How do I delete messages from WhatsApp on my phone - briefly?
To delete messages in WhatsApp on your phone, simply tap and hold the message you want to remove, then select "Delete" from the menu that appears at the top of the screen. For multiple messages, use the "Select Messages" option at the bottom of the chat.
How do I delete messages from WhatsApp on my phone - in detail?
To delete messages from WhatsApp on your phone, you can follow these detailed steps:
Deleting Individual Messages
- Open WhatsApp: Unlock your phone and tap on the WhatsApp icon to open the application.
- Select a Chat: Choose the chat or contact from which you want to delete messages.
- Long Press on Message: Locate the message you wish to delete and press and hold it until a menu appears at the top of your screen.
- Delete Option: Tap on the 'Delete' option in the menu. You will be prompted with two choices: 'Delete for Me' or 'Delete for Everyone'.
- Choose Delete Option: Select 'Delete for Me' if you want to delete the message from your device only. If you choose 'Delete for Everyone', the message will be deleted from both your and the recipient’s devices, but this option is available only for a short period after sending the message (usually within 7 minutes).
Deleting Multiple Messages
- Open WhatsApp: Unlock your phone and tap on the WhatsApp icon to open the application.
- Select a Chat: Choose the chat or contact from which you want to delete messages.
- Long Press on Message: Locate the first message you wish to delete and press and hold it until a menu appears at the top of your screen.
- Select Multiple Messages: After tapping on 'Delete', you can select multiple messages by tapping on them one by one. A number will appear on the top left corner indicating how many messages are selected for deletion.
- Confirm Deletion: Once all desired messages are selected, tap on the trash can icon at the top right corner of your screen to delete them. You will again be prompted with 'Delete for Me' or 'Delete for Everyone'. Choose accordingly.
Clearing the Entire Chat History
- Open WhatsApp: Unlock your phone and tap on the WhatsApp icon to open the application.
- Select a Chat: Choose the chat or contact from which you want to clear the entire history.
- Access Chat Settings: Tap on the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner of the screen to access the chat settings.
- Delete Chat: Select 'More' and then tap on 'Clear Chat'. You will be prompted with a confirmation message.
- Confirm Deletion: Confirm your action by tapping on 'Clear'. This will delete all messages from that particular chat, and you cannot retrieve them later.
Important Notes
- Backup Your Chats: Before deleting any messages or chats, consider backing up your WhatsApp data to avoid losing important information.
- Time Limit for 'Delete for Everyone': The 'Delete for Everyone' option is only available for a short period after sending the message. After that time frame, you can only delete messages for yourself.
- Group Chats: Deleting messages in group chats follows the same process as individual chats, but keep in mind that other participants will still see the messages unless they also delete them.