app supports SMS in it as well, which doesn't support that. So if you are only using iMessage through the Messages app, perhaps that can be applicable, but with people often using the app in a mixed way it wouldn't be as simple as just that. Furthermore, iMessage is shared between devices and is also encrypted, so that could be playing a role in potential complexities around something like that. No need to try to come up with accusations and make up something about what others might be saying if you just want to provide information.
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This ^
I was making an oversimplification with my post, but point stands, due to iMessage and SMS being a bit intertwined in Messages it complicates matters. What if you send as iMessage, it converts to SMS when iMessage is unavailable, recalling that will be problematic.