What Happens When You Unsend A Message On Instagram?

After WhatsApp, Instagram DMs are the next biggest thing for friends to communicate with each other. This in-built messaging feature offers you a space to share photos, videos, Reels, and Stories with one or more people with fun customizations. The result? You get a chance to boost your content’s reach and get more Instagram likes. However, at times, you may accidentally send a message to the wrong chat or hit the Enter button too soon. 

Has this ever happened to you? If yes, have you ever imagined what if you could “unsend” such messages without the other person noticing it? Good news: Instagram lets you do this through a feature called Unsend.

Continue reading to know what happens when you unsend a message on Instagram and how to use the feature.

Why do People Unsend Messages on Instagram?

Some common reasons to unsend messages on Instagram include:

• Wrong recipient: You may want to unsend a message if it’s accidentally sent to the wrong recipient or group chat. 

• Incorrect media: Maybe you shared incorrect photos, voice notes, emojis, videos, Reels, or Stories with the message. 

• Spelling mistake: Spelling mistakes are another reason why you may want to retract your message before it’s read by the receiver. 

• Change of mind: You had a change of mind and now want to unsend the message. 

• Emotional reasons: You’re feeling anxious or regretful about the contents of your message and want to remove it.

What Happens When You Unsend a Message on Instagram Chat?

When you unsend a message on Instagram chat, it’s removed for both the sender and receiver. It helps you prevent the other person from reading something they shouldn’t be.

Can You Unsend a Seen Message on Instagram?

Absolutely! You can unsend a seen message on Instagram. This, however, won’t serve any purpose as there lies no point in removing a message the recipient has already viewed.

Does Unsending a Message on Instagram Delete it For Both?

Yes, unsending a message on Instagram deletes it for both you and the recipient. This is different from the “Delete for you” option, which only deletes the message from your chat. You can use any of the two options based on your requirements.

Is There a Time Limit to Unsend Messages on Instagram?

No, there’s no time limit to unsend messages on Instagram. You can unsend messages at any point of time after sending them, ranging from a few seconds or even months. However, it’s generally a good idea to remove a message as soon as possible before it’s seen.

Also Read: How to Hide Chat on Instagram Live?

How to Unsend Messages on Instagram Android or iPhone?

Provided you’re using the latest version of Instagram, follow the given steps to unsend messages on Android or iPhone:

• Tap the airplane icon in the top right to open Messenger. 

• Go to the conversation (group or one-to-one) from where you want to delete a message.

• Tap and hold on to the message; you can only unsend one message at a time.

• Select the Unsend option from the menu.

The message will no longer appear in the conversation at both ends. 

Also Check: Can You See Who Shared Your Instagram Post?

Will Someone Know if You Unsend a Message on Instagram?

Fortunately, no one gets to know if you unsend a message on Instagram. The platform doesn’t leave a WhatsApp-like line saying “This message was deleted” in place of the deleted message, leaving no trace of it behind. However, if the person you were chatting with was active on the chat screen or holding their phone when you performed the action, there’s a possibility they might have noticed that you unsent the message.

Is it Possible to See Unsend Messages on Instagram?

No, it’s not possible to see unsent messages on Instagram. This is because the feature deletes the selected messages from both chats as if it wasn’t sent in the first place. The only way to read an unsent message is to see it instantly before the sender retracts it.

Why Can’t I Unsend a Message on Instagram?

You may not be able to unsend a message on Instagram for the following three reasons:

• Your Instagram app is currently facing glitches at the backend, such as server-related issues. 

• You’re using an old version of Instagram, and that’s why you cannot use the Unsend feature. 
• A poor internet connection may also prevent you from unsending a message.

Conclusion

No matter what your reason is, Instagram lets you unsend a message in a conversation to remove it from both sides as if you had sent nothing. However, you need to be really quick here to not allow the recipient to read it or take a screenshot. If you don’t want to remove the entire message, you can also use the built-in Edit feature to correct the mistakes of the earlier message.