When I Delete a WhatsApp Message that Has Not Been Delivered Yet, Will They See That I Deleted a Message?

WhatsApp, an immensely popular messaging platform, often puzzles users with its intricate message status indicators and deletion functionalities. If you've ever needed to delete a message or experimentation with message delivery, you might have faced questions like, 'When I delete a WhatsApp message that has not been delivered yet, will they see that I deleted a message?'

Understanding WhatsApp Message Delivery

WhatsApp, like any other modern messaging app, categorizes messages into different statuses for clarity and transparency:

Single Grey Tick: This signifies that the message is still in transit and has not been delivered yet. Two Grey Ticks: This means the message has been delivered, but the recipient hasn't read it yet. Two Blue Ticks: This status indicates that the recipient has read the message and it has been successfully delivered.

When you delete a message on WhatsApp, the impact varies based on the delivery status of the message. Let's break it down to understand the nuances better.

Delete a Message on WhatsApp

Deleting a WhatsApp message is a straightforward process, ensuring you understand the impact on both the sender and the recipient. Here’s how to do it:

Tap and hold the message you wish to delete to bring up a menu option. On iPhones and iPads, you’ll see a pop-up menu containing various options, including the option to delete the message. If you’re using an Android device, a bin icon will appear near the top of the screen, allowing you to delete the message. Choose between two delete options: Delete for Me: This option removes the message from your conversation but leaves it visible to the recipient. They will still be able to view the deleted message. Delete for Everyone: This option deletes the message for everyone in the conversation. The deleted message will be replaced with a text message that reads, “This message was deleted.”

Recipients' Perspective

The impact of message deletion on the recipient differs depending on the delivery status:

If you delete a message before it is delivered (single grey tick), the recipient will not see any indication that you deleted the message. However, if the message has been delivered but not read by the recipient (two grey ticks), they will see a “This message was deleted” notice when they reconnect to WhatsApp.

It's important to note that in both scenarios, the time the message was originally sent will still be visible to the recipient, providing a clear timeline of your communication.

Temporary Experimentation and Deliberate Deletion

Occasionally, you might temporarily disable your internet connection before sending a message to a group. This allows you to gauge how the message would look if it were sent. What you might observe is:

If you delete the message when the first grey tick (not yet delivered) is visible, other participants in the group won't receive the message. They won't even see that you deleted it, even after you reconnect and send further messages. On the other hand, if the message has already been sent but not delivered (single grey tick), and you delete it, the recipient will see “This message was deleted” when they reconnect to WhatsApp.

Further Resources

For further reading and detailed insights, you can explore the following resources:

When I delete a WhatsApp message that has not been… - Quora Can I stop a WhatsApp message from being delivered - Android Enthusiasts Stack Exchange What happens when you delete a message on WhatsApp - Manchester Evening News