How to Edit a Message on WhatsApp (Android, iPhone, Computer)

We've all hit send and then spotted the typo, the wrong time or the name spelled two different ways. For years the only fix on WhatsApp was to delete the message and start again, which left a clumsy 'This message was deleted' in the chat. Now you can fix the text in place, as long as you're quick.

I'll take you through the steps from WhatsApp's help pages for Android, iPhone and the computer, then the limits that trip people up, because the time window is short and some things can't be edited at all.

Editing a WhatsApp message on Android

1. Open the chat and long press the message you want to change.
2. Tap the three dots (More options).
3. Select Edit and change the text.
4. Tap the checkmark to save your update.

The message updates for everyone in the chat. It stays where it was in the conversation, with the word 'edited' next to the timestamp so people know it's been changed.

Editing a WhatsApp message on iPhone

1. Open the chat and long press the message you want to update.
2. Tap Edit.
3. Change the text.
4. Tap the checkmark when you're finished, then tap OK.

Menus vary by app version, so if the Edit option sits behind a small arrow or an extra menu on your phone, look there first. The sequence is the same: press and hold, choose Edit, fix it, confirm.

Editing a WhatsApp message on your computer

On WhatsApp Web or the desktop app, WhatsApp's help pages say to hover over the message and click the small menu arrow, then choose Edit message. Change the wording, click the checkmark, and confirm with OK. I use this one a lot, because typos multiply when I'm typing quickly on a laptop.

The 15-minute limit for editing a WhatsApp message

This is the rule that matters most. WhatsApp says you can edit a message for up to 15 minutes after sending it. After that, the Edit option is no longer there. If you've missed the window, you can't change the text, so you need another route, which I cover further down.

A habit that helps: read your message once before you tap send when it's something that matters, such as a meeting time, an address or a booking date. Fifteen minutes goes quickly if you've walked away from your phone.

What people see when you edit a WhatsApp message

• The updated text replaces the old text in the chat, for everyone in it.
• The word 'edited' appears beside the timestamp.
• Nobody gets a new notification. WhatsApp says editing a message won't send a new chat notification to people in your chat.
• If someone isn't on the latest version of the app, they see a note saying the message was edited for everyone in the chat on the latest version of WhatsApp, and they need to update to see the new wording.

The no-notification point cuts both ways. It's handy because you won't ping a group for a tiny fix. It also means that if the change is important, such as a new meeting time, someone who has already read the first version might never notice. In that case I'd send a short follow-up message as well, saying you've changed it.

What you can't edit on WhatsApp

The help page is clear that you can't edit photos, videos or other types of media. Edit works on text messages only. If you've sent the wrong picture or a video with a mistake in it, editing won't help, and you'll need to delete it and send the correct one.

Edited WhatsApp messages and read receipts

Here's a detail most people miss. WhatsApp's help pages say read receipts reset when you edit a message. So if you've sent a message that was already read, then edit it, the ticks go back to the start. For you, that's a way to see who has viewed the updated version. For the people you message, it simply looks like a fresh message to read.

Whether blue ticks show at all depends on your privacy settings. If you'd like to understand that side, my guide to turning off read receipts on WhatsApp explains what changes.

If the WhatsApp edit time has run out

When fifteen minutes have gone, you've got two sensible options, both from WhatsApp's own features.

• Send a correction. Write a quick follow-up such as 'Sorry, I meant half past three'. It's honest and it keeps the thread clear.
• Delete for everyone and resend. WhatsApp says you have two days after sending to choose Delete for everyone, and the message is replaced with 'This message was deleted'. Recipients might see your message before it's deleted, and you won't be told if the deletion didn't work, so it's less tidy than editing.

For anything sensitive, I'd choose the follow-up message. Deleting can draw more attention to the thing you were trying to hide.

Editing a WhatsApp message in a business chat

If you message customers, a clean edit is better than a pile of corrections. Fix a wrong opening time, a misspelled name or a missing address quickly and the chat stays easy to follow. You can also use simple formatting to make key details clear, and I've covered that in my guide to highlighting text in WhatsApp.

Keep in mind that an edited message still shows the word 'edited', so customers know it changed. That's good practice in business anyway, because it shows you've been careful rather than hiding the change.

If you can't find the Edit option on WhatsApp

• Check how long ago you sent the message. After 15 minutes the option is gone.
• Make sure you've selected one of your own messages. You can't edit what other people send.
• Check the message is text. Photos and videos can't be edited.
• Update WhatsApp to the latest version, because the feature relies on a current app.
• On the computer, hover over the message first so the menu arrow shows.

Related guides live in the WhatsApp Help: 43 Guides to Transfers, Backups, Business and Privacy.

Frequently asked questions

How do I edit a message on WhatsApp?

Long press your message on a phone, choose Edit, change the text and tap the checkmark. On a computer, hover over the message, click the menu arrow and choose Edit message.

How long can you edit a WhatsApp message for?

WhatsApp says you can edit a message for up to 15 minutes after sending it.

Will people know I edited my WhatsApp message?

Yes. The message shows the word 'edited' next to the timestamp, but WhatsApp doesn't send a new notification when you edit.

Can I edit a photo or video on WhatsApp?

No. WhatsApp says you can't edit photos, videos or other types of media, only text messages.

What if I can't edit my WhatsApp message any more?

Send a follow-up correction, or use Delete for everyone within two days and send it again. The deleted message is replaced with a note saying it was deleted.