How to clear the archive in WhatsApp?

How to clear the archive in WhatsApp - briefly?

To clear the archive in WhatsApp, you can delete individual messages or entire chats by following these steps:

  1. Open WhatsApp and go to the chat or message you want to delete.
  2. Tap and hold on the message or chat until a menu appears, then select "Delete" and confirm your choice.

How to clear the archive in WhatsApp - in detail?

Clearing the archive in WhatsApp involves several steps that ensure you effectively manage and delete unnecessary media files, such as photos, videos, and documents, while keeping your chat history intact. This process is beneficial for users who want to free up storage space on their devices without losing important conversations. Here’s a detailed guide on how to achieve this:

  1. Open WhatsApp: Start by launching the WhatsApp application on your device. The app should display your list of chats and contacts.
  2. Access Settings: Tap on the three dots (⋮) located in the upper right corner of the screen to open the menu. From there, select "Settings."
  3. Navigate to Storage and Data: In the settings menu, find and tap on "Storage and Data." This option provides an overview of how much space WhatsApp is using and allows you to manage your data.
  4. Review Storage Usage: The "Storage Usage" section breaks down the amount of storage consumed by different types of media, including photos, videos, GIFs, voice messages, and documents. This information helps you identify which categories are taking up the most space.
  5. Manage Storage: To clear the archive, tap on any category that you want to manage. For example, select "Photos" if you wish to delete old photos from your WhatsApp media library.
  6. Select Media Files: You will see a list of all the photos sent or received in WhatsApp. Tap and hold on individual files to select them for deletion. Alternatively, you can use the "Select All" option at the top to choose all media files within that category.
  7. Delete Selected Files: After selecting the files you want to remove, tap on the trash can icon (?) located at the bottom of the screen. Confirm your decision by tapping "Delete" when prompted. This action will permanently delete the selected media files from your WhatsApp storage.
  8. Repeat for Other Categories: If you want to clear other types of media, such as videos or documents, repeat steps 5-7 for each category individually.
  9. Check Storage Usage: Once you have deleted the unwanted media files, return to the "Storage and Data" section to review your updated storage usage. This will reflect the newly freed space on your device.

By following these detailed steps, you can effectively clear the archive in WhatsApp and manage your storage more efficiently.