How to clear messages in WhatsApp for everyone?

How to clear messages in WhatsApp for everyone - briefly?

To clear messages in WhatsApp for everyone, use the "Delete for Everyone" feature within seven minutes of sending the message. This option allows you to remove the message from both your and the recipient's chat history.

How to clear messages in WhatsApp for everyone - in detail?

Clearing messages in WhatsApp can be a useful feature, especially when you need to remove a message from both your device and the recipient's device. This process is commonly referred to as "Delete for Everyone." Here’s a detailed guide on how to achieve this:

  1. Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your smartphone. Ensure that you have an active internet connection, as deleting messages requires access to WhatsApp servers.
  2. Navigate to the Chat: Find and open the chat or group conversation from which you want to delete the message. You can do this by going to the "Chats" tab and selecting the desired conversation.
  3. Select the Message: Long-press on the message you wish to remove. This action will allow you to select multiple messages if needed. A menu with various options will appear at the top of your screen.
  4. Tap on "Delete": In the menu that appears, tap on the "Delete" icon (usually represented by a trash can or recycling symbol). This will bring up another prompt asking you to confirm your action.
  5. Confirm Deletion: You will see two options: "Delete for Me" and "Delete for Everyone." Select "Delete for Everyone." This command sends a request to WhatsApp servers to delete the message from both your device and the recipient's device.
  6. Wait for Confirmation: After you select "Delete for Everyone," you will see a notification indicating that the message has been deleted for everyone in the chat. If the deletion is successful, the message will be replaced with a text saying "This message was deleted."

Important Considerations:

  • Time Limit: The "Delete for Everyone" feature only works within seven minutes of sending the message. After this time frame, you can only delete messages from your device using the "Delete for Me" option.
  • Recipient's Device: The recipient must also have an active internet connection to receive the deletion request. If their device is offline or not connected to the internet at the time of deletion, the message will remain on their device.
  • Group Chats: In group chats, all participants will see the "This message was deleted" notification if the deletion is successful. However, some recipients may still see the message if they have notifications enabled and their phone is unlocked.
  • Quoted Messages: If you quote a message in a reply, deleting the quoted message will not remove it from the quoted text. You need to delete both the original and quoted messages separately.

By following these steps, you can effectively clear messages in WhatsApp for everyone involved in the conversation, ensuring that sensitive or erroneous information is removed from all devices.