It seems that a small group of customers using the Messages beta software for Android will soon be able to modify RCS messages. Google Messages may soon enable altering RCS messages within a 15-minute timeframe, similar to how sent texts can be edited in Apple’s iMessages.

Since iOS 16 was released in the autumn of 2022, iPhone users have had the ability to alter text messages that have been sent. However, text editing is limited to iMessages and iPhone messages. It seems that Google is using a similar approach with the Messages app on Android.

Here’s what we know about using the Android Messages app to alter delivered text messages. Here’s how to keep up with Google’s announcements during this week’s Google I/O conference for more. And here’s how messaging Android users will be easier thanks to Apple’s adoption of RCS.

How does Google manage text editing in Messages?

A few users claim to have seen the possibility to modify RCS texts, which Android Police first discovered via some detective work on Twitter. In addition to the standard options for copying, deleting, or starting the text, long-pressing a message will display a pencil symbol at the top of the message window if you have access to text editing. An “edited” tag will show up under a message once it has been altered, and you (or the receiver) may examine the original message by going into the message details.

It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that editing would only be possible in RCS conversations and not SMS text messages. It isn’t possible with the more than three-decade-old system, and SMS constraints are the reason Google started RCS in the first place.

This simple feature might have a significant influence on Android users given the growing acceptance of RCS and its impending inclusion in iOS 18. We’re not sure whether any other RCS-supported applications can change or read altered messages since the reports only used Google’s messaging app. Additionally, we’re not certain whether editing RCS chat messages sent to iPhone users will be possible once support launches, but we’d want to see that happen.

Although the functionality seems to be restricted to the app’s beta version, the user base it has been made available to appears to be somewhat small. Even though all parties were on the app’s beta version, we were unable to test the feature. At this week’s Google I/O keynote, Google could provide further details for a broader deployment.