Sometimes, we accidentally send a message to someone on Instagram, realizing later that it wasn’t meant for them to see. However, this is the kind of situation that even the developers of Instagram anticipated, explaining why you have access to features like “unsending” messages.
However, with unsending a message, a common complaint that most people have is worrying whether or not the other person would still be able to read the message or get notified when you unsend the message.
These are fairly common questions piquing people’s curiosity, and if you are one of them, hang around because we will highlight all the relevant insights in this guide.
Does Instagram Notify the User When You Unsend a Message?
Instagram, unlike WhatsApp, is quite discreet when it comes to its users’ conversations. For example, when you send and delete a message (for everyone in the chat), WhatsApp leaves a “this message has been deleted” reminder.
So, if WhatsApp and Instagram are owned and operated by Meta, is this a similar issue on Instagram too?
Thankfully, no.
When you send and unsend a message on Instagram, the app will not notify the user that you have deleted a message. However, if your luck is bad and the other user is already online and checking your conversation thread when you sent and then unsent the message, there is a chance they might have seen the message already.
Also, Instagram might not notify people when they unsend a message, but it notifies people when they receive a message. So, if the notification says that a person received a message but the same doesn’t appear in the conversation thread, that also indicates that the message has likely been deleted.
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Are There Any Limitations of the Unsend Feature on Instagram?
The concept of “editing” and “unsending” messages across social media has definitely come a lot in handy for many users.
However, with the benefits of the feature come certain limitations, too. For example, if the recipient has already seen the message (and screenshotted it) before you had the time to unsend the message, there is no way for you to undo that.
Furthermore, unsending a particular message might remove it from the conversation thread you have with the other user. However, it doesn’t delete the message from Instagram’s servers, meaning that if you sent something incriminating, that could be analyzed and assessed for legal purposes.
Lastly, if you use the unsend message feature in an Instagram group chat, there is a major limitation. For example, if the group chat consists of 4 people and 2 of them have already seen and interacted with the message, you can’t unsend it then.
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Will Unsending a Message on Instagram Delete the Message?
Yes and no.
Before you get confused, let us explain this.
When you unsend a message on Instagram, yes, it is immediately deleted from the conversation thread you have with the other user.
However, there are certain limitations, especially regarding the deletion of the message. Instagram is extremely stringent about its community guidelines and always cross-checks to ensure that no messages or content posted or exchanged could violate the said guidelines.
So, even when you “delete” the message from the conversation thread by unsending it, the message or interaction itself is stored in Instagram’s servers for future needs. These copies of messages, even deleted ones, are kept by Instagram for legal and investigative purposes in case something arises.
Lastly, if you were too slow in deleting the message and the recipient has already seen it, no good would come out of unsending it next.
How to Unsend a Message on Instagram?
Now that we have the basics of “unsending a message” on Instagram out of the way, we must also know the steps involved in doing so.
There are numerous instances where we send messages to the wrong person or accidentally send something inappropriate. This is where the unsend message feature comes into the picture. If you are new to using Instagram and have been confused how to use it, the following are the steps to follow:
- Open the Instagram app on your smartphone.
- Navigate to the direct messages tab, which is represented by the Airplane icon in the top-right corner.
- Clicking on it will open the chats you have had with other users.
- Open the particular chat thread from which you wish to unsend a message.
- Find the message and long press on it.
- A pop-up with different options will appear, including the “Unsend” button.
- Click on it.
This should immediately delete the message from the conversation thread, and the recipient will never know that you sent the message in the first place.
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Can Every Type of Message Be Unsent on Instagram?
Many users have a common question regarding “unsending” a message on Instagram: wondering if it applies to every message.
The short answer is yes.
If the other recipient hasn’t seen and interacted with the message or someone in the group chat hasn’t seen the message, you can delete or unsend any message you have sent. Unlike WhatsApp, it doesn’t notify the user that you have deleted the message, which is a relief.
So, from photos, reels, and videos to audio notes, you can unsend every kind of message on Instagram without repercussions.
Are There Ways to See Unsend Messages?
If you suspect that someone has unsent a message they sent you on Instagram, it is common to be curious about the kind of message they sent and why they felt the need to delete it.
If the unsent message was a “piece of text,” meaning that it was not some kind of multimedia like photos, videos, reels, or audio notes, you might see the “unsent” message in your phone’s notification tab.
Also, when you have accidentally sent the wrong message to the wrong person, and you have a poor network, preventing you from successfully unsending the message to them, there are chances that the recipient will be able to view the “unsent” message in the meantime.
While there are instances where there are claims from third-party tools that they can unveil what the unsent message was, it is usually not true. Instagram doesn’t allow third-party apps to explore user data, especially unsent messages stored on their servers. So, if you are paying for a third-party app or trusting unreliable software, we’d suggest you don’t.
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Is There a Time Window for Unsending Instagram Messages?
Surprisingly, no.
Unlike many other social media platforms that put constraints on the amount of time you’d get before you can’t delete a message any longer, Instagram has no such restrictions.
So, if you sent a message yesterday and want to delete it the next day, that would be possible. However, if the recipient is active on Instagram, there is a high chance that deleting the message after a full day will not serve in your favor because the high chances are that they already saw the message you sent.
Final Words
Unsending messages on Instagram comes with a lot of pros and cons. However, a common worry that irks most users is notifying the other user when you unsend a certain message on Instagram. While this acts like a digital eraser, we’d recommend that you remain mindful of the messages you send people and be respectful when conversing.
