Apple has recently released their latest update for their iPhone and iPad users – iOS 16. One of the major features included in this update is the ability to edit and unsend iMessages. This newfound ability is useful in fixing embarrassing typos or retracting a message sent in haste. If you’re interested in learning how to edit and unsend iMessages, read on.

How to Edit an iMessage

To edit an iMessage:

1. Open the iMessage conversation where the message is located.
2. Find the message you want to edit.
3. Tap and hold on the message. This will bring up a menu with options.
4. In the menu, select “Edit”.
5. Make the needed changes to the message.
6. Tap “Done” once you’ve finished editing the message.

One thing to note is that the recipient(s) will see a message telling them that you edited the message. This is to ensure transparency, so recipients can’t accuse the sender of altering the message’s content.

How to Unsend an iMessage

To unsend an iMessage:

1. Open the iMessage conversation where the message is located.
2. Find the message you want to unsend.
3. Tap and hold on the message to bring up a menu.
4. In the menu, select “More”.
5. Select the message you want to unsend by tapping on the empty circle beside it.
6. Tap the trash bin icon located in the bottom left corner.
7. Tap “Delete Message” to confirm that you want to unsend the message.

Once the message is unsent, a message will appear in the conversation for both the sender and recipient(s) saying that the message was deleted.

Limitations of Editing and Unsending iMessages

There are some limitations to keep in mind with this new feature. First, this only applies to iMessages sent between Apple devices. SMS messages, which are sent to phones that aren’t iPhones, cannot be edited or unsent. Second, editing and unsending a message only work if the recipient hasn’t seen the message yet. If the recipient has already read the message, editing or unsending won’t have any effect.

In conclusion, the ability to edit and unsend iMessages in iOS 16 is a handy new feature. By following the steps outlined above, you can quickly fix any typo errors or retract problematic messages. It’s worth noting, however, that this new feature isn’t perfect, so it’s important to use it with discretion. Always double-check your messages before sending them, and only edit or unsend them when necessary.