WhatsApp will now let you delete sent messages. You could previously delete individual messages, but only from your point of view. Now, you can essentially unsend messages, hiding them from view from everyone in the conversation. Which could prove to be useful in countless situations.

We've all been there. Whether out of anger, upset, or drunkenness, there are times when you send something to someone without thinking. You may regret it instantly, or it may not be until hours, days, or even weeks later that you realize you made a mistake. Luckily, WhatsApp has your back.

How to Delete Sent WhatsApp Messages

As detailed in the WhatsApp FAQs for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone, the messaging app has added the option to unsend previously sent messages. Now, if you send a message you shouldn't have sent, you can delete it for seven minutes from when you first clicked "Send".

Just press and hold on the message you want to delete. Then tap the trash bin icon at the top of the chat window. You will then have two options: "Delete for Me" and "Delete for Everyone". Choose the latter and then confirm, and the highlighted message(s) will disappear into the ether.

Unfortunately, this feature only works when you and the other user are on Android, iOS, or Windows Phone. It currently doesn't work when using the web version of WhatsApp.

The original message will be replaced with "This message was deleted," which is likely to prompt questions from the intended recipient. It should also go without saying that if they have already read the message there's no way of exorcising it from their memory. Because Men in Black is fiction.

Be aware than WhatsApp is rolling this new feature out slowly, so you may not have access to the safety net that is "Delete for Everyone" quite yet. So, please do check it's an option before you start sending nasty messages to everyone on WhatsApp. And if you ignore this warning, don't blame us.

Telegram Beat WhatsApp to the Punch

The option to unsend messages must be one of WhatsApp users' most-requested features, so it's good to see WhatsApp ceding to those demands. WhatsApp isn't the first messaging app to offer such a feature though, as Telegram introduced the option to unsend messages back in January 2017.

Do you regularly use WhatsApp? Have you ever wanted to unsend a message sent in haste? Or otherwise regretted sending a message to someone? How likely are you to make use of the new "Delete for Everyone" option? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Jan Persiel via Flickr