WhatsApp's New Accidental Delete Feature Lets You Undo 'Delete For Me' So You Can 'Delete For All' Instead

WhatsApp has rolled out a new group chat feature that lets you undo the "Delete for Me" action, to avoid potentially embarrassing scenarios where you accidentally delete a message only for yourself instead of removing it from the conversation for everyone.

whatsapp accidental delete
Called "Accidental Delete," the new feature adds a five-second window to let users reverse an unintentional Delete for Me action and completely delete it from the group chat.

Previously, if you accidentally tapped Delete for Me, there was no way to undo it, leaving the message inaccessible to you but freely viewable to everyone else. By introducing a small time window to roll back the action, Accidental Delete aims to help users avoid such situations.

WhatsApp says the new feature is available to all users on Android and iOS.

WhatsApp introduced the ability to delete and revoke messages up to seven minutes after they've been sent in October 2017. WhatsApp later extended the time window in which users can delete a message they already sent to a person or group to over an hour.

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Top Rated Comments

Shafa Avatar
28 months ago
I don't really see the point in 'delete for me' feature except to manufacture a complete fabricated chat history. Why not just delete for all or nothing?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
peneaux Avatar
28 months ago
I use Signal and try to stay away from WhatsApp. Unfortunately a lot of people use it. I had to use a burner phone to register because I don't want Facebook to know who I message and get my phone number from someone else's contacts. I use it without giving access to my contacts list.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Burger Thing Avatar
28 months ago
WhatsApp wipes the floor with iMessages. It is so far ahead in its feature set and usability, it makes me really sad. And no, I don't like Meta and yes, I wish iMessage was a viable alternative used worldwide.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mystery hill Avatar
28 months ago

I don't really see the point in 'delete for me' feature except to manufacture a complete fabricated chat history. Why not just delete for all or nothing?
Deleting videos and photos from WhatsApp chats when your phone is running low on space.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mystery hill Avatar
28 months ago

WhatsApp really needs the option to choose a different background colour for every chat. That reduces the likelihood to send a message to the wrong person.
WhatsApp already has an option to set a custom background for different chats. The setting can be found in the ‘Contact Info’ section.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sparky1499 Avatar
28 months ago
I just want an iPad app.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)