The newest iOS 11.3 update enables a feature that asks if you're sure you want to delete a text message/iMessage once you choose the delete option. It's making me crazy! I tried searching through the settings to remove this deletion confirmation, but can't find anything on the topic. Is there any way to remove this feature?
iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 11.2.6, iOS 11.3
Dave in Oxford wrote:
Every so often Apple comes up with a "Feature" that so small and so annoying that begs the question as to whether they ever consult with a user. YES! Delete confirmation is an unnecessary addition to IOS and we can only hope that some security patch will remove it
No, Apple doesn't consult with users. Instead, they see what users do with their phones and often introduce features based on what they perceive as a real need. This is one such feature. Daily, multiple users come here to these user only forums begging for help to recover an accidentally deleted text message. In most cases, the only way to get the message back is to restore from backup, which often people simply don't have.
So, this very small change was introduced to help the countless thousands of users to ensure when they use swipe to delete that they truly do want to delete the message.
Are you aware there is another simple method to delete messages that will not ask you to confirm you want to delete? Yes, Apple provided the best of BOTH worlds to users. Simply use the Edit/Tap Messages(s)/Tap Trash icon and voila, message(s) delete without confirmation. That can't be any more cumbersome could it? It's three steps, just like it was before on swipe to delete.
Painfull wrote:
You’ve changed a simple function with one action; ‘swipe to delete’ into 3 separate actions!!
Exaggeration isn't going to help your cause. It was two actions before - Swipe/Tap to Delete. Now it's three - one additional tap has been added. Geeeesh....
GB
Thank you Lawrence for your honest opinion. Though it is not what I was looking for when I posted my comment. Despite the many comments here that are similar to mine, I chose to post my own. Strength in numbers, swaying the big mean company to listen to ‘the few malcontents’. I too want to have a voice. Which in my understanding, is what a ‘forum’ is for. This is not the FAQ page after all. Also, I will not deride your opinion or your choice to want this new feature in iOS, as that is your choice and you are free to have an opinion and a voice here on the Apple ‘forum’.
Have a lovely day Sir.
forum (
late Middle English, from Latin)
1.
a meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.
Your post is very helpful for those unaware of the feedback mechanism, but I believe the original poster of this thread was simply asking the community if anyone may be aware of a way to disable the new required deletion confirmation, not looking to engage Apple in a debate. The responses are, in my opinion, primarily agreements that others are experiencing the same quandary (a practice with implied support from Apple based on the presence of the “I Also Have This Queston” button) and have not located a way to disable the requirement.
Thank you for pointing out that ‘Constructive feedback about product features is welcome...’ Your opinion may differ from mine, so please allow me to provide my ‘constructive feedback’ to Apple, in thier (not your) ‘Support Community’ forum (label it any way you like, this IS a forum, by definition). Now, can we get over the fact that someone in the forum has an opinion you don’t agree with? Welcome to the internet ;) In my opinion, my submission IS constructive criticism. I am criticising Apple for changing a long standing feature in their device OS. And I’m pointing out that many people have also asked why this was changed. If that isn’t both ‘constructive’ and ‘criticism’ in the on paragraph, then I don’t know what is. Am I supposed to bow and tel Apple how wonderful their new update is? Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not a blindly faithful minion.
Painfull wrote:
Thank you for pointing out that ‘Constructive feedback about product features is welcome...’ Your opinion may differ from mine, so please allow me to provide my ‘constructive feedback’ to Apple, in thier (not your) ‘Support Community’ forum (label it any way you like, this IS a forum, by definition). Now, can we get over the fact that someone in the forum has an opinion you don’t agree with? Welcome to the internet 😉 In my opinion, my submission IS constructive criticism. I am criticising Apple for changing a long standing feature in their device OS. And I’m pointing out that many people have also asked why this was changed. If that isn’t both ‘constructive’ and ‘criticism’ in the on paragraph, then I don’t know what is. Am I supposed to bow and tel Apple how wonderful their new update is? Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not a blindly faithful minion.
