Google has rolled out a handy new option for its Messages app, letting Android users take back sent texts, even from the other person’s phone. Announced recently and spotted by Android Authority, this “Delete for Everyone” feature is now live for texts using the RCS (Rich Communication Services) system. Here’s what you need to know about this update.
Update: At the time of writing, we found that Android Authority’s original article was removed, and we don’t know why. But, there is a screenshot via Gsmarena which you can find below shows the feature in action.
The feature lets you remove a sent message within a short time—up to about 2 minutes, depending on your network—erasing it from both your screen and the recipient’s.
It works for one-on-one chats and group conversations, as long as both sides are using RCS on Android. This is a big deal for fixing accidental sends or awkward messages, something users of apps like WhatsApp and iMessage have enjoyed for a while.
The update started rolling out this week, with many noticing it on August 16, 2025. It’s part of Google’s push to make messaging better, though it’s not clear yet if it works perfectly for every user or every network.
To use it, just long-press the message you want to delete, tap the trash icon, and choose “Delete for Everyone.” You’ll see a note if it’s been removed. This feature is free and comes with the latest Messages app update, available on the Google Play Store.