Most instant messaging services include a read receipts feature, which shows you when someone has received or read your message. On iMessage, the text “Delivered” usually appears below the message you have sent, whether it’s a text message, image, video, or document. If you are using iMessage for the first time, you might wonder when it says “Delivered” after sending a message.
So, when does iMessage say delivered? iMessage displays the “Delivered” status when the message you sent has successfully reached the recipient’s device. This confirmation indicates that the recipient’s device has acknowledged receipt of the message, but it does not guarantee that the recipient has read it.
Keep in mind that for the “Delivered” status to appear, both you and the recipient must have an active internet connection, and the recipient’s device must be powered on and connected to the internet. If the recipient has turned off their device or does not have an internet connection, the message may not show as “Delivered” until the conditions are met.
If the “Delivered” status doesn’t appear and you see “Sending” or “Not Delivered,” it could be due to issues with your internet connection, the recipient’s connection, or temporary issues with Apple’s iMessage servers. In such cases, retry sending the message or check your internet connection.
iMessage says “Delivered” immediately after the message is received in the Apple device of the recipient. iMessage will only say delivered on a message when the recipient connects their Apple device to the internet. Therefore, the time it takes to say delivered may vary depending on when the recipient turns on their internet connection. If your message has not been delivered for a long time, you can try sending them an SMS or call them to ask if they have seen your message.
Before the introduction of instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage, people used to send text directly on their phones. Using SMS services meant you could not tell when your message was delivered or read until the other person replied to your message. While using iMessage, you might be wondering when it says “Delivered” after you click send.
iMessage says “Delivered” when the message you have sent has been received on the Apple device of the recipient. When you click send on a message, the text “Delivered” will appear under that message as soon as the Apple device of the recipient receives the message. The time can vary between a few seconds to even days.
If the recipient has turned off their phone or disabled their internet connection, the message will not be delivered until they turn on their phone or internet connection. If iMessage does not say delivered for a long time, you can try sending the message using another platform or call the recipient.
iMessage requires an internet connection on both the sender and recipient’s Apple device to deliver a message successfully. If you do not have cellular data and your device is not connected to Wi-Fi, you cannot send or receive any message on iMessage.
If you send your message and the recipient has turned their phone off or is on airplane mode, your iMessage will not say “Delivered” until they turn it on or disable airplane mode. There is no need to worry if your message has not been delivered after a few minutes.
You should note that “Delivered” and “Read” have different meanings when they appear on your iMessage. Delivered means that your message has been received on the recipient’s device, while “Read” means that the recipient has clicked on the message and read its content.
However, not all messages will say “Read” when the recipient clicks on them. iMessage will only say “Read” if the recipient has enabled “Send Read Receipts” on their Apple device. If the recipient has disabled “Send Read Receipts” on their Apple device, your iMessage will still say delivered even if they have opened and read your message.
If you do not want people to know you have read their message, you can disable the read receipts feature on your Apple device. Do this by opening:
- “Settings” and then scroll down the list and
- Tap on “Messages”.
- Locate “Send Read Receipts” and
- Slide the toggle to the right; the slider will turn gray, meaning it is off.
This will turn off “Read Receipts” for everyone in your contact list, but you can turn off read receipts for individual contacts if you do not want to turn it off for everyone. To turn off “Send Read Receipts” for an individual contact on your iPhone:
- Launch the iMessage app,
- Open that individual’s message thread, and
- Tap on the “i” button
- Slide the toggle next to the “Send Read Receipts” to the right to turn it off.
Now that individual cannot get read receipts from you until you turn the send read receipts back on.
When it takes longer than necessary for iMessage to say “Delivered,” you can try another platform to send the message if it is urgent. Suppose you require the recipient to reply to your text immediately, and it has been hours since iMessage said delivered.
In that case, you should try using a different messaging platform that you believe might see the message faster. You can try sending the message via SMS or email. If they do not reply to your SMS or email, you should call them and ask if they have seen or read the message you have sent on iMessage.
Does Deleting An iMessage Delete it for Everyone?
It is common to send the wrong text or file to an individual in your contacts. Some messaging platforms allow you to delete messages on your devices and the device of anyone you send the message to. If you have sent the wrong message on iMessage, you might wonder if deleting an iMessage on your Apple device will delete it for everyone.
Deleting an iMessage on your device only removes it from your personal conversation history and does not delete it for everyone else involved in the conversation. When you delete an iMessage on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it is removed only from your view and remains visible to other participants in the conversation.
If you want to delete a specific message for everyone in a conversation, this is not possible with iMessage. However, some other messaging platforms, like WhatsApp, offer the option to delete messages for all participants within a certain timeframe after sending the message.
It is essential to remember that once you have sent an iMessage, you cannot retract it or delete it from the recipient’s device. To avoid potential issues, always double-check your messages before sending them.
Deleting a message on iMessage does not delete it for everyone; it only deletes the message on your device. The copy of the message on the recipient’s device will remain for as long as they want. This is the standard for all text sent from any Apple device, whether using iMessage or SMS messaging services.
