iMessage is an instant messaging service developed by Apple that allows iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices to communicate. It uses end-to-end encryption to secure messages and media sent between devices. A common question many iMessage users have is whether a sent iMessage can be deleted after it is sent.
The short answer
The short answer is yes, iMessages can be deleted after they are sent, but with some limitations. There are a few different ways to delete iMessages on iOS devices and Macs:
- You can delete an iMessage you sent on your own device before the other person views it.
- You can request for an already delivered iMessage to be deleted, but the other person has to comply and actually delete it from their device.
- You cannot remotely force deletion of an iMessage you sent that the recipient has already viewed.
So in summary, while you can delete unviewed iMessages you sent or request deletion of delivered iMessages, you cannot guarantee removal of a sent iMessage once the recipient has viewed it.
Deleting unsent iMessages from your device
If an iMessage you sent has not yet been delivered to the receiving device, you can delete it from your device which will prevent it from being sent.
On an iPhone or iPad, you can delete an unsent iMessage by:
- Opening the Messages app and locating the iMessage bubble you want to delete.
- Touch and hold the iMessage bubble.
- Tap “Unsend” and confirm deleting the message.
On a Mac:
- Open the Messages app and locate the unsent iMessage.
- Right click on the iMessage bubble and choose “Unsend.”
- Confirm you want to delete the message.
This will prevent the iMessage from ever being sent to the recipient. However, once an iMessage has been successfully delivered, it cannot be deleted remotely in this manner.
Requesting deletion of a sent iMessage
If an iMessage you sent has already been delivered and viewed by the recipient, you cannot directly delete it. However, you can request that the recipient deletes the iMessage you sent them.
To request deletion of a sent iMessage:
- Open the Messages conversation containing the iMessage you want deleted.
- Tap and hold on the sent iMessage bubble.
- Choose “Unsend” and confirm.
This will send a request to the recipient asking them to delete that message from their device. The recipient will see “Unsend request” in place of the original iMessage.
At this point, deletion of the iMessage is up to the recipient – they can choose to ignore the request and keep the message, or comply and delete the message. There is no way to force remote deletion of an already delivered and viewed iMessage.
Why you can’t force remote iMessage deletion
There are a few reasons why Apple does not allow you to remotely and forcibly delete iMessages from someone else’s device:
- End-to-end encryption – iMessage contents are encrypted in transit and can only be decrypted on the recipient’s device. Apple cannot access or delete message contents on users’ devices.
- Recipient’s right to message data – The recipient has a right to message data delivered to them. Forcible remote deletion could violate their privacy and rights.
- Potential for abuse – Allowing remote deletion could enable harassment or abuse by letting someone repeatedly send and then delete threatening or unwanted messages.
Due to these reasons, once an iMessage is delivered and seen by the recipient, that user has control over the message. The sender must request deletion and cannot directly remove it.
Can cellular carriers or Apple delete iMessages?
Neither cellular carriers like Verizon or AT&T, nor Apple itself, can delete users’ iMessages once they are delivered:
- Carriers only handle sending and receiving of encrypted message data packets between devices. They do not have access to iMessage contents.
- Apple cannot access or read users’ iMessage contents due to end-to-end encryption. This also prevents remote deletion capabilities.
So there is no way for a third party like a carrier or Apple to access and delete delivered iMessages. The iMessage recipient has full control over deleting messages on their own device.
Does deleting an iMessage remove it from iCloud?
When you delete an iMessage on your iPhone or iPad, it is deleted from iCloud as well if you have iCloud Message syncing enabled. iCloud stores backups of your iMessages to sync them across devices.
So when an iMessage is deleted through the Messages app, the deletion is synced with iCloud and the message will be removed from backups. However, keep in mind iCloud backups are saved for up to 40 days, so recently deleted messages may still exist in older backups.
Can you recover a deleted iMessage?
If an iMessage was accidentally deleted, there are a couple options to try recovering it:
- iCloud backup – If the deletion was recent, the message may still exist in a saved iCloud backup that can be restored.
- Other device – Check any linked devices signed into the same iMessage account. The deleted iMessage may still be available on another device.
- Recipient’s device – If it was a sent message, ask the recipient to send it back to you.
However, there is no guarantee with any of these methods. The sooner you try after deletion, the better the chances of message recovery.
Third-party iMessage recovery apps
Various third-party iOS data recovery apps claim they can recover deleted iMessages even without backups. However, this is not possible due to iMessage encryption:
- Encrypted iMessage contents cannot be extracted from iOS device storage by a third-party.
- Backup extractions may recover limited metadata but not message contents.
- Any app claiming to fully recover all deleted iMessages is false.
So be very cautious of such data recovery apps – they cannot break iMessage encryption and detailed message contents cannot be recovered once deleted and not backed up.
How to permanently delete iMessages
If you want to permanently delete an iMessage beyond any chances of recovery, these steps should remove it entirely:
- Delete the iMessage normally through the Messages app on all linked devices.
- Wait for iCloud sync to remove the message from iCloud backups.
- Turn off iCloud Messages sync to stop any further backups.
- Delete any remaining local iOS backups containing the message.
With iCloud backups disabled and all local backups deleted, there will be no remaining copies of the message anywhere that could be restored. Just be sure you are comfortable with permanent removal before using this approach.
Key takeaways
- You can only delete unsent iMessages on your own device, not remotely.
- You can request deletion of a sent iMessage, but the recipient has to comply.
- Once an iMessage is viewed by the recipient, it cannot be forcibly deleted remotely.
- Deletion syncs across iCloud linked devices and backups.
- Accidental deletion can sometimes be recovered via iCloud backup or the recipient’s device.
In summary, iMessage deletion is designed to give recipients control over messages already delivered to them. While not as flexible as some may want, this helps ensure privacy and prevent abuse.
The bottom line
Due to iMessage’s end-to-end encryption that prevents access to message contents, once an iMessage is sent and viewed by the recipient, it generally cannot be deleted remotely by the sender without permission. The recipient has ultimate control over deleting messages from their device storage. So if you want to ensure an iMessage is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered, it requires coordinated effort to remove all traces from senders’ devices, cloud backups, and requesting deletion from recipients.
Deleting messages before sending and asking recipients to voluntarily remove delivered messages can help maintain privacy. But there is no way to guarantee forcing deletion of all copies of a sent iMessage once viewed by the recipient. That ability is intentionally excluded from iMessage due to encryption and the potential for abuse if allowed.
So while more flexibility in deleting sent messages would be convenient, the current limitations are in place to protect user privacy and prevent harassment. When sending an iMessage, it’s best to consider it permanent once viewed by the recipient unless that person voluntarily chooses to remove it across all their devices and backups. Carefully consider message content prior to sending to prevent regrets later on.