WhatsApp Now Lets You Edit Sent Messages

You can now edit the messages you recently sent on WhatsApp.

Meta's secure messaging app recently announced it had released an edit feature for recently sent messages, allowing users to correct typos to avoid confusing people with their messages.

WhatsApp has started rolling out the new feature to users worldwide and will make it available to everyone in the coming weeks.

WhatsApp Edit Message Feature Details

WhatsApp mentioned in its blog post that its new edit feature would allow users to edit their messages however they like, from correcting typos and adding emojis for a more personal touch to adding more context to them to provide clarity.

However, the company notes that users can only edit their messages within a 15-minute window and that edited messages will display the "edited" notification alongside them to show their recipients that they made some changes to them.

To edit a recently sent message, WhatsApp advises users to long-press on a sent message and choose "Edit" from the menu. From there, they could alter their messages however they want.

Unfortunately, users can't view a message's edit history, preventing them from viewing what it said before being altered, per The Guardian. WhatsApp assures users that the messages and the edits users make are end-to-end encrypted and that the feature is also available for those sent in group chats.

The ability to edit recently sent messages is a boon for WhatsApp users waiting for such a feature since the app became available for download on Nov. 2009. They previously had to copy a message and then paste it on the app's text bar to edit typos, add emojis, or add more context to them before sending an altered version and deleting the original, unedited one.

WhatsApp, on the other hand, has been working to deliver the feature for quite some time. According to WABetaInfo, the company was beta testing the feature between May 10 and May 12 before it released the update on May 22.

That aside, WhatsApp is rolling out its new edit feature to all users worldwide as of press time, meaning that users will have it within the week. Those who wish to check whether they already have it can do so; those who find they don't have the feature yet are suggested to wait a few more days to see if they have it.

WhatsApp's Upcoming New Features

WhatsApp's edit feature is just one of the features it is planning on reasons in the foreseeable future. The app is playing catchup with its contemporaries, such as Telegram, Signal, and even Apple's iMessage, per Engadget.

You may remember that the company is working on more than a few new features as of press time, such as animated emojis, companion mode for Android devices, and a bottom navigation bar for Android phones.

Meanwhile, it recently released Biometric locks for private chats and the ability to refer back to disappearing messages, allowing users to stop them from deleting themselves and save them for later use.