Basic Fixes

• Force quit and relaunch: This will give the app a fresh start on your iPhone.
• Update iOS version to update the Messages app: Both you and your contact should have iOS 16 or above running on your iPhones.
• Check Apple server status: You can visit the official Apple System Status page to see if iMessage is facing any issues.

Why Can’t I Unsend or Edit Messages on iMessage

If this question makes you scratch your head, here are some possible answers to exemplify the causes behind this issue.

• Time limit exceeded for editing messages
• No support for editing SMS
• Your contact has disabled iMessage
• The other person might have blocked you if you can’t send iMessages.
• iMessage service issues

Fix 1: Enable iMessage on Your Contact’s iPhone

The main reason why your iMessage is being sent as an SMS that cannot be edited or unsent is due to the fact that iMessage has been disabled on your contact’s iPhone. Therefore, it would be useful to ask your contact to follow the steps below to confirm whether iMessage has been enabled or not.

Go to Settings > Messages > Enable iMessage. 

Fix 2: Reset Network Settings

You can try resetting your iPhone’s network settings if you can edit your message but not send it again. Do note that this will reset all your wireless network preferences like Mobile Data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Tip: Learn more about how to use Contact Key Verification in iMessage.