Google Messages is set to roll out a new feature that allows users to delete messages for all participants in a conversation, much like WhatsApp’s “Delete for Everyone” option. According to a report from Android Authority, the feature is currently in development and will apply to Rich Communication Services (RCS) chats.
With this update, users will no longer be limited to deleting messages only from their own devices. Instead, they’ll have the ability to remove messages from all recipients’ devices as well. Once a message is deleted, a notification will replace it, indicating that the message was removed.
However, there’s a time constraint. Users will have a 15-minute window to delete a message for everyone. After this period, they will only be able to remove the message from their own device, while it remains visible to others in the chat.
Since this feature is built on updates to the RCS Universal Profile, it will only function on devices running the latest version of Google Messages. Those using older versions may not support the remote deletion feature, which means deleted messages could still be visible to some recipients.
This feature was discovered through an APK teardown of the Google Messages beta app, indicating that it is still in the testing phase. While Google has yet to confirm a launch date, the development progress suggests that users may receive this update soon.
RCS technology, often considered the evolution of traditional SMS, already offers advanced messaging features such as read receipts, typing indicators, and enhanced media sharing. The addition of a “Delete for Everyone” function will further enhance the messaging experience for Android users.