To save you from the huge embarrassment of sending a message to the wrong person and then saying sorry, most messaging apps allow you to delete the sent message. Better late than never, Apple’s Messages app has also joined the party – better late than never. That means if you ever happen to send an iMessage to the wrong address, you can take advantage of the kill switch so that your secret chat will remain under the wraps. Sadly, some users can’t unsend iMessage on iPhone and iPad. If the problem has troubled you as well, check out these 10 best tips & tricks to fix “Undo Send” not working in iMessage issue.
Best Tips & Tricks to Fix ‘Can’t Unsend iMessage’ on iPhone and iPad
First off, let’s find out the possible culprits that could be hindering the newly added “Undo Send” feature from functioning properly.
So, Why is “Unsending iMessage” Feature Not Working?
Without overlooking the possibility of hidden bugs, the first thing you must check out is to ensure that you are trying to delete an iMessage within the time limit and compatibility. Apart from this major restriction, you should also keep in mind the iMessage outage and an occasional software glitch. Having looked into all the possible reasons and their chances of obstructing iMessage from working normally, we have offered solutions to resolve the issue.
1. Ensure That the iMessage Was Sent Within 15 Minutes Ago
Bear in mind that you can’t delete an already sent iMessage if it was sent more than 15 minutes ago. So, make sure you are not trying to delete an iMessage that was sent several hours ago or more than 15 minutes ago. Call it a huge disappointment or anything you find more suitable for this annoying limitation but that’s the harsh reality.
Read more: 10 Pro Tips to Fix Can’t Edit iMessage in iOS 16 on iPhone and iPad
2. Everyone Must Be Using the Latest Operating Systems
Note that Undo Send supports only iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, and macOS 13 Ventura or later. For example, if you mistakenly sent a message to someone who is still on iOS 15 or earlier and delete the sent message. That person will continue to see your original message. So, keep it in mind.
3. Turn On/Off Airplane Mode
Airplane Mode is the sort of solution that can help you resolve a weird issue within no time. Therefore, it would be worth having a go at it.
- On iPhone with Face ID: Swipe down from the upper right corner of the screen to bring up the Control Center and hit the Airplane Mode icon. Now, wait for about 30-40 seconds, and then hit the Airplane Mode icon again to disable it.
- On iPhone with Touch ID: Swipe up from the bottom of the display to access the Control Center -> tap on the Airplane Mode icon. After that, wait for a few seconds and tap on the Airplane Mode icon to turn it off.
- Next, go back to the Messages -> long press on the message to check if the Undo Send button has returned. If it has, just hit the Undo Send button and the message will instantly disappear with a beautiful animation.
4. Force Quit the iMessage
Force quit is more than capable of fixing a misbehaving app. Therefore, make sure to give it a shot.
- On iPhone with Touch ID: You need to swipe up from the home bar and hold along the middle of the touch screen. Then, swipe up the app card of the messaging app to kill it.
- On iPhone with Touch ID: Just double press the Home button to bring up the app switcher and then swipe up on the app card to force quit the Messages app.
Now, launch the Messages app -> head over to the respective message -> long-press on the message, and tap Undo Send.
5. Turn Off/On iMessage
Another nifty but very effective solution that can help you resolve the “Undo send not working in iMessage” issue, is to disable/enable iMessage.
- Go to the Settings app -> Messages and then turn off the toggle for iMessage.
- Next, restart your iPhone. When your iPhone restarts, navigate to the same setting and turn on iMessage.
6. Sign Out of Apple ID and Sign Back In
If the “Undo Send” button is still not working or showing up, sign out of Apple ID and sign back in. Don’t worry, you won’t lose any media and data.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad -> your profile -> Sign Out. If the Sign Out button is greyed out, turn off Screen Time Passcode (Settings app -> Screen Time)
- On the next screen, you should see the option to keep a copy of important data from apps and services like contacts, reminders, and iCloud Keychain. Turn on the toggle next to each app which files you want to save and then hit Sign out.
7. Hard Reset Your iPhone
At times, hard reset works wonders in fixing a miscellaneous issue. Thus, it’s wise to remember this hack as well.
- First off, you need to press and quickly release the volume-up button.
- Then, press and release the volume down button.
- Finally, hold down the side button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
8. Ensure That iMessage is Not Down
If iMessage is down and currently facing a technical issue, this could very well be at the forefront of the problem. Therefore, visit Apple’s System Status webpage and then make sure the tiny circle to the left of iMessage is green.
9. Reset All Settings
When faced with an issue that does not seem to get sorted out with easy solutions, you should go for the factory. While it cleans up the entire settings, all your media and data remain safe.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad > Reset > Reset all Settings.
- Now, you have to enter your device passcode. If asked, enter the Screen Time Passcode as well.
10. Update Software
If the Undo Send button is still not working, update the software. I suspect a bug could be playing the spoilsport and preventing the unending iMessage feature from working.
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone > General > Software Update.
- Finally, download and install the latest version of iOS 6 on your device.
- Ensure that your iPhone has around 50% battery to be able to update the software. When connected to a power source, your iPhone needs to have at least 20% battery to download and install the software.
Fixed iMessage’s Undo Send Not Working Issue!
So, that wraps up this exhaustive troubleshooting guide. Has the Undo Send feature started to work as expected in the Apple Messages app? If yes, make sure to tip us about the hack that has got the job done for you.
