How to Delete WhatsApp Messages for Everyone?

ORIGINAL POST

WhatsApp used to let you "Delete For Everyone." I don't see that option anymore. I have a friend who fell victim to a scam and now needs to delete some sensitive messages from being able to be used against her. Any way to do this?

8 replies

Emergency_Plate3956 · 5 months ago

Delete For Everyone is available for upto 2 days after that there is no way to do it. What possibly could they use against your friend?

0 upvotes on reddit

-ThatGingerKid- · OP · 5 months ago

That's what I was afraid of. Unfortunately, this friend of mine shared explicit images that they are threatening to post publicly. Obviously, if they've screenshotted or downloaded the images, deleting them from WhatsApp won't do anything anyway. I'm inclined to believe that this scammer has NOT as of yet downloaded or screenshotted them, though.

1 upvotes on reddit

Emergency_Plate3956 · 5 months ago

It's a scare tactic to get what they want. If your friend's face or any recognizable markings isn't in any of the pictures, they can be easily denied if it comes down to it.

1 upvotes on reddit

joep-b · 5 months ago

If it's sensitive and obtained by a scammer for that reason, deleting won't help you. They will have screenshotted or copied it already. - if it were even possible.

On the bright side, scammers are interested in money. Once they find there's no way to get any, they lose interest and go to the next victim. Chances of anything happening with the sensitive information is minimal.

2 upvotes on reddit

-ThatGingerKid- · OP · 5 months ago

This is what I've told my friend. I was just hoping there was a way to calm her nerves and it all a little more

1 upvotes on reddit

Mage_Guardian · 5 months ago

It still lets you delete both sides but only for a certain time after you sent the message. Something like 10-15 minutes. After that, you can only delete it for yourself.

1 upvotes on reddit

-ThatGingerKid- · OP · 5 months ago

Is there any other way to delete it on the other user's side? Even if it's the full conversation or anything?

1 upvotes on reddit

Mage_Guardian · 5 months ago

Nope, sorry.

1 upvotes on reddit

See 8 replies

r/whatsapp • [2]

Summarize

Frustration with WhatsApp’s “Delete for Everyone” Feature

Posted by Last_Ad_3110 · in r/whatsapp · 1 year ago

I really need to vent about WhatsApp's "Delete for Everyone" feature. It's supposed to help when you accidentally send a message or realize you've made a mistake, but it seems totally useless.

Every time I delete a message, the other person still sees that a message was deleted. This often leads to awkward questions about what I deleted and why, making the whole situation even more uncomfortable. Isn't the point of deleting something to avoid having to explain it?

Anyone else find this feature frustrating?

32 upvotes on reddit

9 replies

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9 replies

pandaeye0 · 1 year ago

Well, in many cases there is a need to leave some traces of you making the message, for example in some scam cases, arguments, etc...

4 upvotes on reddit

Professional-Ebb-434 · 1 year ago

My argument would be that if the message hasn't been read, deleting it without a trace is fine. If it has been read, it shouldn't be possible to delete (instead you should be able to "hide as irrelevant" and the recipient can still view)

3 upvotes on reddit

SparxNet · 1 year ago

No, but then it seems the people in my contact list don't ask me about what I've deleted as compared to your own contact list.

This isn't a bug per se. From what you're describing, you'd rather that there be no indication whatsoever of a message being deleted by the sender. However, if you're a recipient and you're looking for a message that was sent to you (that's now been deleted by the sender, say after a few hours) and you don't come across it or any indication of its presence, that might be a reduction in the user experience for the recipient.

8 upvotes on reddit

Last_Ad_3110 · OP · 1 year ago

I get the point, but you also can´t delete a message after 10 minutes I think.

1 upvotes on reddit

SparxNet · 1 year ago

No, there's no longer a time limit for deleting old messages, IIRC. However, there is a 15 minute time limit for editing a recently sent message.

