Google Messages may soon let users delete sent messages for all chat participants, a long-awaited feature that other messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage have offered for years. This change was discovered in the latest beta version of the app by AssembleDebug, who found code references suggesting the feature is in active development.
How It Would Work
Right now, if you delete a message in Google Messages, it only disappears from your own chat history, but the recipient can still see it. The new “Delete for everyone” option would fix that by wiping the message from all participants’ feeds. If implemented as expected, deleted messages would likely be replaced with a notice saying, “Message deleted by its author,” similar to how WhatsApp handles it.
This feature will likely work only in RCS chats, not traditional SMS. SMS messages are stored permanently on carriers’ servers, meaning Google can’t retroactively remove them from someone else’s feed.
Possible Limitations
One big question is whether the feature will be compatible with older versions of Google Messages. If not, users running outdated versions of the app might still see deleted messages even after the sender removes them.
Another unknown is whether Google will introduce time limits for message deletion, as seen in other apps. WhatsApp gives users about 48 hours to erase messages, while iMessage’s deletion window is just two minutes. There’s nothing in the beta confirming time restrictions right now, but Google may add them before the feature rolls out widely.
Google Messages Is Catching Up
Google Messages has slowly been improving to better compete with platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage. The “Delete for everyone” feature aligns with RCS Universal Profile 2.7, which was released in mid-2023, showing that Google is pushing its RCS support forward.
Besides this, Google is also reportedly working on other enhancements, including better spam reporting, standardized reactions, and improved message replies. While RCS brings modern messaging features to Android, widespread adoption still lags behind competitors due to inconsistent carrier support.
No Official Release Date
There’s no confirmation on when “Delete for everyone” will roll out to all Google Messages users. Since the feature is currently hidden in beta builds, it could take weeks or even months before it appears in a stable release—if it makes it at all.
This is a much-needed update, but Google has a track record of testing features that never make it to the final version. For Android users relying on Google Messages for RCS conversations, this could be a welcome improvement—if it actually launches.
