How to delete a message in WhatsApp without the possibility of recovery on Android after deletion - briefly?
To permanently delete a message in WhatsApp on an Android device, use the "Delete for me" option instead of "Delete for everyone." This ensures that the message is only removed from your device and cannot be recovered by you or anyone else.
How to delete a message in WhatsApp without the possibility of recovery on Android after deletion - in detail?
To permanently delete a message in WhatsApp on an Android device, ensuring that it cannot be recovered afterwards, you need to follow these detailed steps:
- Open WhatsApp: Start by opening the WhatsApp application on your Android device.
- Navigate to the Chat: Go to the chat where the message you want to delete is located.
- Select the Message: Long-press on the message that you wish to permanently delete. This will bring up a menu with several options.
- Delete for Everyone (if applicable): If you see the "Delete for Everyone" option, tap on it. This feature allows you to delete the message from both your device and the recipient's device within 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds of sending it. However, this option is only available if the message was sent less than 7 minutes ago.
- Delete for Me: If "Delete for Everyone" is not available or you prefer to delete the message only from your device, select "Delete for Me." This will remove the message from your chat history but not from the recipient's device.
- Clear Chat History (for a specific contact): To ensure that all messages with a particular contact are deleted, go back to the main Chats screen and long-press on the chat you want to delete. Select "More" or the three dots in the top right corner, then choose "Delete Chat." Confirm your action by tapping "Delete."
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Backup Considerations: WhatsApp automatically creates backups of your chats, which can be restored if needed. To avoid recovery from these backups, you should:
- Go to
Settings>Chats. - Tap on
Chat Backup. - Ensure that the "Include Videos" option is turned off to minimize backup size. Alternatively, you can delete the backup by going to your phone's file manager and locating the WhatsApp folder in your internal storage or SD card. Delete the
Databasesfolder within it.
- Go to
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Disable Cloud Backup (if enabled): To further ensure that messages are not recoverable from cloud backups, you should disable cloud backup:
By following these steps, you can delete a message in WhatsApp on an Android device with minimal chances of recovery, ensuring that your private conversations remain secure.