How to delete a chat in WhatsApp for the other party?

How to delete a chat in WhatsApp for the other party - briefly?

To delete a chat on WhatsApp for both parties, you can use the "Delete for Everyone" feature within the first hour of sending a message. This allows you to remove messages or entire chats from both your device and the recipient's device.

How to delete a chat in WhatsApp for the other party - in detail?

Deleting a chat on WhatsApp is a straightforward process, but it's important to understand that when you delete a chat, it only removes the conversation from your device. The other party will still have access to the messages unless they also delete the chat on their end. If your goal is to ensure that the other party no longer has access to the conversation, you would need to follow these steps:

  1. Delete the Chat on Your Device:

    • Open WhatsApp and navigate to the chat you want to delete.
    • Tap and hold on the chat until a menu appears at the top of your screen.
    • Select the "Delete" option from the menu.
    • You will be prompted to choose whether you want to delete the chat for yourself or for everyone in the group (if it's a group chat). Select "Delete for Everyone."
  2. Understanding Limitations:

    • The "Delete for Everyone" feature allows you to remove messages from both your device and the devices of other participants in the chat. However, this option is only available within seven minutes after sending the message. After that time frame, you can only delete the message for yourself.
    • If it's been more than seven minutes since the message was sent, or if you choose to delete the chat without using "Delete for Everyone," the other party will still see their copy of the conversation on their device.
  3. Permanent Deletion:

    • To ensure that the messages are permanently deleted from both parties' devices, it is essential to inform the other party about your intention to delete the chat and ask them to do the same on their end. This way, you can confirm that the conversation has been removed from both devices.
  4. Backup Considerations:

    • It’s also worth noting that if either party has enabled WhatsApp backups (either through Google Drive for Android or iCloud for iPhone), deleted messages may still be recoverable from these backups until the backup is refreshed without including the deleted messages.

In summary, while you can delete a chat on your device and use the "Delete for Everyone" feature to remove messages from both parties' devices within seven minutes of sending, permanent deletion requires coordination with the other party. It’s crucial to be aware of these limitations to manage your WhatsApp conversations effectively.