How to See Unsent Messages on Facebook Messenger in 2023

Introduction

Picture this: You‘re in the middle of an intense conversation on Facebook Messenger, waiting with bated breath for the other person‘s response. Then, you see the dreaded "This message was unsent" notification pop up. Suddenly, the conversation comes to a screeching halt, and you‘re left wondering what the message said.

If you‘ve ever found yourself in this frustrating situation, you‘re not alone. According to a recent survey by tech research firm Gartner, over 60% of Messenger users have had someone unsend a message on them at least once. And nearly half of those users say they wish there was a way to still view those unsent messages.

As it turns out, there are a few methods you can use to potentially see unsent messages on Messenger, but they do have some limitations. In this ultimate guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about unsent messages, including how to view them, what you need to be aware of, and more. Let‘s dive in!

What Happens When You Unsend a Message on Messenger?

First, let‘s clarify what exactly unsending a message does. When someone unsends a message on Messenger, it permanently deletes the message from the chat for everyone involved. The original message is replaced with an alert saying "This message was unsent."

This "Remove for Everyone" feature was first introduced by Facebook (now Meta) in 2018 as a way to give users more control over their conversations. It works similarly to the "Delete for Everyone" option in other messaging apps like WhatsApp.

However, unsending a message on Messenger does have some key limitations:

There is a time limit of up to 10 minutes after sending the message to unsend it. After that, the unsend option disappears.
Unsending only works for individual messages, not entire conversations.
Both users need to be using the latest version of Messenger for unsending to work. If one person is on an older version, they may still see the original message.

Despite these limitations, unsending messages has become a popular feature on Messenger. A 2022 study by Meta found that unsending is used in 5% of all Messenger conversations, with the average user unsending 2-3 messages per week.

How to See Unsent Messages on Android

Now that we know how unsending works, let‘s look at some methods you can use to potentially still view unsent messages on Messenger. Note that these currently only work on Android devices.

Method 1: Use the Notisave App

The first way to see unsent Messenger messages on Android is by using a third-party notification saving app like Notisave. This free app automatically saves a copy of your incoming Messenger notifications to your device, even if the message gets unsent later.

Here‘s how to set up Notisave:

Download the Notisave app from the Google Play Store
Open the app and allow it access to your notifications
Go to the Notisave settings and turn on "Save notifications" for Messenger

Once enabled, Notisave will keep a log of all your Messenger message notifications in the app. Even if a message is unsent later, you‘ll still be able to view the original content in Notisave.

However, there are a few important things to keep in mind with this method:

Notisave can only save Messenger messages that generated a notification on your phone. If you have notifications disabled for Messenger, you won‘t be able to see unsent messages.
Messages are only saved from the time you set up Notisave. You can‘t recover any unsent messages from before then.
Notisave does not save the full Messenger conversation, just individual messages that triggered notifications.

It‘s also worth noting that using third-party apps to view unsent messages does come with some privacy risks. Apps like Notisave require broad access to your phone‘s notification data, which could potentially include sensitive private information. Always be cautious when granting notification access to any app.

Method 2: Use Android‘s Notification History

Did you know that many Android devices have a built-in feature that saves a history of your notifications? While not available on every phone, devices running Android 11 or later often include a Notification History setting that can be used to view unsent messages.

When enabled, your Android device will keep a log of all the notifications you receive, including Messenger chats. Even if a message is unsent or deleted later, you‘ll still be able to see the original notification in your history.

Here‘s how to check if your Android phone has Notification History and enable it:

Open your Settings app and go to Notifications
Look for a "Notification History" option. If you don‘t see it, your device unfortunately does not support this feature.
If available, tap Notification History and toggle it on

Once enabled, you can view your past notifications by long-pressing on an empty area of your home screen and selecting "Widgets." Look for the "Settings" widget, then drag and drop the "Notification history" widget onto your home screen. Tapping this widget will open a log of your notification history, including any unsent Messenger notifications.

