Unsending Messages on Instagram: Everything You Need to Know

Download Article

Delete messages you sent in an Instagram chat

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: March 15, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Unsending Messages
|
• What messages can be unsent?
|
• Can someone see if you unsend a message?
|
• Can you edit a message?
|
• Can you unsend multiple messages?
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

Did you send a DM on Instagram that you regret? You can easily unsend it. While Instagram doesn't send notifications for unsending a message, you should make sure to delete it before the other person can read it. Here's what you need to know about unsending messages on Instagram, what messages can be unsent, and more.

Quick Steps

1. Tap the airplane icon.
2. Tap a conversation.
3. Tap and hold the message you want to unsend.
4. Tap Unsend.
5. Tap Unsend again.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

Unsending Messages

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Open the Instagram app. This looks like a camera with a multicolored background. Log into your account if you aren't already.

   • You can also use Instagram in a web browser at https://www.instagram.com/.
2. 
   2
   Tap the airplane icon. This is in the top-right corner of the screen.

   • On some devices, this may look like a lightning bolt in a speech bubble.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Tap a conversation. You'll see a list of your Direct Messages from newest to oldest.
4. 
   4
   Tap and hold the message you want to unsend. If you're using Instagram on a computer, click ••• next to the message.
5. 
   5
   Tap Unsend twice. The message will be unsent. It will no longer be visible in the chat.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 5:

What messages can be unsent?

Download Article

1. 
   Messages in Direct Messages can be unsent. Direct Messages are private conversations with an Instagram user. This also includes group messages. If you posted a comment on someone's uploaded photo, you can delete it on the post itself.

Section 3 of 5:

Can someone see if you unsend a message?

Download Article

1. 
   Instagram doesn't notify you when a message is unsent. However, if you took a while to unsend the message, the recipient may have already read it. The recipient may also have their Read Receipts turned off.

   • Additionally, if the chat gets reported, the unsent message may appear in the report.
Advertisement

Section 4 of 5:

Can you edit a message on Instagram?

Download Article

1. 
   No, you can't edit a sent Direct Message. Once the message has been sent, your only option is to unsend it, and then send a new one.

   • Additionally, there's no way to edit a posted comment; you'll need to delete the comment.

Section 5 of 5:

Can you unsend multiple messages?

Download Article

1. 
   You can only unsend one message at a time. While time-consuming, Instagram has yet to incorporate a way to select and unsend more than one message at a time. Until then, you'll need to go through each chat message individually, select it, and then unsend it.

   • Deleting Instagram messages is different from unsending. While you can delete multiple messages at a time, this only happens on your end. The recipient will still see your message unless you unsend it.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!