When you unsend a message on Instagram, it disappears from the chat for you and the recipient. However, the other person may already have read, copied or captured it in a screenshot. First, check that you have the right message in the right chat. Deleting the conversation from your own inbox does not remove your message from the other person’s inbox.
Below, you’ll read what the recipient may still be able to see and what you can do if you sent something by mistake.
How do you choose the right Instagram message to unsend?
You can unsend an individual message that you sent yourself. Open the right chat and find the message you want to remove. Do not just look at the name above the conversation; check the content as well.
For example, did you send several photos one after another? Check which photo you want to unsend so that you do not choose the wrong one.
Can’t you find the feature? Then follow Instagram’s instructions for unsending a sent chat message. Deleting the entire conversation is not a substitute for this step.
Can the other person still see an unsent Instagram message?
It may no longer be in the chat, but it could still exist in a copy. The recipient may have taken a screenshot or copied the content before you unsent it. They may also have already read the message while the chat was open.
Suppose you send an address to the wrong person. Unsend the message, but any copy made earlier will not disappear. Ask the recipient not to save or share the address.
Does the other person get a notification when you unsend the message?
It is not certain whether Instagram displays a separate notification about unsending. Therefore, do not assume that the other person will not notice.
The notification for the original message is different. The recipient may already have seen part of the content in it. Even if you unsend the message, you cannot be sure that it remained unread.
Is it a sensitive photo? In Protecting sensitive images in private messages Meta also explains that you can unsend images you have sent. This does not guarantee that the other person has not already seen them.
What is the difference between unsending an Instagram message and deleting a chat?
Do you want to remove a message sent by mistake from the other person’s chat? Then you need to use the unsend feature. Do you only want to remove an old chat from your own overview? Then you can delete the conversation.
| What do you do? | What happens? |
|---|---|
| Unsend a message | The sent message disappears from the chat for you and the recipient. |
| Delete a conversation | The conversation disappears from your own inbox but remains in the other person’s inbox. |
Removing the app from your phone is something else again. For that, read what happens when you delete the Instagram app.
Can you recover an unsent Instagram message?
Do not count on a restore button that brings back the old message. Do you still have the text or photo and want to share it after all? Then you can send it again. That is a new message, not a restoration of the old one.
Was important information only in that message? Check whether you have it somewhere else, such as in your notes. You can also ask the recipient whether they still remember the content. Do not assume that they have a copy.
What do you do if you sent an Instagram message by mistake?
- Check whom you sent the message to and what it contains. Is it a typo, the wrong photo or personal information?
- Choose what you want to do. For a small typo, a brief correction may be clearer. Did you send something to the wrong person? Then you can unsend the message.
- Give a brief explanation if necessary. For example: “That message was intended for someone else.”
- Check your new message before sending it. Take one more look at the recipient’s name and at the text or photo.
Do you instead want to give a message on your profile a fixed spot rather than remove a chat message? Then read more about pinning an Instagram message. If you also publish your own content, our Instagram services includes packages for followers and likes. The product pages show the available quantities and prices.