More info - https://faq.whatsapp.com/1370476507114859/

5 upvotes on reddit

Raykusen · 7 months ago

Is better to now show that indication. Is annoying having to explain why you deleted a message. If there are not indication, there won't be any possible "why you deleted that?".

1 upvotes on reddit

creating-username · 1 year ago

That's what WhatsApp wants.... That you communicate more and more and more.

4 upvotes on reddit

lordbane2k · 1 year ago

How about a simple scenario where you ask someone a question get a response that you act on and then that answer gets deleted without a trace? You can’t prove that you got a response, just that you asked a question..

3 upvotes on reddit

khushwant209 · 1 year ago

Just say "autocorrect" , not a big deal.

20 upvotes on reddit

See 9 replies

r/whatsapp • [3]

Summarize

How do you delete a message from someone else?

Posted by Kim_catiko · in r/whatsapp · 3 years ago

I've had an inappropriate message added in one of my group chats and it is going to offend one specific person when they see it. I can't delete the message, and the person who sent it pressed "delete for me" so now can't do delete for everyone. Is there any other way I can delete this message?

1 upvotes on reddit

4 replies

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4 replies

eloy_aldea · 3 years ago

It's not possible, but it will be available in the future, group admins will be capable of deleting messages from others.

2 upvotes on reddit

mylifesurvived · 3 years ago

Thank you for your reply, I am not op though. I wanted to ask you not for a group chat but generally is it possible through these mods like GBwhatsapp etc to actually go back to see all the deleted messages from the other person’s chat which once I was able to do within a time frame but I somehow feel that they can see those now even the old ones especially whey have disappear online while they are online than they must have this option too. Thank you 🙏

2 upvotes on reddit

eloy_aldea · 3 years ago

There are modded WhatsApp versions that allow you to keep seeing a message even if the other person deleted it for everyone yes.

Keep in mind those mods are against WhatsApp's ToS and you are in risk of a ban.

2 upvotes on reddit

Kim_catiko · OP · 3 years ago

I had a feeling. Thanks for replying. Crisis is now averted anyway!

3 upvotes on reddit

See 4 replies

r/privacy • [4]

Summarize

Unable to "Delete for Everyone" on Whatsapp anymore?

Posted by iamacompletetool · in r/privacy · 7 months ago

Just tried deleting some old message but I only have the option to delete for myself, which is pointless. I don't care about me having the message, it's the other person thats the isuse. Is there any way around this?

2 upvotes on reddit

1 replies

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1 replies

derFensterputzer · 7 months ago

Nope

Delete for everyone always deleted it only for the ones that didn't read it so far or in a short time window of 15mins after you posted I think. But that's for one on one chats

In group chats everything older than this short time window never got deleted for others. Group admins may be able to tho.

2 upvotes on reddit

See 1 replies

r/whatsapp • [5]

Summarize

IS ‘DELETE FOR EVERYONE’ NOT WORKING FOR 2,5 DAYS ANYMORE?

Posted by MrrrBiggg · in r/whatsapp · 2 years ago

Hey, guys.

Has WhatsApp reverted the recent decision to allow users to delete messages for everyone even after 2 days?

Right now I just tried to ‘delete for everyone’ a message sent only 4 hours ago, and the only option available here is to delete the message only for me.

I tried searching for an answer on the internet (Reddit, Twitter, Google, etc) but I didn’t find anyone talking/questioning about it.

At the moment I’m posting this, I’m on the latest iOS version (16.3) and my WhatsApp app is also updated to the latest version (23.1.75).

Does anyone know what’s going on?

Is the option ‘delete for everyone’ working properly for you (even after 1 day and more)?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT/UPDATE (January 26th, 2023):

I talked to a friend that uses Android (to make a test on his side) and he told me that on his phone the option 'delete for everyone' is still showing up; however, on the web desktop version the option 'delete for everyone' is NOT showing anymore (the test was made on the exact same messages (on the phone and on the web)). He was the only person I talked directly about this issue, so I didn’t talk to anyone on the iOS.

