WhatsApp will let you edit messages within a 15-minute window
WhatsApp has announced that it has added a message editing option in its app. The long-requested feature will allow users to correct typos or add something to a text easily.
The edit option was tested in the beta version of the apps for a few weeks before it was announced by Meta.
How to edit messages in WhatsApp for iOS
1. Send a text to one of your contacts or a group.
2. Long-press on the message and tap the edit option in the menu.
3. Fix any typos or other errors in the message and tap on send.
Image courtesy: WhatsApp
How to edit messages in WhatsApp for android
1. Send a text message to your contact, and long-press on it.
2. Tap the three-dot menu button, and select edit.
3. Edit the message, and tap the send button.
Limitations in WhatsApp's message editing feature
The feature is a welcome on, but there's a catch. You may only edit messages in WhatsApp within a 15-minute window, beyond which the option will not be available. A message that you edited will be marked with an "edited" tag next to a time-stamp, to indicate that the text was modified by the sender. The app will not display the edit history in the chat, so don't worry, your contact won't be able to see your typo. You may edit a message multiple times.
If you forget to edit a message within 15 minutes of sending it, you can always choose to delete it. The delete option also has a time-limit, but it's a lot more generous, you have until 60 hours to remove it. The issue with deleting a message is that WhatsApp will leave a remnant that says "You deleted this message", so others in the chat will know you deleted something, though they won't be able to see the content. That's why the option to edit messages will be a better option to fix typos, it's a cleaner way to fix your mistakes, and you won't have to retype or copy/paste the rest of the message.
The 15-minute time limit to edit messages seems to be a bit on the shorter side, but it is worth noting that the messenger app had a similar limit for the delete option before it was extended. So there is a chance that the edit feature gets the same treatment. In comparison, Telegram allows you to edit messages for up to 48 hours, has no time limit for deleting old messages, and doesn't leave a mark behind when you delete something. WhatsApp's edit option is actually quite similar to the feature that Apple introduced in iMessage last year, it also has a 15-minute restriction to edit messages.
The message editing option in WhatsApp is available in the mobile app on iOS, Android, and on WhatsApp Web. Hopefully, it will also be added in WhatsApp's desktop apps.
A blog article on the service's website says that WhatsApp's edit feature is rolling out to users, so don't be surprised if you don't see the option. It may take a few weeks before it is available for everyone.
Uhh, this has already been possible – I am not sure how but remember my brother telling me about it. I’m not a whatsapp user so not sure of the specifics, but something about sending the image as a file and somehow bypassing the default compression settings that are applied to inbound photos.
He has also used this to share movies to whatsapp groups, and files 1Gb+.
Like I said, I never used whatsapp, but I know 100% this isn’t a “brand new feature”, my brother literally showed me him doing it, like… 5 months ago?
Martin, what happened to those: 12 Comments (https://www.ghacks.net/chatgpt-gets-schooled-by-princeton-university/#comments). Is there a specific justifiable reason why they were deleted?
Hmm, it looks like the gHacks website database is faulty, and not populating threads with their relevant cosponsoring posts.
The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk that it’s about to be deleted from my ‘daily reads’.
It’s really like “Press Release as re-written by some d*ck for clicks…poorly.” And the subjects are laughable. Can’t wait for “How to search for files on Windows”.
> The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk…
Sadly, I have to agree.
Only Martin and Ashwin are worth subscribing to.
Especially Emre Çitak and Shaun are the worst ones.
If ghacks.net intended “Clickbait”, it would mark the end of Ghacks Technology News.
Ghacks doesn’t need crappy clickbaits. Clearly separate articles from newer authors (perhaps AIs and external sales person or external advertising man) as just “Advertisements”!
We, the subscribers of Ghacks, urge Martin to make a decision.
because nevermore wants to “monetize” on every aspect of human life…
“Threads” is like the Walmart of Social Media.
How hard can it be to clone a twitter version of that as well? They’re slow.
Yes, why not mention how large the HD files can be?
Why, not mention what version of WhatsApp is needed?
These omissions make the article feel so bare. If not complete.
Sorry posted on the wrong page.
such a long article for such a simple matter. Worthless article ! waste of time
I already do this by attaching them via the ‘Document’ option.
I don’t know what’s going on here at Ghacks but it’s obvious that something is broken, comments are being mixed whatever the article, I am unable to find some of my later posts neither. :S
Quoting the article,
“As users gain popularity, the value of their tokens may increase, allowing investors to reap rewards.”
Besides, beyond the thrill and privacy risks or not, the point is to know how you gain popularity, be it on social sites as everywhere in life. Is it by being authentic, by remaining faithful to ourselves or is it to have this particular skill which is to understand what a majority likes, just like politicians, those who’d deny to the maximum extent compatible with their ideological partnership, in order to grab as many of the voters they can?
I see the very concept of this Friend.tech as unhealthy, propagating what is already an increasing flaw : the quest for fame. I won’t be the only one to count himself out, definitely.
@John G. is right : my comment was posted on [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/23/what-is-friend-tech/] and it appears there but as well here at [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/07/08/how-to-follow-everyone-on-threads/]
This has been lasting for several days. Fix it or at least provide some explanations if you don’t mind.
> Google Chrome is following in Safari’s footsteps by introducing a new feature that allows users to move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen, enhancing user accessibility and interaction.
Firefox did this long before Safari.
Basically they’ll do anything except fair royalties.