WhatsApp has announced a much-requested editing feature that lets you change a message within 15 minutes of sending it.
“From correcting a simple typo to adding extra context to a message, we’re excited to give you more control over your chats,” Meta-owned WhatsApp said in a blog post introducing the handy feature.
Until now, the only way to modify a WhatsApp message was to quickly delete it and then create a new one, although of course the receiver/receiver may have had a chance to read the original message. The new editing feature also carries the same risk, although it offers a more convenient way to change a message, as you can just focus on the correction you need to make instead of having to rewrite the entire message.
WhatsApp said the new editing feature has started rolling out globally and will be available to everyone “in the coming weeks.”
Instructions for use
To use WhatsApp’s editing feature, simply long press on a sent message and select Edit from the menu for up to 15 minutes after you send it.
Edited messages will be displayed with an “edited” label so whoever receives it will be aware that a correction was made, although there will be no edit history available to view.
WhatsApp also confirms that, as with all personal messages, media and calls, your messages – and any edits you make – are protected by end-to-end encryption.
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