Does Instagram Notify When You Unsend a Message? Here’s the Real Answer (2025 Update)

Does Instagram Notify When You Unsend a Message?

No, Instagram does not notify the other person when you unsend a message. The message is quietly removed from both ends of the chat without any push notification, banner, or alert. It simply disappears — as if it was never sent in the first place.

That said, this doesn’t mean the message went completely unnoticed. If the recipient was active in the chat or saw a preview via notification before you unsent it, they may still know what you sent — even if it’s now gone. So while Instagram doesn’t notify them, they can still catch on.

This leads to a lot of questions people have about how the unsend feature really works — and whether different types of messages (like voice notes or photos) behave the same way. Is there any way for someone to recover an unsent message? Can group chat members still see it? Let’s keep reading.

How to Unsend Messages on Instagram

If you’re new to Instagram DMs or just haven’t used the feature before, you might be wondering how exactly you go about unsending a message. The good news? It’s super simple — and works on all types of messages, from text to media.

Here’s a quick, step-by-step guide:

How to Unsend a Message on Instagram (iPhone & Android)

1. Open Instagram and tap the paper airplane icon (or the messenger icon) in the top-right corner to go to your DMs.

2. Select the conversation that contains the message you want to delete.

3. Tap and hold the message you want to remove.

4. When the options appear, tap “Unsend”.

5. Confirm, and the message will instantly disappear from both sides of the conversation.

Can You Unsend Messages in Group Chats?

Yes, the unsend feature works in group chats too. If you unsend a message in a group, it will disappear for everyone in the group, not just for you. However, if someone already saw it (or got a notification preview), they may still know what you sent — even though it’s no longer in the thread.

Does Instagram Notify When You Unsend a Message — or Is It Totally Private?

If you delete something from a chat, the other person won’t receive any alert, banner, or update saying you removed it. There’s no built-in log showing who unsent what or when. Once you remove the message, it disappears from the chat thread entirely. That includes both your screen and theirs.

But — and this is where it gets real — privacy doesn’t always equal invisibility.

If the recipient already saw the message before you deleted it, the unsend feature won’t undo their memory. Even worse, if they had notifications turned on, they might have gotten a preview of your message in their lock screen or notification bar. In that case, the message may be gone from Instagram, but it still lives rent free in their mind (or their screenshots).

In short:

• ✅ No, Instagram does not notify even if the message was seen before being unsent

• ❗ But if it was read, the other person already knows — and that can’t be undone

Does Instagram Notify When You Unsend Voice Messages, Photos, or Videos?

No — whether it’s a quick selfie, a funny reel you sent in DMs, or a voice note, once you unsend it, it disappears from the conversation with no alert or trace on either end.

That said, not all media behaves exactly the same, and there are a few nuances worth knowing — especially if you’re hoping to pull back something sensitive or time-sensitive.

Let’s break it down by type:

🎙 Voice Messages

If you unsend a voice message, it’s deleted completely from the chat — no notification, no ghost trail. However, if the recipient had already hit play (even partially), they’ve likely heard at least a portion of it. And like text messages, if they were active in the chat when you sent it, the message may have already registered in their mind before you removed it.

There’s no visible “voice message unsent” status or system flag, and Instagram doesn’t offer playback history. Once it’s gone, it’s gone — unless they were quick enough to listen or record it externally.

📷 Photos and Videos

Regular media — such as photos or videos shared from your camera roll — can also be unsent with a long press and a tap. Once removed, they vanish from both sides of the conversation, and no notification is sent to the recipient.

The only exception is “view once” media, which is a little different. If someone opens a view-once photo or video and you unsend it afterward, it’s still technically gone from the chat — but if they already viewed it, they saw it. There’s no way to undo that part. Similarly, if they took a screenshot of a view-once image, Instagram does notify you of the screenshot — but not the unsend.

🎞 Reels, Stories, and Shared Posts

If you share an Instagram Reel, post, or Story link in DMs and then unsend it, the message is deleted like any other — without notification. However, keep in mind: if they already tapped the link, they may have opened the content outside the message itself.

Can Someone See If You Unsend a Message on Instagram — or Recover It Later?

No, they can’t see the unsent message in the chat, and Instagram doesn’t provide any built-in way to recover or view unsent messages. Once you unsend something, it’s removed from both inboxes and from Instagram’s visible message history.

But that doesn’t mean it’s 100% foolproof.

Instagram Doesn’t Save Unsent Messages (For Users)

From a user’s perspective, once you unsend a message, it’s gone for good. There’s no “trash” folder, no undo button, and no place in settings to retrieve what you deleted. Instagram doesn’t keep an archive of unsent messages for either party. The app treats it as if the message never existed.

You also won’t see a placeholder like “This message was unsent” (like WhatsApp does), which adds to the illusion of a clean erase. That might sound reassuring — until you realize that this also means you can’t confirm whether the other person saw it before you deleted it.

What If They Already Saw It or Took a Screenshot?

While the message itself is gone, the memory or evidence of it might still exist. If the recipient saw the message before you unsent it, they could remember it — or worse, they might’ve taken a screenshot or recorded it using a third-party tool.

Instagram does not notify you if someone takes a screenshot of a regular message. (It only notifies you when they screenshot a disappearing photo or video.) That means they could theoretically save your message before you unsend it — and you’d never know.

Can You Use Third-Party Apps to Recover Unsent Messages?

This one’s tricky. Some sketchy apps and browser plugins claim they can recover or log unsent Instagram messages, but they’re not reliable — and often violate Instagram’s terms of service. Many of them are just scams designed to collect your login credentials.

Instagram doesn’t officially support any way to retrieve deleted messages, and no legit third-party app can access unsent content. If a message is removed using the “Unsend” feature, it’s not recoverable via official tools — even if you request your Instagram data archive.

So, to recap:

• ❌ You can’t see or recover unsent messages — and neither can the recipient (through normal means)

• 🧠 If they saw it or screenshotted it before you unsent, it still exists for them

• ⚠️ Third-party apps promising message recovery are risky and often fake

If you’re someone who likes to keep your Instagram experience clean and distraction-free, you might also want to check out how to remove suggested Reels on Instagram. It’s a great way to take back control over your feed — just like you do with unsent messages.

Final Thoughts: What to Know About Instagram’s Unsend Feature and Notifications

Instagram does not notify the other person when you unsend a message. That goes for texts, photos, videos, and even voice notes. Once you hit “unsend,” the message vanishes from the chat for both you and the recipient, with no alert or system record left behind.

But that doesn’t mean your message was never seen.

If the other person was already in the conversation, had message previews enabled, or just happened to check their phone quickly — they may have seen your message before it disappeared. Instagram won’t erase someone’s memory, and it doesn’t show you whether your message was viewed prior to being unsent. In short: you can delete the message, but not its impact.

Also, while unsent messages are removed from chat history, they’re not retrievable by anyone — including you. There’s no “Recently Deleted” folder, no notifications, and no backup. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.