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To unsend a photo on iMessage, open the conversation, touch and hold the message bubble containing the photo, then tap Undo Send. You have up to two minutes after sending. Apple documents unsending messages generally, rather than a separate procedure for photos, so these steps apply the message-bubble instructions to a photo-containing message.

Steps to unsend a photo

  1. Open Messages and go to the conversation where you sent the photo.

  2. Touch and hold the message bubble containing the photo.

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  3. Tap Undo Send.

  4. Look for the notice in the conversation confirming that the message was unsent.

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Apple says Undo Send removes the message from the recipient’s device when the feature is supported. The conversation shows that the message was unsent, so the action is not invisible to the recipient.

Check that Undo Send is available

Act within two minutes

Apple allows a sender to undo a recently sent message for up to two minutes after sending it. If that window has passed, Undo Send is no longer available for that message.

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  • When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
  • The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.

Make sure the conversation uses iMessage

Undo Send works with iMessage, not SMS, MMS, or RCS messages. Apple lists iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, and macOS 13 or later as the minimum versions for the feature in its guide to unsending messages. If the recipient is using an older operating system, the original message may remain visible to them.

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Undo Send is different from deleting the photo

Choosing Delete is not a substitute for Undo Send. Deleting a message or attachment removes it from your devices but does not change what recipients see. Apple explains the difference in its instructions for deleting messages and attachments.

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  • This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
  • Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
  • When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
  • The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
  • Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
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What unsending does not establish

Apple’s instructions explain how the message is retracted from a supported recipient’s device, but they do not establish whether the recipient already viewed or independently saved or captured the photo. Do not assume Undo Send can reverse anything the recipient may have done before the message was removed.

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