You Can Finally Edit Your WhatsApp Messages

In the early days of messaging, every correspondence was final. Email, AIM, SMS – if you sent it, the other person will see it, with zero chance of rebuttal. However, today we live in a future where we can edit a post with typos or thoughts we regret. So far, WhatsApp has been slow with this editing party – if you know how to set it up.

According to Android Police , WhatsApp has finally added an edit button to both its web and Android apps. However, don’t rush to look for it on WhatsApp: this feature is currently in beta testing, first released in WhatsApp v2.23.10.13 beta, so it won’t appear in official builds yet, including on iOS. But you can still try it today.

How to edit messages on whatsapp

But first, let’s talk about how WhatsApp handles message editing. When you send a message you want to edit, press and hold the text and tap the ellipsis to open the pop-up menu. Here you will see an “Edit” button that you can click to start correcting the message in question. After making changes, your message will be marked “edited” so that everyone knows that this is not the original message sent.

Now you will not be able to edit any message at any time: you only have 15 minutes from the moment you click the “Submit” button to edit the message, after which the text is blocked as is. That’s how much time Apple gives you to edit iMessage, so you might get used to it if you’re moving from an iPhone or Mac. However, unlike iMessage, which limits you to five changes to a message , WhatsApp allows you to edit a message as many times as you want within that 15-minute window. However, it is not clear if there is an editing history.

You also cannot edit messages sent from another device, even during this 15-minute period. If you send a message from WhatsApp on your tablet, you won’t be able to edit that message on your phone, which is an odd choice. With a look at iMessage again, you can edit any message you send on any compatible device within 15 minutes.

However, there is reason to believe that WhatsApp’s time limit may change in the future. Android Police points out that the app’s message deletion feature also started with a 15-minute limit, but now allows messages to be deleted from all group members’ chats up to two days after being sent. Perhaps soon we will also be able to edit messages a day or two after they are sent. In the meantime, quickly correct your mistakes.

How to Register for WhatsApp Beta to Edit Messages on Android

While it’s not clear when WhatsApp will bring the ability to edit messages to everyone, simply signing up for the Android beta is enough to try it out right now. You have two options, the first is to sign up for the public beta testing program through the Play Store . After registration, you will receive a WhatsApp update in the Play Store, which will register the application in the beta program. However, if the official beta program is full, you can always download the latest beta from APK Mirror . Download WhatsApp beta v2.23.10.13 or newer, sign in to WhatsApp and you should see an option to edit.

[ Android Police ]