zulip/templates/zerver/help/edit-or-delete-a-message.md

# Editing past messages

!!! warn ""
    **Note:** Editing topic titles is discussed in a
    [separate guide](/help/change-the-topic-of-a-message). Additionally, Zulip
    messages cannot be deleted, but they can be edited so that their contents
    are blank.

Zulip allows you to easily edit the contents of your messages after they have
been posted.

{!message-actions.md!} pencil (<i class="icon-vector-pencil"></i>) icon
to reveal a message editing box.

2. After making the changes to your message in the message editing box, click
the **Save** button to save the changes you made to your message.

!!! warn ""
    **Note:** After you have edited a message, the message is publicly marked as
    `(EDITED)`.

## Time Limit

Depending on your organization settings, Zulip may be configured with a time
limit within which you may edit a message (e.g. 10 minutes). As soon as that
limit has passed, the pencil (<i class="icon-vector-pencil"></i>) icon
changes to a file (<i class="icon-vector-file-text-alt"></i>) icon.

!!! tip ""
    Clicking on (<i class="icon-vector-file-text-alt"></i>) icon will allow you to
    view the [Markdown source](/help/view-the-markdown-source-of-a-message) or
    [change the topic](/help/change-the-topic-of-a-message) of your message.

## Deleting Messages

You cannot entirely delete a message. When you remove the contents of a message,
your message contents will be replaced with `(deleted)`; the original sender and
timestamp of the message will still be displayed.