Google Messages may allow you to unsend uncomfortable messages in RCS conversations.

      Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      Google Messages, the default messaging application on Android devices, might soon introduce new functionalities allowing users to unsend messages, similar to features found in third-party messaging apps. This unsend capability is reportedly in testing and will be applicable to RCS protocol chats, which enhance traditional SMS by offering better support for multimedia, emojis, reactions, and more.

      Currently, when a message is deleted, it only disappears from your device and does not affect other participants in the conversation. However, Google is apparently trialing a new "delete for everyone" feature, which would remove messages from all chat members, akin to the functionality in instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. References to this developing feature were discovered by 9to5Google, indicating it may soon be accessible to a broader user base, though the specific timeline remains uncertain.

      When a message is deleted, it will be replaced by a notification indicating its deletion. Similar to other messaging applications, the option to delete messages might be restricted to a brief time — likely just a few minutes — during which the message can also be deleted for other users.

      This capability to delete messages for all participants in a conversation aligns with the GSM Association's guidelines. According to RCS Universal Profile version 2.7, all compliant devices and applications are required to support the editing, deletion, and recall of messages.

      Potential compatibility with Apple’s Messages app

      Joe Maring / Digital Trends

      Despite Google's efforts to enhance the texting experience through its various RCS-enabled chat applications over the years, Apple has recently embraced RCS following years of reluctance. With iOS 18, iPhones and iPads equipped with cellular capabilities now have optional RCS chat support in the Messages app. RCS on iOS operates alongside Apple’s iMessage protocol, providing comparable functionality when communicating with Android users. Notably, while iMessage offers an “Undo send” option among Apple users, a similar feature has not yet been made available for RCS.

      Since RCS is functional only when enabled for all chat participants, Android users may not be able to leverage this feature until Apple adopts it as well. Additionally, individuals using older versions of Google Messages may still have access to the deleted messages until Google prompts all users to update the application.

      As previously mentioned, this feature is currently undergoing testing and has yet to be launched, so its specific availability date is not known. Alongside this functionality, Google has been enhancing user experience with the app by enabling the sending of high-quality images in chats, improving cloud backup and restore processes, and even testing end-to-end encryption for conversations with other RCS-compliant apps like Samsung Messages.

      Tushar is a freelance writer at Digital Trends and has been contributing to the Mobile Section for the past three years…

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