5 New Messages App Features in iOS 16

The Messages app has come a long way since it was first introduced, and with the release of iOS 16, it’s better than ever. In this article, we’ll take a look at 5 new features that have been added to the app. Whether you’re looking to recover deleted texts or use SharePlay to watch videos with friends, there’s something for everyone. So let’s get started!

1. Now You Can Unsend a Text Message

We’ve all been there. You send a text message and then realize it was the wrong thing to say, or you made a typo. Now, with iOS 16, you can unsend a text message.

1. Open your message thread.
2. Long-press on the text bubble that you would like to unsend.
3. Tap Undo Send from the pop-up menu.

Unfortunately, unsending a text is only possible within the first 2 minutes of you sending the text. So, act quickly!

Also note this only works when sending to someone else with an iOS 16 device. So, if the text bubble is green, that means you are sending to a non-iOS device, and the unsend feature won’t work.

Likewise, if someone has a device running an iOS prior to iOS 16, this won’t work.

And a final note, the chat will show a note that the message has been unsent. So, while your text buddy won’t know what you sent, they will know you sent them something, then decided to unsend it. So maybe it’s best to just hide your phone somewhere when you’ve had too much late-night wine 🙂

2. How to Recover Recently Deleted Messages

If you’ve accidentally deleted a message or conversation in the Messages app, don’t worry – you can usually recover it. Recently deleted messages are moved to a separate folder, where they stay for up to 30 days. From there, you can choose to recover the messages permanently back to your main inbox. Here’s a quick guide on how to…

1. Tap on Edit in the corner of your Messages app.
2. Tap Show Recently Deleted. If you see Filters instead, tap on it and access the list of folders, including your “Recently Deleted” folder.
3. Tap the messages you’d like to recover. A blue check mark will appear next to the messages you select.
4. Tap on Recover.
5. Finally, tap Recover Message again to confirm.

There are two ways to get rid of a text message. Deleting it will only remove it from your conversation, but the recipient will still be able to see it. If you want to make sure that the message is gone for both of you, use the Undo Send option from above.

3. How to Mark Texts as Unread

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s not always possible to reply to every text message we receive as soon as it comes in. That’s why the iOS 16 update includes a new feature that allows users to mark texts as unread. This is a helpful way to keep track of important messages and make sure you don’t forget to reply.

Here’s how to mark a text as “Unread”…

1. Find the conversation you want to mark as unread.
2. Long-press the conversation until you get a pop-up.
3. From the list of options that appear, tap on Mark as Unread.

4. How to Edit a Text Message

If you need to fix a typo or make a small edit to a text message, you can do so quickly and easily on your iPhone. The Messages app allows you to edit a text message up to five times within 15 minutes of sending it. Here’s how…

1. Press & hold the text message.
2. Tap Edit.
3. Edit your text, then tap on the blue tick icon to send.

iMessage will add a note saying “Delivered – Edited,” so your text buddy will know you edited the text. They will also be able to tap “Edited” to see your original message. And if they have a device running something prior to iOS 16, both the original and edited versions will appear in messages.

5. How to Use the Messages App & SharePlay

If you’re a fan of using the Messages app, then you’ll be excited to know that there are some new features in iOS 16 that make messaging even better. One of these features is SharePlay, which lets you watch videos, listen to audio, and stream content together during a FaceTime call. Here’s how to use SharePlay in your Messages App…

1. Open an app that is compatible with SharePlay, like Apple TV or Spotify.
2. Open the content you want to share in your Message App.
3. Tap the Share button or the More button.
4. Select SharePlay.
5. Enter the name of the person you want to share this content with.
6. Choose Messages. (Unless you’d like to share using the Facetime option.)
7. Send the invite link to the contact by tapping on Send.
8. After the person accepts, SharePlay will also start for them.

You can only use SharePlay if you and the other person both have an account and access to the app. That means you either need a paid subscription or access to the free trial.

There you have it – five new features in the Messages app that come with iOS 16. Whether you’re looking to recover accidentally deleted messages, mark texts as unread, or use SharePlay to watch videos and listen to audio together, these new features will help make messaging even better. So start taking advantage of all the new messaging goodness!

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