Google Messages 'Delete for Everyone' Rolls Out in Beta

Google Messages Catches Up: 'Delete for Everyone' Feature Begins Rollout We've all been there: that heart-stopping moment right after hitting "send" on a message, only to realize it was a typo, sent to the wrong person, or just something you instantly regret. While many popular chat apps offer a lifeline in the form of a "delete for everyone" option, Google Messages users have long been waiting for this crucial feature. The good news? The wait is finally ending, as Google Messages has begun rolling out the ability to unsend messages for all participants in a chat. What is 'Delete for Everyone' and Why Does it Matter? Currently, deleting a message in Google Messages only removes it from your own device; recipients can still see it. The new "Delete for everyone" feature, as the name suggests, will allow users to retract a sent message from both their own and the recipient's chat feeds. This brings Google Messages, which utilizes Rich Communication Services (RCS), more in line with competitors like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Telegram, which have offered this functionality for some time. This is a significant update for users who rely on Google Messages for their daily communication. It offers a chance to: Correct embarrassing typos or autocorrect fails. Retract messages sent in haste or anger. Unsend messages accidentally sent to the wrong chat. Remove outdated or incorrect information. Essentially, it provides users with more control over their digital conversations and the potential to avoid awkward situations. How Will It Work? Based on early reports and sightings in the beta version of Google Messages, the process for deleting a message for everyone will be straightforward and intuitive: Long-press on the message you wish to delete. Tap the trash can (delete) icon that appears at the top of the screen. You will then likely see options such as "Delete for me" and the new "Delete for everyone." Select the latter. It's a simple process, mirroring how message deletion works in other popular applications. Availability and What to Expect The "Delete for everyone" feature was first hinted at by code discovered in beta versions of Google Messages earlier this year. Now, it appears to be actively rolling out, at least to users in the Google Messages beta program. While Google hasn't made an official wide-scale release announcement yet, the appearance in beta (specifically version 20250131_02_RC00 was mentioned in early findings) strongly suggests a broader public rollout is on the horizon, potentially in 2025. One important consideration, as noted in early code strings, is that for the "Delete for everyone" feature to work effectively, all users in the conversation will likely need to have an updated version of Google Messages. Messages might still be visible to recipients using older versions of the app. This is a common requirement for such features across messaging platforms. The underlying technology, Universal Profile 2.7 for RCS, also supports the ability to "Edit, Recall and Delete messages," indicating a more robust messaging experience is continually being developed for Google Messages. A Welcome Addition The introduction of "Delete for everyone" is a much-anticipated and welcome enhancement to Google Messages. It addresses a common user pain point and brings the app's feature set closer to parity with its main competitors. As the rollout expands, Google Messages users will soon have a valuable tool to manage their sent messages more effectively, offering peace of mind and a bit more control over their digital footprint. Keep an eye on your Google Messages app for updates, as this feature could be landing on your device soon.

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