howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-edit-or-delete-a-whatsapp-message-on-android/ · Checked October 2026 · Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), WhatsApp 2.26.41.77

In this guide

Touch and hold the message and tap Edit
Change the text and tap the tick
To delete, touch and hold the message and tap Delete
Choose Delete for me or Delete for everyone
If you do not see this option
If this does not work
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

Touch and hold your message and tap Edit, change the text and tap the tick. Edit is only there for 15 minutes after sending. To remove a message, touch and hold it, tap Delete, then Delete for me or Delete for everyone.

4 of 4 steps with real screenshots · 2 official sources below

Device: Android
Shown on: Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), WhatsApp 2.26.41.77
App: WhatsApp
Real screenshots: 4 of 4 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 2 official, linked below

Step by step

Touch and hold the message and tap Edit
Ours was sent a minute earlier. The menu: Reply, Forward, Copy, Edit, Delete, Info and More.
Done
Change the text and tap the tick
Our note, Fresh test, opened in the typing box with a green tick instead of Send.
Done
To delete, touch and hold the message and tap Delete
This message was about 20 minutes old, so the menu had no Edit.
Done
Choose Delete for me or Delete for everyone
In our Message yourself chat the box asked Delete message? with only Cancel and Delete for me. We tapped Cancel.
Done

If you do not see this option

No Edit in the menu? WhatsApp says there is a 15 minute limit for editing, and photos, videos and other media can't be edited. Our 20-minute-old message had no Edit (step 3). Source: How to edit messages
No Delete for everyone? WhatsApp says you have two days after sending to delete for everyone, and both of you need the latest WhatsApp. Our self-chat only offered Delete for me. Source: How to delete messages

If this does not work

They still saw the old text? WhatsApp says people on an older WhatsApp see a note that the message was edited, and editing sends no new notification. Source: How to edit messages
Deleted for me by mistake? WhatsApp says you have 5 seconds to tap Undo; after that the message is gone unless it is in a backup. Source: How to delete messages

About this guide

WhatsApp says edited messages show the word edited next to the time, and you have two days to delete one for everyone.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 and WhatsApp 2.26.41.77, in Dark mode, taken on 25 October 2026. We opened Edit and Delete on our own test notes in the Message yourself chat, and saved or deleted nothing.