Google Messages May Soon Allow You to Delete Embarrassing Texts

Google Messages may soon introduce a feature allowing users to delete embarrassing text messages sent by mistake. Let's explore how this could work.

Google Messages: Heading Towards Universal Message Deletion

Ever regretted sending a message too hastily? While most chat apps allow you to delete messages for all participants, Google Messages has yet to offer this feature. However, this might soon change.

Upcoming Update

According to AssembleDebug, the latest beta version of Google Messages includes code and strings hinting at a “Delete for Everyone” option. This suggests Google is working on an update that will let users erase sent messages from all conversation threads.

Currently, deleting a message only removes it from your own thread, leaving it visible to everyone else. While message editing is available, it doesn’t quite offer the complete erasure many users desire.

Deletion Details

AssembleDebug reports that any deleted message will be replaced with a note stating: “Message deleted by its author,” similar to WhatsApp’s approach.

The code suggests that this feature may not work on older versions of Google Messages. Therefore, it’s wise to be cautious with message content, as it may remain visible to some users.

It’s important to note that this feature will only be available for RCS chats and not SMS, as text messages are permanent and cannot be deleted from another’s phone without physical intervention. The code does not mention a time limit for deletion, but it’s likely that there will be a restriction. For comparison, WhatsApp allows deletion up to 2 days after sending, while Apple iMessage permits retracting a message within the first 2 minutes.

Awaiting Deployment

Although no specific timeline has been given for the rollout of these new features, Google appears to be gearing up to support the new RCS Universal Profile 2.7 standard. In the meantime, we must be patient and see what unfolds in the coming months.