My guess is that WhatsApp reverted the decision and now the option ‘delete for everyone’ will only be available until around 1 hour after the message(s) was sent (the same thing it was before). If this is proven to be true, I think it is very unethical; they (WhatsApp) could at least release a note to the users explaining/exposing their decision.

6 upvotes on reddit

10 replies

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10 replies

SNOOPERTDOGETTE · 2 years ago

Turn on airplane mode and change your date/time to that of message then delete for everyone.. Worked for me today on iPhone X latest software latest whatsapp.

2 upvotes on reddit

INFJ_A21 · 1 year ago

EDIT: this did NOT work. It made it look like it worked on my end. But the other person still received the messages.

1 upvotes on reddit

teleholic · 10 months ago

Holy shit this worked

1 upvotes on reddit

jacktor115 · 1 year ago

Honestly, so effin helpful.

1 upvotes on reddit

Unlucky_Two5282 · 1 month ago

ITS WORKINGGGGGG

1 upvotes on reddit

3duardbc · 1 year ago

👑

1 upvotes on reddit

cooler_than_others · 3 months ago

i can delete now for 2 days

1 upvotes on reddit

latafairam · 1 year ago

Whatsup sucks

1 upvotes on reddit

69Warior · 11 months ago

Stupid fucking update

1 upvotes on reddit

No-Particular-4321 · 2 years ago

Same for me ):

1 upvotes on reddit

See 10 replies

r/whatsapp • [6]

Summarize

I was able to delete a message “for everyone” well past 24 hours. What does this mean?

Posted by YourFinestPotions · in r/whatsapp · 3 years ago

As the title states I was able to delete my message. What does this mean? Is it a glitch? Is it really sent?

1 upvotes on reddit

6 replies

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6 replies

Professional_Loan215 · 3 years ago

No, this is a relatively safe way to protect your chat history by encrypting it so that only you and the other party can see it

1 upvotes on reddit

YourFinestPotions · OP · 3 years ago

But I heard messages can’t be deleted after 8 hours or so. Yet I was able to delete mine by giving me the delete “for everyone” option. I don’t get it.

0 upvotes on reddit

throwfproblems · 3 years ago

You can delete whenever you want, but it gets deleted only for you.... The message is very much there for the other person and it doesn't get deleted. I'm not sure how you could delete...??

1 upvotes on reddit

RainR2k01 · 3 years ago

They increased the time that you can Delete for Everyone recently....

1 upvotes on reddit

Professional_Loan215 · 3 years ago

No, as far as I know you can still delete all chat logs even after 24 hours

1 upvotes on reddit

bcbas · 3 years ago

Messages may be revoked by the sender (deleted for everyone) within 2.5 days after being sent, so as long as it happened within that timeframe, it’s working as designed.

1 upvotes on reddit

See 6 replies

r/whatsapp • [7]

Summarize

Delete entire chat for both persons

Posted by Dirclan · in r/whatsapp · 3 years ago

Is it possible to delete a chat for both persons?

I assume manually deleting every message and pressing "Delete for everyone" would do the trick, albeit filling the other persons chat with "Message was deleted" messages. However, what happens if I select the entire chat from chat list, and press Delete Chat? Is the chat also removed from them?

If not, is there another way of accomplishing this?

012 replies

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12 replies

EmotionalShake3797 · 1 year ago

Would blocking and then unblocking the person delete the chat?

1 upvotes on reddit

nZeus666 · 6 months ago

1 upvotes on reddit

Nice-Caregiver-4728 · 3 months ago

im pissed

1 upvotes on reddit

100percentheathen · 3 years ago

You cannot delete the entire chat for both people. You can only delete a message you recently sent for a period of time.

1 upvotes on reddit

Dirclan · OP · 3 years ago

I see. Any idea why I have an empty chat in my chatlog, from which I have never deleted a single message? (You can see details in my reply above)

1 upvotes on reddit

100percentheathen · 3 years ago

That is strange. Have you switched phones or deleted WhatsApp and reinstalled it before this happened? Could be the result of a faulty backup.

