How to completely delete a person from WhatsApp - briefly?
To completely delete a person from WhatsApp, you can either block the contact or delete the chat history associated with that person. Blocking will prevent them from contacting you further, while deleting the chat history ensures that all messages and media are removed from your device.
How to completely delete a person from WhatsApp - in detail?
To completely delete a person from WhatsApp, you need to follow several steps to ensure that all traces of their presence are removed from your device and account. Here’s a detailed guide on how to achieve this:
- Backup Your Chats: Before proceeding, it's crucial to back up any important conversations or media files you may want to keep. WhatsApp allows you to create backups of your chats that can be stored either in your device’s internal storage or on cloud services like Google Drive or iCloud.
- Remove the Contact: The first step is to delete the person as a contact from your phone's address book. This ensures that their number is no longer associated with any name or additional information you might have entered.
- Delete Individual Chats: Open WhatsApp and navigate to the chat with the person you want to remove. Long press on the chat until a menu appears, then select "Delete Chat." You’ll be asked if you want to delete the media in the chat as well; confirm this action.
- Block the Contact (Optional): While not necessary for complete deletion, blocking the contact can prevent them from sending you messages or calls in the future. Go to your WhatsApp settings, select "Account," then "Privacy," and finally "Blocked Contacts." Add the person's number here if desired.
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Delete Media Files: Even after deleting a chat, media files like photos and videos may still be stored on your device in the WhatsApp Media folder. To delete these:
- For Android: Go to "File Manager," then "WhatsApp" > "Media" > "WhatsApp Images" or "WhatsApp Video." Delete the relevant folders or files.
- For iPhone: The media is usually deleted along with the chat, but you can check and delete manually from the Photos app if needed.
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Clear WhatsApp Cache: Over time, WhatsApp accumulates cache data which might still contain traces of the deleted contact. Clearing this cache can help ensure a complete removal:
- For Android: Go to "Settings" > "Apps" > "WhatsApp," then tap on "Storage & Cache." Clear the cache.
- For iPhone: There is no direct way to clear the cache, but you can uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, which will also delete any cached data.
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Delete from WhatsApp Web (if used): If you use WhatsApp Web, make sure to log out of all sessions to prevent any residual data:
- Go to "WhatsApp" > "Settings" > "Linked Devices." Click on each device and select "Log Out."
- Check for Group Chats: If the person was part of any group chats, you’ll need to leave those groups or remove the person from them if you have administrative rights.
By following these steps, you can effectively delete a person from WhatsApp, ensuring that all traces of their presence are removed from your device and account.