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News In Brief Technology and Gadgets

Google Messages Rolls Out ‘Delete for Everyone’ Feature Like WhatsApp

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Google Messages Rolls Out ‘Delete for Everyone’ Feature Like WhatsApp
09 May 2025
5 min read

News Synopsis

Google is enhancing its Messages app with new tools aimed at offering users more control over their conversations and improving message management. Among the notable additions are a WhatsApp-style “Delete for Everyone” feature and an “Unsubscribe” option to reduce spam from business messages.

'Delete for Everyone' Feature Rolls Out

Google is reportedly rolling out a feature in its Messages app that enables users to delete sent messages for all participants in a group RCS (Rich Communication Services) conversation. This functionality mirrors the popular WhatsApp feature and is designed to allow users to rectify accidental messages or retract content they no longer wish to share.

Until now, Google Messages only allowed message deletion from the sender’s device, which meant the message would still be visible to everyone else in the chat. The new update changes this by removing the message from all devices in the conversation.

Currently Limited to Larger Group Chats

According to a report from 9To5Google, the “Delete for Everyone” feature was first spotted in a beta version of the app by a user engaged in a group chat with 12 members. Notably, the option wasn’t available in one-on-one chats or smaller group conversations, suggesting that Google may be conducting a phased rollout or restricting the feature to specific group sizes for now.

Furthermore, users on older versions of the Messages app may still see the deleted message. This indicates that full functionality depends on all participants having the latest update.

Part of Universal Profile 2.7 Update

The new message deletion feature is part of Google’s broader RCS Universal Profile 2.7 rollout. This update brings several key messaging improvements aimed at making Google Messages more competitive with other messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage.

Universal Profile 2.7 includes:

  • Message editing

  • Recall for sent messages

  • Delete for both sender and recipient

These upgrades reflect Google’s efforts to modernize SMS and RCS messaging while giving users more flexibility and control.

New 'Unsubscribe' Button to Fight SMS Spam

In addition to message deletion features, Google is introducing an “Unsubscribe” button in its Messages app to tackle SMS and RCS spam—especially from businesses and marketing services.

This new feature works similarly to email unsubscribe links. When users receive a promotional message, they may now see an option to unsubscribe directly within the conversation thread. This helps reduce unwanted marketing communications and keeps the inbox clutter-free.

Better Inbox Management for Users

The Unsubscribe button is part of Google's broader initiative to clean up the messaging experience. As SMS and RCS are increasingly used by businesses for promotions and notifications, managing spam has become a priority for Google.

By giving users an easy way to opt out of future messages, the feature helps maintain a streamlined and distraction-free inbox, improving the overall user experience.

Google’s Vision for Smarter Messaging

These updates are in line with Google’s ongoing efforts to make RCS the next standard in mobile messaging. With features like message editing, deletion, and spam control, Google Messages is becoming more than just an SMS app — it is transforming into a full-fledged smart messaging platform.

As these features become more widely available, users can expect more intuitive and user-friendly communication tools that align with modern expectations.

Conclusion

Google Messages is taking significant strides to become more user-centric. The addition of the “Delete for Everyone” feature gives users more control over their sent messages, while the “Unsubscribe” tool helps manage spam effectively. These updates not only enhance usability but also bring the app in line with leading competitors in the messaging space.