If you have ever been in a situation where you sent a message that you were not supposed to and wanted some way out to take the message back once it had been sent, Google is bringing you the luxury of undoing your mistakes. While we have been talking about this development since the start of the year, when Google Messages was said to get an enhancement that will let you delete texts not just from your screen, but through the power of RCS, erase them from the recipient's device as well. It seems like the much-anticipated capability is finally rolling out more widely, giving users the safety net against those inevitable slip-ups.
Google Messages lets you delete sent texts from anyone's device - here is what you need to know
An update that we have been waiting for quite some time is finally here, as Google Messages is now coming with the ability to delete messages from the recipient's device after they have been sent, and all of this has been made possible due to Rich Communication Services (RCS). Earlier in the year, we saw a period of beta testing, but now the feature is finally being broadly rolled out via Android Authority. When deleting a recently sent message, the user has the option to choose between "Delete for me" or "Delete for everyone."
This feature helps address a common pain point for users: sending texts that are regretted later on. Since iMessage and WhatsApp have already extended this capability, Google is stepping up and joining its ranks by offering a safety net for slip-ups, which could end up making the messaging service more popular and widely used. However, the deletion option is available only for a short span, typically in the first 15 minutes after sending.
From the user's perspective, this feature is a huge improvement, especially since Google Messages is the primary means of communication for many users. Accidental messages with no way to take them back must be a massive headache, but removing that worry provides significant relief. However, there is a catch: the feature cannot undo any screenshots taken before the deletion or if the message has already been seen.
Nonetheless, the update indicates where mobile messaging is heading and is slowly transitioning from SMS to RCS, offering greater control, flexibility, and privacy. Google Messages's provision of this tool helps users communicate with more confidence and less regret, but users still bear responsibility, as proactivity is essential even with remote deletion.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
