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Google has started gradually rolling out one of its most requested features for its native messaging app — the ability to delete sent messages for all recipients. Aptly titled “Delete for everyone,” the feature aims to eliminate the dreaded regret that comes from sending messages that were either mistyped, mistimed, or just plain embarrassing. But while it sounds like a huge leap forward, there are limitations that users need to be aware of before breathing a sigh of relief.
New Unsend Capability Now Live — With Restrictions
Google Messages, the company’s RCS-powered messaging app for Android, is finally bringing in a feature that competing apps like WhatsApp and iMessage have offered for years — the ability to unsend texts. After months of speculation and early glimpses through APK teardowns and beta tests, the ‘Delete for everyone’ button has started to appear on some users’ devices.
However, the feature is still in its infancy. Google has opted for a slow rollout, with access currently appearing limited to a small subset of users. One Reddit user posted a screenshot showing the new option in action, confirming the feature’s existence but also highlighting its initial constraints.
So far, only group chats — and specifically those with at least 12 members — appear to support this new functionality. Attempts to use ‘Delete for everyone’ in private 1:1 conversations have proven fruitless, indicating a deliberate limitation by Google, possibly to test server-side behavior at scale.
Even in group chats, the feature is bound by a time restriction. Consistent with prior behavior seen in Google Messages, the delete window seems capped at 15 minutes. So users looking to retract a message must act quickly, or the option disappears altogether.
This cautious approach puts Google Messages behind competitors. WhatsApp allows deletion within a longer time window, while Apple’s iMessage also offers unsend capabilities that work across both group and individual chats. That said, Google’s adoption of RCS means it’s navigating a more complex technical environment, especially when dealing with carrier-based networks and varying levels of device support.
As Google irons out the wrinkles, it’s likely that the ‘Delete for everyone’ feature will evolve to be more widely available and less restricted in its application. For now, it’s a promising sign that Google is aligning its native messaging experience with modern expectations.
What Undercode Say:
From a technical and strategic standpoint, the arrival of ‘Delete for everyone’ in Google Messages highlights several important themes — some obvious, others less so.
1. Google is closing its feature parity gap
For too long, Google Messages has trailed behind rivals like WhatsApp and iMessage. This rollout signals an effort to match the minimum expectations of modern messaging. While arriving late, it represents an essential catch-up moment that strengthens Google’s RCS strategy.
2. A/B testing approach suggests data-driven scaling
Limiting the feature to large group chats shows Google is testing performance and feedback in high-volume environments before rolling it out globally. This is a controlled strategy, allowing for feedback loops without overloading the system with widespread changes that might cause issues.
- The 15-minute deletion window is a UX compromise
While users want the flexibility to delete messages, unlimited deletion would create security and abuse risks. A short deletion window — though frustrating for some — represents a compromise between usability and accountability. It’s a model adopted by several platforms to curb misuse.
4. Lack of 1:1 support limits immediate usefulness
Most users would expect the ability to delete texts in one-on-one chats. Its absence will likely lead to criticism, and Google must prioritize extending functionality beyond group threads to maintain user trust.
5. The RCS constraint is invisible but critical
Unlike apps that operate in their own ecosystem, Google Messages interacts with telecom infrastructure and device-level capabilities, making real-time features more complex to implement. This is why something as “simple” as deleting a message takes longer to get right.
6. Brand and trust implications
Rolling out a feature partially and with limitations always carries reputational risk. Users frustrated by inconsistency may turn to third-party apps, despite Google’s efforts to make Messages the default Android communication platform.
- This may pave the way for more robust editing tools
With deletion now in the picture, editing messages is likely the next frontier. If Google handles unsending well, the foundation is set for editable texts — a feature that further aligns with the norms of instant communication.
8. Potential carrier pushback
Since RCS is partially reliant on carriers, implementing deletion across all users could hit friction points in international or cross-carrier contexts. This might be one reason for the cautious rollout and group-only restriction for now.
- Analytics at scale: user behavior will drive design
By watching how often, when, and in what contexts users delete messages, Google can adjust the feature to better reflect actual use patterns. It’s a prime example of behavior-driven product evolution. Google Messages’ slow pace reflects larger ecosystem constraints
This rollout is also emblematic of how fragmented and slow-moving messaging evolution can be on Android compared to closed systems like Apple’s iMessage.
Fact Checker Results:
The ‘Delete for everyone’ option has been confirmed by users via screenshots.
Current rollout is restricted to large group chats, not 1:1 conversations.
The deletion window is approximately 15 minutes, in line with previous Google Messages design behavior.
Prediction:
As user feedback rolls in and usage analytics accumulate, Google is likely to expand ‘Delete for everyone’ support to private chats and potentially increase the deletion time window. Over the next year, we predict a broader rollout across Android devices with improved controls and possibly even message editing tools. If well-implemented, this could mark a turning point in making Google Messages a competitive default choice in Android’s messaging ecosystem.
References:
Reported By: www.techradar.com
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