Tech tip: What really happens when you unsend a text on your iPhone
If you have an iPhone 8 or later, you’ve probably already updated to iOS 16. The latest operating system has many new security features you should be using.
A super-secure mode was designed for politicians, activists, and journalists. I think there’s a great case to suggest this iPhone option for the elderly and vulnerable people in your life. Tap or click here for a closer look at Lockdown Mode.
Here’s another buried setting that just got upgraded: Your iPhone’s ability to detect sounds and alert you. Tap or click for steps to set up custom sounds, like your home’s appliances.
One of the most noteworthy features of iOS 16 is the ability to edit and unsend text messages. It’s not as clear-cut as it seems. Here’s the truth.
Myth: When you unsend a text, the recipient will never know.
Reality: Your recipient gets a notification.
Yes, you can take back a message you sent, but there’s more to it. The unsend feature only works with iMessage (iPhone to iPhone), and you and the recipient must be running iOS 16.
If you unsend a message to someone running an older version of iOS, they’ll still see it, and you’ll get a notification reminding you of that.
Here are a few more things to keep in mind when unsending a message:
- You can only take back a message within two minutes of sending it.
- The recipient can read your message before you unsend it.
- If you unsend a message, it will disappear from the recipient’s screen, but they’ll be notified that you unsent it.
Now that you know how it works, here’s how to unsend a message:
- While in an iMessage conversation, tap and hold the message you want to unsend.
- Tap Undo Send.