WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. With so many people using WhatsApp, it’s common to get messages you might wish you hadn’t read – whether it’s an awkward text from someone you’d rather avoid, or a spoiler for your favorite TV show.
So can you actually “unread” a message on WhatsApp after opening it? Let’s dig into the details.
Can You Unread WhatsApp Messages on iPhone?
If you have an iPhone and use WhatsApp, there is unfortunately no built-in way to unread a message. Once you open a WhatsApp message on your iPhone, it will remain read unless you delete it.
Some things to know about read/unread on WhatsApp for iPhone:
- Read receipts are sent automatically when you open a message, so the sender sees when you’ve read it.
- You can’t toggle read receipts off for specific contacts or conversations.
- If you swipe to preview a message from your notifications, it will also mark it as read.
- Deleting a message will remove the blue ticks showing it was read, but won’t mark it as unread for you.
So in summary, there is no way to unread a message once you’ve opened it on iPhone. The sender will see that you read it.
Can You Unread WhatsApp Messages on Android?
The situation is similar for Android users – WhatsApp doesn’t have a built-in unread feature in the Android app. Once you read a message, there is no going back.
Some key points about read/unread on WhatsApp for Android:
- Read receipts are sent automatically when you open messages.
- You can turn off read receipts for all contacts in your WhatsApp settings.
- Previewing messages from notifications will mark them as read.
- If you delete a message, it removes the read receipt but doesn’t unread it.
While you can prevent read receipts from being sent through your settings, this only stops the sender from seeing when you’ve read – it doesn’t unread messages for you.
Can You Unsend a WhatsApp Message?
While you can’t unread WhatsApp messages, the platform does give you a short window to unsend or delete messages after sending them. However, it has some limitations.
On both iPhone and Android, you can unsend a WhatsApp message within 1 hour 8 minutes after sending it. To unsend a message:
- Open the conversation with the message.
- Long press on the message.
- Tap “Delete” then “Delete for Everyone”.
Some caveats for unsending WhatsApp messages:
- It only works if the recipient hasn’t opened the message yet.
- You can only unsend for up to 1 hour 8 minutes after sending.
- It doesn’t work for messages forwarded to other chats.
- You’ll be notified if the unsend failed because the message was already read.
So while you can’t unread a message, unsending can effectively delete a message as if you never sent it – but only if you act quickly and the recipient hasn’t seen it.
Third-Party Apps to Unread WhatsApp Messages
While WhatsApp itself doesn’t allow you to unread messages, some third-party apps claim to offer this ability:
- WAMR – Android app that lets you unread single and group chats. Has mixed reviews.
- Unread – An iOS keyboard app that supposedly lets you unread texts, WhatsApp, and more. Low rated.
- Undo Send – Another iOS keyboard app with an unread feature. Poor reviews.
Most of these third-party unread apps seem questionable, have privacy concerns, and don’t work very reliably based on user reviews. I don’t recommend relying on them.
Workarounds to “Unread” WhatsApp Messages
While you can’t directly unread WhatsApp messages, there are some workarounds you can use to walk back a message you wish you hadn’t read:
- Unsend – Delete the message for everyone if caught within 1hr 8min.
- Delete the message – Removes read receipt and clears it in your view.
- Mute the chat – You won’t get notifications for new messages.
- Turn off read receipts (Android only) – Sender won’t see when you’ve read.
- Block the sender – Prevents you receiving further messages.
These won’t change the message to unread, but can help limit the impact of seeing a message you didn’t want to. Use judiciously!
How to Tell if Someone Has Read Your WhatsApp Message
While you can’t unread messages from others, you can see when your WhatsApp messages have been read by the recipients. Here’s how to check if your messages have been read:
- Double grey ticks – Message sent but not yet delivered to recipient’s device.
- Double blue ticks – Message delivered and read by recipient.
- Double blue ticks and “Read” text – Message read at [time].
As long as the recipient has read receipts enabled (they’re on by default), the double blue ticks will show when they’ve opened your message.
Can You Read WhatsApp Messages Without Them Showing as Read?
