How do I delete a chat history in WhatsApp for both myself and the other person completely?

How do I delete a chat history in WhatsApp for both myself and the other person completely - briefly?

To delete a chat history in WhatsApp for both yourself and the other person completely, you can use the "Delete for me" option to remove the chat from your device, and the "Delete for everyone" option to remove it from both devices.

How do I delete a chat history in WhatsApp for both myself and the other person completely - in detail?

To completely delete a chat history in WhatsApp for both yourself and the other person, you will need to follow specific steps. It's important to note that once the messages are deleted, they cannot be recovered by either party. Here is a detailed guide on how to achieve this:

  1. Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your smartphone.
  2. Select the Chat: Navigate to the chat you want to delete. You can do this by tapping on the conversation from the main screen.
  3. Access Chat Settings: For iPhone users, tap on the contact's name at the top of the chat window. For Android users, tap on the three dots in the upper right corner of the chat window to open the menu, then select "More" and then "Delete chat".
  4. Delete for Me: You will see an option that says "Delete Chat". Tap on it. This action will delete the chat from your device but not from the other person's device.
  5. Delete for Everyone (if available): If you want to ensure the messages are deleted from both devices, you need to use the "Delete for Everyone" feature. To do this, tap and hold on a message within the chat until a menu appears. Select "Delete" from the menu that pops up. You will be given an option to "Delete for Me" or "Delete for Everyone". Choose "Delete for Everyone".

    • Note: The "Delete for Everyone" feature is only available for messages sent less than 13 hours ago. If more time has passed, you won't see this option.
  6. Confirm Deletion: After selecting "Delete for Everyone", confirm the action by tapping on "Delete" in the pop-up window. This will remove the message from both your device and the recipient's device.
  7. Repeat if Necessary: If you have a long chat history, you may need to repeat the above steps for multiple messages until all desired messages are deleted.
  8. Clear Chat History (optional): If you want to clear the entire chat history and not just specific messages, follow these steps:

    • iPhone: Go back to the main screen of WhatsApp, swipe left on the chat, and then tap "Delete".
    • Android: Long press on the chat, select the bin icon at the top, and confirm by tapping "Delete".

Remember that deleting messages or entire chats is a permanent action. Once deleted, neither you nor the other person can retrieve those messages.

By following these steps, you can effectively delete your WhatsApp chat history completely for both yourself and the other person involved in the conversation.