If you want to delete the message on both devices, you have to inform the receipt to delete the particular message you have deleted on your device. Therefore, you should be careful when sending a message using iMessage. Always check what you have typed and ensure it is addressed to the correct contact.
Deleting a message on iMessage only affects the local copy; once the message has been delivered, you have no control over its storage in the recipient’s device. The message will stay in the recipient’s device for as long as they want. If you want the message to be deleted from the recipient’s device, you have to ask the recipient to delete it from their device.
If the message contains information the recipient should not know, call them immediately and ask them to delete it as soon as possible. Since you cannot confirm if they have deleted the message, you have to trust them and confirm when you meet with them in person.
When sending messages on iMessage, you should be careful to avoid having to call people and ask them to delete particular messages on their devices. Before you click “Send” on a text message, video, image, or document, ensure that it is the correct message meant for that person.
You should always check the message thread to ensure you send the correct message to the correct person. To avoid sending the wrong text to the wrong person, you should ensure that you name all your contacts correctly.
You should note that once you delete a message on your Apple device, you cannot recover it. If you have synced your Apple device in iCloud, deleting the message on your iPhone will affect the message on all your Apple devices. Therefore, if you delete a certain message by mistake on your iPhone, you cannot find it on your Mac or iPad.
However, the person you sent the message to will continue to see the message on their devices. You can ask them to send you the particular message you deleted if it has important information that you need to use.
Messaging apps that have the delete for everyone feature will always notify the other person if you delete any message. If you delete the message, the recipient will not get any notification on iMessage.
Since they still have a copy of the message, there is no need for Apple to notify them that you have deleted a certain message. A person can only know that you have deleted a message on iMessage if you tell them or have physical access to any of your synced Apple devices.
Does Deleting a Message on iMessage Unsend it?
It is easy to make a mistake when sending a message using your phone or computer. Some messaging apps have features that allow you to correct your mistakes, such as deleting messages for everyone. If you have sent the wrong message to the wrong person on iMessage, you might be wondering if deleting that message would unsend it.
Deleting a message on iMessage does not unsend it. Once an iMessage has been sent and delivered, there is no way to unsend or retract it from the recipient’s device. Deleting the message on your device only removes it from your personal conversation history and does not affect the recipient’s view of the conversation. The recipient will still be able to see the message you sent, even if you have deleted it from your device.
Deleting a message on iMessage does not unsend it because once you click on the “Send” button, there is no method of undoing it. The Apple servers are committed to sending the message, and they will deliver the message whether you have deleted it or not.
When you delete the message, the message will be removed from your device but will appear in the recipient’s device for as long as they want. If you have already clicked “Send,” you can follow that message with another asking the recipient to delete the message or correct the mistake on the first message.
iMessage works like normal text messages; once you have clicked “Send,” the fate of the message is not up to you. Even if you delete the messages before iMessage says “Delivered,” the message will still reach the recipient.
The message is already synced with the Apple servers and the recipient’s address. Even if there is no internet connection, the Apple servers will send the message eventually. iMessage can only send to iMessage, but if you have enabled “Send as SMS,” any message you send via iMessage will be delivered as an SMS to the device without iMessage even if you delete it.
The only way to avoid getting into trouble while using iMessage is to be careful. Always check if the message thread you have opened is the one you want to send the message to. You should note that it does not matter which type of message you want to send via iMessage; as long as you click send, it will be delivered to the recipient.
For example, if you send an image or video to the wrong person, it will still be delivered even if you delete it while it is in the “Sending” status. If you have already sent the wrong message, you can ask the recipient to delete it.
Your message might not be delivered if your Apple device has trouble syncing with the Apple servers if you are in luck. When this happens, you will see “Not Delivered” under your message meaning the recipient has not received the message. You have the option of resending the message or deleting the message.
If the message has not been delivered, the other person will not be notified if you have deleted the message. However, this rarely happens, but if it does after you send the wrong message to the wrong person, take advantage of it and delete the message immediately.
You can also block a person if you keep sending them messages by mistake. To avoid apologizing to a particular person for sending them the wrong message, you can block them and remove them from your list of contacts.
To block a person on iMessage, open the app and select the message thread of the person you would wish to block. Tap the contact and then tap on the small “I” to open the contact’s information.
Tap “Block this Caller” at the bottom of the contact information and tap “Block Contact” again to confirm. You can no longer send messages to this individual until you unblock; hence you can no longer send them wrong messages.
Wrap Up
iMessage will let you know your message has been delivered to the recipient by saying “Delivered” under the message. iMessage will say “Delivered” immediately after the message reaches the recipient’s Apple device.
When the recipient clicks on the message, your iMessage will say “Read” unless they have disabled “Send Read Receipts.” If they have disabled “Send Read Receipts,” your iMessage will still say delivered even after they have read your message.
iMessage does not have the “Delete for Everyone” feature; therefore, you should be careful when sending messages via iMessage. Once you have clicked “Send,” there is no way to unsend the message. Whether you delete it during the “Sending” status or when iMessage says “Delivered,” the message will still reach the recipient.
