How to completely delete a conversation in WhatsApp without the possibility of recovery?

How to completely delete a conversation in WhatsApp without the possibility of recovery - briefly?

To permanently delete a conversation in WhatsApp without any possibility of recovery, you can use the "Delete for everyone" feature within 1 hour after sending or receiving the message. This will remove the chat from both your device and the recipient's device.

How to completely delete a conversation in WhatsApp without the possibility of recovery - in detail?

To completely delete a conversation in WhatsApp without any possibility of recovery, you must follow a series of steps that ensure both the chat and associated media are permanently removed from your device and WhatsApp's servers. Here is a detailed guide:

1. Backup Your Chats: Before deleting any conversations, it is crucial to back up your chats. This step ensures that you do not lose important information accidentally. To create a backup:

   • Open WhatsApp.
   • Go to Settings > Chats.
   • Tap on Chat Backup.
   • Follow the prompts to save your chat history to Google Drive or iCloud.

2. Delete Individual Messages: If you want to delete specific messages within a conversation, follow these steps:

   • Open WhatsApp and go to the chat containing the message you wish to delete.
   • Tap and hold on the message until the options menu appears.
   • Select Delete from the menu.
   • Confirm the deletion by tapping Delete for Me or Delete for Everyone (this option is available only for a short period after sending the message).

3. Delete Entire Conversation: To delete an entire conversation, including all messages and media:

   • Open WhatsApp and go to the chat you want to delete.
   • Tap on the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner of the screen.
   • Select More > Delete Chat.
   • Confirm the deletion by tapping DELETE.

4. Clear Media from Device: Deleting a conversation does not automatically remove media files (photos, videos, etc.) from your device's storage. To ensure these files are also deleted:

   • Open the file manager on your device (e.g., Files app on iOS or Google Files on Android).
   • Navigate to WhatsApp > Media > WhatsApp Images or WhatsApp Videos.
   • Select and delete any files related to the conversation you wish to remove permanently.

5. Delete Backup: If you have backed up your chats to Google Drive or iCloud, deleting the backup will ensure that there is no recoverable data:

   • For Google Drive: Open the Google Drive app, go to Backup, and delete the WhatsApp backup.
   • For iCloud: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > WhatsApp. Delete the backup from here.

6. Log Out of WhatsApp Web: If you use WhatsApp Web, ensure you log out to prevent any residual data:

   • Open WhatsApp on your phone.
   • Go to Settings > Linked Devices.
   • Find the device running WhatsApp Web and tap on it.
   • Select Log Out.

By following these steps, you can ensure that a conversation in WhatsApp is completely deleted without any possibility of recovery.