Is it possible to sneak a peek at a WhatsApp message without the sender knowing you saw it? There are a couple of clever tricks you can try:
- Preview from notifications – On both iPhone and Android you can briefly preview messages from notification banners without triggering the read receipt. Just don’t open the full chat screen.
- Turn off read receipts (Android only) – Disables the blue ticks entirely so sender never sees when you’ve read.
- Airplane mode – Open the message offline then close the app. When you reconnect the read status won’t update.
- Uninstall WhatsApp – Messages are still on your phone for a short time after uninstalling. Reinstall when done snooping to prevent reads.
While sneaky, these methods do allow you to read WhatsApp messages on the sly if needed. Use sparingly and ethically!
Conclusion
While WhatsApp doesn’t natively allow you to unread messages after opening them, you do have some options to help walk back an unwanted message:
- Unsend the message within 1hr 8min if unopened.
- Delete the message which removes most traces of it.
- Mute, block or take other measures to prevent further issues.
- Preview messages sneakily using notifications.
Ultimately you need to be careful opening messages if you really want to “unread” them. But a quick delete or unsend can help fix most situations. Just don’t rely on questionable third-party apps claiming to unread messages!
WhatsApp Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some other frequently asked questions about using WhatsApp:
How do I know if someone read my WhatsApp message?
Double blue ticks indicate your message was read. Grey ticks mean it’s unread. “Read” text also confirms the read time.
Can I read WhatsApp messages without the sender knowing?
On Android, disable read receipts in Settings. On iPhone, preview messages from notifications. Airplane mode also prevents read receipts from sending.
How do I delete messages on WhatsApp?
Long press the message, tap Delete, then choose to Delete for Everyone (other person’s chat) or Delete for Me (your chat only).
Can WhatsApp messages be traced?
WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted and can’t be traced or intercepted by third parties. However, messages may be recoverable from phone backups.
How do I recover deleted WhatsApp messages?
If recently deleted, quickly close the app and recover from phone recycle bin. Otherwise, restore from a phone backup or try third-party tools to extract messages.
Is there any way to read someone’s WhatsApp chat?
Due to encryption, you can’t directly read someone else’s chats. You’d need temporary access to their unlocked phone to view messages.
WhatsApp Tips and Tricks
Take your WhatsApp skills to the next level with these handy tips:
- Pin conversations – Long press a chat and tap Pin to keep key chats on top.
- Mute chats – Long press and Mute to stop getting notifications from overly active groups or contacts.
- Bold, italics, etc – Surround text with symbols like * or _ to make it bold, italics or strikethrough.
- @mention contacts – Use @ before their name to mention someone in a group chat.
- Search messages – Pull down in any chat to reveal the search bar.
Take the time to dive into WhatsApp’s settings and explore all the options available to customize your messaging experience.
WhatsApp Alternatives
While extremely popular, WhatsApp is not the only messaging app out there. Here are a few alternatives if you’re looking for something different:
Signal
- Free and open source app focused on privacy.
- Offers end-to-end encryption for messages and calls.
- Minimalist design with focus on secure messaging.
- Supports group chats, voice messages, video calls, etc.
Telegram
- Free chatting app emphasizing speed and security.
- Option for end-to-end encrypted Secret Chats.
- Supports large group chats up to 200,000 members.
- Packed with gif search, channels, bots, profiles and more.
Facebook Messenger
- Chat app for Facebook users to message friends or groups.
- Connects with your existing Facebook friends and contacts.
- Features reactions, video chat, stories, payments and bots.
- Syncs across mobile, desktop and the Facebook app.
There are also many other chat apps like Viber, Line, Hangouts and Skype to consider as well.
Key Takeaways
- There is no native way to unread messages on WhatsApp once opened.
- You can unsend messages within 1 hour 8 minutes if not yet read.
- Delete any message instantly, but it only removes visible traces from your view.
- Preview from notifications, disable read receipts on Android, or use airplane mode to read sneakily.
- Be thoughtful about opening messages to avoid situations where you need to “unread.”