How long are voice messages stored in WhatsApp - briefly?
Voice messages on WhatsApp are not permanently stored. They are deleted once the recipient has listened to them or after 30 days if left unheard.
How long are voice messages stored in WhatsApp - in detail?
Voice messages on WhatsApp are not permanently stored on the company's servers; instead, they are deleted after a certain period of time unless users take specific actions to preserve them. Here is a detailed breakdown of how long voice messages are typically retained:
- On Device: Once a voice message is received or sent, it is stored locally on the user's device. The duration for which these messages remain on the device depends on the user's settings and storage capacity. Users can manually delete voice messages from their devices at any time.
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WhatsApp Backup: WhatsApp offers a backup feature that allows users to save their chat history, including voice messages, to cloud services like Google Drive or iCloud. The frequency of backups depends on the user's settings:
- Automatic Backup: This can be set to daily, weekly, monthly, or never. Voice messages included in these backups will remain stored until the backup is deleted by the user.
- Manual Backup: Users can create manual backups whenever they choose. These backups will include voice messages and can be retained for as long as the user wishes.
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Server Storage: WhatsApp does not keep a permanent copy of voice messages on its servers. Once a message is delivered to the recipient, it is deleted from WhatsApp's servers. However, there are some exceptions:
- Undelivered Messages: If a voice message cannot be delivered (for example, due to network issues), it will remain on WhatsApp's servers for 30 days before being automatically deleted.
- Forwarded Messages: When a voice message is forwarded, the original message remains on WhatsApp’s servers until all recipients have received or viewed the message. After that, the message is typically deleted from the server.
- End-to-End Encryption: All voice messages sent through WhatsApp are protected by end-to-end encryption. This means that only the sender and recipient can access the content of the voice message. WhatsApp itself cannot decrypt or store the contents of these messages on its servers.
- Media Storage: Voice messages are treated as media files within WhatsApp. If a user chooses to save a voice message as a file, it will be stored in the device's media gallery and can be accessed even if the original chat is deleted.
In summary, while voice messages on WhatsApp are not permanently stored on the company’s servers, they can be retained for extended periods through local storage on devices, cloud backups, or manual downloads. The exact duration depends on user actions and settings.