What you don't seem to understand is that Apple is not here. The only people you are ranting to are fellow users who can do nothing for you. And, that this is a very specific type of forum, not a "generic" one. It is a technical support forum. So, unless you have a technical support question that you need help with, or you would like to take the recommendation that has been made multiple times to share your "constructive" criticism with Apple: Apple - Feedback, you are just wasting space.
And: Come on Apple! It’s been months since this update. Time to listen to your customers. You’ve changed a simple function with one action; ‘swipe to delete’ into 3 separate actions!! Biggest step backwards since the invention of the smart phone. What next? Revert to T9 predictive text messaging?
....is not, by definition (since you like definitions so much), constructive criticism:
adjective
1.
jsbagone wrote:
Having the same annoying nonsense. I guess it's time to go with a competitor just like when they messed up the Podcast app....errr....
If you went to a competitor when Apple changed the podcast app, why is this even a problem for you?
jsbagone wrote:
I guess it's time to go with a competitor
What competitor were you thinking of going to? Android phones have always required a second confirmation for deleting messages. Apple has finally caught up with it.
jsbagone wrote:
Referring to another app.
In the case of the Podcast app, Apple made a basic app. They expect that a certain number of people won't like it and will chose one of the third party apps. That's why they have the App Store. I've been using a third party podcast app for years. It has always been better than Apple's. I was more than willing to pay the pittance it cost. And, of course, Apple got a cut.
Just look two post above yours and you'll see a link you can use.
Please understand this is not a bug. A bug is when something doesn't work as designed. This is working precisely as designed by Apple. And it will help many many people avoid deleting a message they didn't want to delete.
I agree it's not a bug, it's just another poorly designed part of Apple code. There sure be an option just the same as there is in the mail. Would you agree with that? Or they could have a trash folder for deleted messages that holds recently deleted messages. It's a matter of efficiency.
It's not my place to agree or disagree with Apple's design decisions. There are valid reasons they chose this path and I have no issue with it. But since you say it's poorly designed, to that I don't agree. Apple finally brought something that Android and now Pixel has had since the very beginning. In fact, I provided feedback thanking Apple. You can provide feedback saying whatever you choose.
If you spent time on this forum daily like many many of us do. And you saw the multiple posts daily from people desperate to get back an important text message, with no recourse available to them, you might see it differently.
RichMG wrote:
I agree it's not a bug, it's just another poorly designed part of Apple code. There sure be an option just the same as there is in the mail. Would you agree with that? Or they could have a trash folder for deleted messages that holds recently deleted messages. It's a matter of efficiency.
Apple is not big on options. And just because you think it is poorly designed that doesn't mean that it is, or that a lot of other people think it is. Apple went to a lot of trouble to implement it; this wasn't just a whim. Just because you don't know why they did it does not mean it is poorly designed. My guess is that Apple support has logged millions of calls from users who have accidentally deleted messages, and are dismayed that the can't recover them. We see dozens every week here in Apple Support Communities alone. It IS a matter of efficiency - efficiency in preventing accidental loss. In my tests it takes less than an additional second when deleting a message. That's not much of a loss in efficiency.
I can't understand why a 3rd level of confirmation is required. First you slide to the left to delete the message, then you confirm by pressing delete and then finally press delete again.
Seems easier to hack an iPhone than to delete a message thread. Please fix in next update.
TIA
Engineer Ted wrote:
Please Apple, treat us as adults. I am getting more frustrated with the imperious OS that we have to endure on all devices.
Please, Ted, stopping calling your fellow users "Apple". It's very frustrating.
If you actually want to let Apple know how you feel, use the feedback page:
greggum wrote:
gives confirmation for iOS and other users (what a concept).
Just like Apple, it only gives a confirmation for other people using their service. Unlike Apple, it doesn't also let you send messages to people who don't use their service. So, it seems more limited to me.
iOS 11.3 - Delete Message Confirmation
