How to clear deleted conversations in WhatsApp?

How to clear deleted conversations in WhatsApp - briefly?

To clear deleted conversations in WhatsApp, simply go to Settings > Chats > Chat History and select "Delete All Chats." This will remove all chat history, including any previously deleted conversations.

How to clear deleted conversations in WhatsApp - in detail?

Clearing deleted conversations in WhatsApp can be a crucial task for users seeking to manage their data and privacy effectively. While WhatsApp does not provide an explicit option to "clear" deleted conversations, there are several methods you can employ to ensure that these messages are permanently removed from your device and the app's servers.

Firstly, it is important to understand the difference between deleting a message and clearing it from the chat history. When you delete a message within WhatsApp, it is only removed from your local device; the data remains on WhatsApp’s servers until it expires or is manually deleted. To ensure that these messages are completely erased, follow these steps:

  1. Delete Messages Manually: Navigate to the conversation where you want to delete messages. Press and hold the message you wish to remove, then tap the trash can icon at the top of the screen. This will delete the selected message from your device. However, as mentioned earlier, this action does not remove the data from WhatsApp’s servers.
  2. Clear Chat History: To completely remove a conversation from your device, you need to clear the chat history. Open the conversation and tap on the three dots (more options) at the top right corner of the screen. Select "More" > "Clear Chat." This will delete all messages and media from that particular conversation on your device.
  3. Delete for Everyone: If you want to remove a message from both your device and the recipient’s device, use the “Delete for Everyone” feature. Tap and hold the message, then select "Delete" > "Delete for Everyone." This will remove the message from both parties' devices within seven minutes of sending it.
  4. Backup and Restore: If you want to start fresh with your WhatsApp data, you can back up your chats and then restore them after clearing the app’s storage. Go to "Settings" > "Chats" > "Chat Backup," and create a backup of your conversations. After backing up, uninstall WhatsApp from your device. Reinstall it and during the setup process, choose not to restore any chats. This will give you a clean slate without any previous conversation history on your device.
  5. Use WhatsApp Web: If you have access to WhatsApp Web, you can also delete conversations from there. Open WhatsApp Web in your browser and log in with your phone. Select the conversation you want to clear, click on the three dots (more options), and choose "Delete Chat."

By following these detailed steps, you can ensure that deleted conversations are effectively cleared from both your device and WhatsApp’s servers. This will help maintain your privacy and free up storage space on your device.