1 upvotes on reddit

Civil-Reason-1610 · 10 months ago

How to delete the communication from both side in my account

1 upvotes on reddit

Regndroppe · 3 years ago

There's a one hour window to delete the message and your friend must have the latest version of Whats app installed or it will not work. Here's how you do it after one hours has passed.

And no, you can not remove the entire chat from your friends phone, it will only be removed from your phone and account.

1 upvotes on reddit

Dirclan · OP · 3 years ago

I see. There is one ancient chat in my phone that is now empty, even though I have never cleared it myself. I think the chat contained only a couple of pictures sent by an acquaintance I haven't met since. The messages persisted for years, but a couple months back I noticed the chat is now empty for me. I have never deleted/cleared the chat. What may have caused this?

1 upvotes on reddit

AnonymousXCVI · 7 months ago

i know i’m late to this but i’ve just noticed the same thing with one of my old chats and was wondering if you managed to get any answers in the end?

this is a chat that i had with one of my best friends from school who i no longer speak to. there was a lot of history in that chat so i’m wondering if she cleared the whole chat somehow or if it’s a glitch on whatsapp or something.

1 upvotes on reddit

Regndroppe · 3 years ago

Interesting! Do you know if you and that acquaintance was in a joined group? Or was it just one-on-one conversation you had? I think I've read that if someone's turned off from that group they can no longer access history from that group, but I'm not sure though.

1 upvotes on reddit

nigestmuche · 6 days ago

Hi this nigest and l need help to clear the chats both sides

1 upvotes on reddit

See 12 replies

r/whatsapp • [8]

Summarize

Is there any way to delete messages for everyone after the time limit has elapsed?

Posted by louise2817 · in r/whatsapp · 1 year ago

I tried adjusting the time on my phone and reopening whatsapp to see if I could get around it but it just won't let me use the app until I correct the time. Does anyone have any ideas how to do this? I'm on Android.

1 upvotes on reddit

3 replies

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3 replies

louise2817 · OP · 1 year ago

No one has managed to do this?

1 upvotes on reddit

naijab0y · 1 year ago

Too late buddy.

1 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 1 year ago

Disappearing message is the option of you want the messages to disappear

1 upvotes on reddit

See 3 replies

r/whatsapp • [9]

Summarize

Whatsapp messages delete for me

Posted by twodoorscinemaclub · in r/whatsapp · 1 year ago

[deleted]

2 upvotes on reddit

4 replies

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4 replies

subflat4 · 1 year ago

Can’t charge the sort, WhatsApp is limited in that regard

1 upvotes on reddit

Worried-Ferret-8254 · 1 year ago

Hey! I have the same issue, your deleted chats stay on top yet?

1 upvotes on reddit

twodoorscinemaclub · OP · 1 year ago

Yes still the same I couldn't find a solution

1 upvotes on reddit

Worried-Ferret-8254 · 1 year ago

Mine finally works!

1 upvotes on reddit

See 4 replies

r/whatsapp • [10]

Summarize

"Delete for everyone" option gone?

Posted by JohnMcPineapple · in r/whatsapp · 6 years ago

A few days ago I was able to delete messages for all participants, now I only see the options "cancel" and "delete for me" when selecting the delete option. It also doesn't show the "deleted message" box in the chat anymore, the messages are simply gone after deleting. Is it mentioned anywhere that or why it was changed?

2 upvotes on reddit

3 replies

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3 replies

Cry__Wolf · 6 years ago

You can only delete a message for up to ~1 hour after sending

1 upvotes on reddit

rodymacedo · 6 years ago

Delete for everyone only works for some hours.

1 upvotes on reddit

Alex193a · 6 years ago

You can delete a message for everyone only within 1h, 8m, 16s, after that time you can only delete the message for you.

1 upvotes on reddit

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