Do messages delete when you delete WhatsApp - briefly?
No, deleting the WhatsApp application from your device does not delete your messages or any other data associated with your account. Your message history is stored on WhatsApp's servers and remains intact until you manually delete them or uninstall the app from within the settings menu.
Do messages delete when you delete WhatsApp - in detail?
When you decide to delete the WhatsApp application from your device, it's important to understand how this action affects your message history and data. The deletion of the WhatsApp app itself does not automatically delete your messages or any other data associated with your account. However, there are several factors and scenarios that can influence the accessibility and preservation of your messages.
Firstly, it's crucial to differentiate between message backups and locally stored messages on your device. If you have enabled automatic backups in WhatsApp, your messages will be regularly saved to cloud storage (such as Google Drive or iCloud) or local storage, depending on your settings. When you delete the app, these backups remain intact unless you manually delete them from the backup location. This means that if you reinstall WhatsApp and restore from a backup, all your messages will be accessible again.
Secondly, if you have not enabled automatic backups or chosen not to back up your chats before deleting the app, your message history will still be stored locally on your device. However, these locally stored messages can be overwritten or deleted if you perform certain actions such as reinstalling the app without restoring from a backup, resetting your device to factory settings, or encrypting your device in a way that renders the data unreadable.
Thirdly, it's worth noting that deleting WhatsApp does not affect messages sent to other users. Even if you delete the app and all associated data from your device, recipients of your messages will still be able to view and access those messages in their own chat history. This is because WhatsApp messages are stored on both the sender's and recipient's devices until manually deleted by either party.
In summary, deleting the WhatsApp application from your device does not automatically delete your messages. Whether your messages are retained or lost depends on factors such as backup settings, local storage management, and actions taken post-deletion. To ensure the safety of your message history, it is advisable to regularly back up your chats and be mindful of how you manage your data when deleting or reinstalling applications.