Humans are inherently fallible, and it's only natural that we make grammar mistakes or typos in our messages. Recognising this universal truth, Meta introduced a transformative feature in May 2023: the ability to edit WhatsApp messages.
This new feature in WhatsApp is really handy. It's not just for fixing small mistakes like typos. You can also use it to add more information to your messages, take out anything that's wrong or outdated, or make your message clearer.
In this up-to-date guide, we'll walk you through the simple process of editing messages on WhatsApp. Whether you're looking to correct typos, clarify your statements, or add additional information, this guide is for you.
How to edit WhatsApp messages after sending
To edit WhatsApp messages, long-press on the message you wish to alter. Then, select "Edit" from the menu that appears. Make your desired changes to the message, and when you're finished, tap the send icon to update the message with your edits.
Things to keep in mind:
- You can only edit messages for up to 15 minutes after sending them.
- Edited messages will have the word "edited" next to the timestamp.
- While recipients will be aware of the edit, they won't be able to see the original version.
If you're unable to find the option to edit WhatsApp messages, it's likely due to your app not being up-to-date. To resolve this, visit your device's app store and ensure that WhatsApp is updated to the latest version.
How to edit WhatsApp messages after 15 minutes
As of now, WhatsApp does not allow users to edit messages once 15 minutes have passed since sending them. Yet, there's a possibility that WhatsApp may increase this time limit in the future.
Consider the evolution of the 'delete message' feature as a precedent. Initially, WhatsApp set a 15-minute window for deleting messages, which was later extended to slightly over two days. Given this pattern, it's reasonable to anticipate a similar extension for the message editing time frame in future updates.
With that, we are wrapping up our guide on how to edit WhatsApp messages. While you are here check out our other guides, including how to disable WhatsApp encryption and how to tell if someone blocked you on WhatsApp.