How to Edit or Unsend a Message on iPhone

On iPhone, an iMessage can be edited for up to 15 minutes after sending and unsent within 2 minutes. Press and hold the message, choose Edit or Undo Send, then confirm the change.

🤔Note:

SMS and MMS messages cannot be edited or recalled after delivery.

Steps

Open the Messages app and select an iMessage conversation.
Press and hold the sent message to open the message menu.
Select Edit, change the text, and tap the checkmark to save the revision.
Select Undo Send to remove a message within two minutes of sending.
Confirm the result. Edited messages display an Edited label, while unsent messages are replaced by a notice.

Common Issues and Fixes

The Edit option is missing: The message may be an SMS or MMS, or more than 15 minutes may have passed. Use iMessage or send a correction message instead.
Undo Send is unavailable: More than two minutes may have passed since delivery. A follow-up message is the only available correction.
The recipient still sees the original text: The recipient may use an older Apple operating system or a device without full iMessage editing support. Send a clarification message.
The message cannot be changed after an update: The iPhone may run an older iOS version. Update the device through Settings > General > Software Update.
An edited message looks different: iMessage marks revisions with an Edited label and may retain an edit history for supported conversations.

Quick Tips

Editing and Undo Send work only with blue-bubble iMessages, not green-bubble texts.
An iMessage can be edited up to five times within the 15-minute editing period.
Undo Send can remove a message from supported Apple devices, but a recipient may already have read the original notification.
Editing or unsending does not guarantee removal from screenshots, notification previews, or connected devices with unsupported software.

💡Protip:

If an edit or unsend option is unavailable, send a follow-up message explaining the correction. This is the only reliable alternative after the applicable time limit has expired.