Tech Reference

iOS 16 lets you unsend text messages on your iPhone — here's how it works and how to do it

iphone 13
Unsending messages is coming to your iPhone with iOS 16. Apple
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iOS 16 comes with a lot of new features, and the flagship addition is a game-changer for the butterfingers among us.

iPhone users can now unsend their text messages. This lets you remotely delete a text message you've sent, even if the recipient has already seen it.

Here's how it works.

How to unsend a message on your iPhone

Once you send an iMessage from your iPhone, you have 15 minutes to unsend it. Unsending your message will delete it from your phone and from any device you sent it to. In its place, you and the recipient will see a message saying that a message was removed.

Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks. You can only unsend iMessages — in other words, you can only unsend texts that you send to other Apple devices. This means that you can't unsend messages when texting an Android phone. 

And even if you're texting another Apple device, they need to have updated to iOS 16 (or iPadOS 16 or macOS Ventura) for it to work on their end. Otherwise, unsending your message will delete it on your end but not theirs.

To unsend a message you've just sent, tap and hold your finger on the message. In the menu that opens, tap Undo Send.

Your text message will explode into blue dust. Once it's gone, everyone in the conversation will only see a notice saying that a message was deleted.

An animated GIF showing a user unsending a message on their iPhone.
Tap “Undo Send” to blow up your message.  Apple; William Antonelli/Insider

You're now free to send a new message in its place, or just leave the chat as is.

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ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
  • Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
  • Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
  • Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website at williamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.