IOS 17.1.1 - no longer able to edit text messages

You can still edit a recently-sent message up to 5 times within 15 minutes of sending it. From the Messages app on your iPhone, select a conversation with the message you want to edit. Touch and hold the message bubble, then tap Edit.

I ran into this same issue immediately after updating. I closed out of all my apps and restarted my phone. Seems to be working now.

interested to see if that works?!

Also, if you press and hold the space bar it gives you the ability to control where the curser is by continuing to hold down and moving it where desired. Not sure how many are familiar with this, could be helpful…..

I updated to 17.2.1 and the texting works perfectly now; I can edit my texts no matter how long they are.

I’ve read through this because I have the same problem. What I’ve always done in the past is tapped where I wanted the cursor. That’s not the case now: you have to sort-of touch-and-hold until you see the cursor at which point the keyboard will show up. THEN, tap again where you want the cursor. Hope this makes sense. Good Luck!

OK, I posted the above before I read the more recent posts about 17.2.1 update, which I just loaded and it does indeed seem to fix the issue. I worked for a medical company for decades and no matter how much testing and reviewing and klutz testing was done before a SW release, there were always new unintended 'features' added. It's uncanny and it makes one wonder how these very blatant things can happen.

I have found that if you hold the space bar down until the keyboard blanks out it will then allow you to edit anywhere in the text message. Hopefully this works for you as a workaround until they fix the bug.

Chimein432 wrote:

Well, I wonder if there’s a way they did patch it overnight, but my assumption was the reason it started working for me was because I powered down and restarted. Either way, like you said it seems to be working now, so I’m very pleased.

iOS 17.1.2 was a security update. No mention was made of it being intended to make any changes in Messages. Restarting can fix a lot of things, though.

Hard to tell without an example, but make sure you are updated to 17.2.1

17.2.1 fixed it for me so far.

Do 17.2.1 SW update

Give Apple feedback about this issue, this helps them patch the issue: Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Well, I wonder if there’s a way they did patch it overnight, but my assumption was the reason it started working for me was because I powered down and restarted. Either way, like you said it seems to be working now, so I’m very pleased.

To sum up so far;

1. This “new” software bug was first reported on this board over 3 weeks ago on Nov 20th ?
2. A software version had since been released - iOS 17.1.2 - but still the bug persists and makes a simple process (sending a text) now so much more difficult if errors need correcting.
3. To be 100% clear; this bug never previously existed on versions prior to iOS 17.1.1
4. Apple staff closely “police” these boards and carefully watch all posts. If they deem or consider any words not as they wish then those posts are quickly removed, which is fair enough as this is Apple’s board.
5. However, it’s incredibly concerning as users of Apple products that so far there has been no announcement or comment or response by Apple on what they are doing (if anything) and by when. That baffles me.
6. Would it not be in Apple’s own interests to embrace the feedback on this board as a way to help them improve their product relative to their competitors, or am I missing the point?

Since you can't go back to the top of a longer text message, cut the bottom half of your text, then edit the top, and then paste what you cut.

Yes! Why in the world can’t Apple ever get these updates right!! This was an extremely important feature… If you can’t edit your text before you send it how in the world are you supposed to even write a text. For everything they think they repair in each update, they get about 10 things wrong! Absolutely

This has rendered texting useless!