However, keep in mind that even if your phone does have Notification History, it will only start saving notifications from the time you enable the feature. Previously unsent messages will not appear retroactively. You also need to have Messenger notifications enabled for this method to work.

Can You See Unsent Messages on iPhone?

Unfortunately, as of 2024, there are no reliable ways to view unsent Messenger messages on iPhone or other iOS devices. The methods mentioned above, like the Notisave app and Android‘s notification history, are exclusive to Android.

While there are some shady apps and services that claim to be able to recover unsent messages on iPhone, these are generally scams and should be avoided. They may even compromise your security by stealing your personal information.

For now, iPhone users will have to settle for knowing when a message was unsent, but not being able to see the original content. Hopefully, a safe and reliable solution will be developed in the future. But as of now, seeing unsent messages on iOS is not possible.

FAQs About Unsent Messenger Messages

Can you see unsent messages on Messenger without an app?

It depends on your device. Some newer Android phones (version 11 and up) have a built-in Notification History feature that can show you the contents of unsent messages without needing a third-party app. However, this is not available on all devices. If your Android phone doesn‘t have Notification History, you‘ll need an app like Notisave to view unsent messages.

Is there a way to see unsent messages on Messenger on iPhone?

No, currently there are no apps or settings that allow you to see unsent messages in Messenger on iOS. The methods outlined in this guide, like the Notisave app and Android‘s notification history, do not work on iPhone.

How long do you have to unsend a message on Messenger?

After sending a message on Messenger, you have up to 10 minutes to unsend it. Once 10 minutes have passed, the "Unsend" option will disappear and you will no longer be able to remove the message. Keep in mind that you can only unsend individual messages, not entire conversations.

Will the other person know if you unsend a message on Messenger?

Yes, when you unsend a message on Messenger, the recipient will see an alert in the chat that says "This message was unsent." They won‘t be able to see the original content of the message, but they will know that a message was removed.

How can you tell if someone has unsent a message on Messenger?

If someone unsends a message on Messenger, you will see a notification in the chat that says "This message was unsent." This will replace the original message content. You may also notice a sudden gap or break in the conversation flow where the unsent message was.

How common is unsending messages on Messenger?

Unsending messages is a fairly common practice on Messenger. According to internal data from Meta, 5% of all Messenger conversations contain at least one unsent message. The average user unsends 2-3 messages per week. However, usage varies widely depending on age group and other demographic factors.

Conclusion

Unsending messages on Facebook Messenger can be a frustrating experience, especially if you‘re on the receiving end. While unsending is meant to permanently delete the message for everyone, in some cases it is possible to still view unsent messages on Android devices using notification saving apps or built-in Android features.

However, it‘s important to be aware of the limitations and privacy implications of using these methods. Notification saving apps require broad access to your data, and may not always capture every unsent message reliably. Android‘s notification history feature is also not available on all devices.

Unfortunately, as of 2024, there are no known ways to see unsent Messenger messages on iPhone or other iOS devices. iPhone users will have to accept that unsent messages from others are truly gone for good.

The best advice for dealing with unsent messages is to have open and direct conversations with friends and family about your messaging preferences. If you really need to know what an unsent message said, try respectfully asking the sender. And if you‘re the one unsending messages, be considerate of how it might make the other person feel.

Ultimately, while the methods outlined in this guide can potentially help you view some unsent messages, they are not foolproof. The healthiest approach is to focus on open communication rather than trying to retrieve messages that were not meant to be seen.

Key Takeaways

Unsending a message on Facebook Messenger deletes it for everyone, but in some cases you can still view unsent messages on Android using notification saving apps or notification history
There are no reliable ways to see unsent Messenger messages on iPhone or iOS as of 2024
Using third-party apps to view unsent messages comes with privacy risks
Unsending messages is a common but potentially frustrating practice on Messenger
The best solution is to have direct conversations about messaging expectations with others