How to Unsend Messages in macOS 13

Apple's macOS 13 (Ventura) allows users to recall recently sent messages in the Messages app, providing a simple way to fix mistakes or retract accidental texts. You can retract an iMessage within a strict two-minute window after sending it, provided the message was sent via the iMessage network (blue bubble). This guide provides the exact steps to unsend a message on your Mac, along with essential conditions and limitations you need to know.

Steps to Unsend a Message

  1. Open the Messages app on your Mac running macOS 13.
  2. Select the conversation thread containing the message you want to retract.
  3. Right-click (or hold the Control key and click) directly on the sent message bubble.
  4. Click Undo Send from the contextual menu.

Once selected, the message bubble will vanish with an animation, replaced by a brief notification stating, "You unsent a message."

Important Requirements and Limitations

  • Two-Minute Window: You have precisely two minutes from the moment you hit send to use the "Undo Send" feature. After two minutes, the option disappears from the menu.
  • iMessage Only: This feature only works on blue iMessage texts sent to other Apple devices. It does not work on standard SMS/MMS messages (green bubbles).
  • Recipient Software Version:
    • If the recipient is running macOS 13, iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, or later, the message is permanently removed from their conversation history.
    • If the recipient is on an older operating system, the message will not disappear from their device. Instead, they will receive an explanatory follow-up note saying that you unsent the message, but the original text may still remain visible to them.
  • Notification of Retraction: While the message content is removed, the recipient will see a system note in the chat thread indicating that a message was unsent.