How to delete a WhatsApp chat forever without recovery from your phone?

How to delete a WhatsApp chat forever without recovery from your phone - briefly?

To permanently delete a WhatsApp chat from your phone without the possibility of recovery, you can use the "Delete for me" option in the chat settings. This action will remove the chat from your device, but it will still be visible to the other participants in the conversation.

How to delete a WhatsApp chat forever without recovery from your phone - in detail?

To permanently delete a WhatsApp chat from your phone without the possibility of recovery, you must follow these detailed steps:

  1. Backup Your Data: Before proceeding with deletion, it's crucial to back up your WhatsApp data to ensure that important conversations and media are saved elsewhere. This can be done using Google Drive or iCloud, depending on your phone's operating system.
  2. Delete the Chat: Open WhatsApp and navigate to the chat you wish to delete permanently. For Android users:

    • Tap and hold on the chat until a checkbox appears next to it.
    • Select additional chats if necessary, then tap the trash can icon at the top of the screen.
    • Confirm the deletion by tapping "Delete" when prompted.

    For iPhone users:

    • Swipe left on the chat and tap "Delete."
  3. Clear WhatsApp Cache: After deleting the chat, you should clear the app's cache to ensure no residual data remains. This process varies by device:

    • On Android, go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Storage & Cache > Clear Cache.
    • On iPhone, there is no direct way to clear the cache through settings, but you can uninstall and reinstall the app to achieve a similar effect.
  4. Delete Local Backup: If you have enabled local backups on your device, you need to delete these as well. For Android:

    • Go to File Manager > WhatsApp > Databases.
    • Locate files named msgstore.db.crypt12 and delete them. This will remove any locally stored messages.
  5. Permanently Delete from Backup: If you have backed up your chats to Google Drive or iCloud, you must delete the backup as well:

    • For Android, open Google Drive > Settings (gear icon) > Manage Apps > WhatsApp. Tap on the three dots next to the app and select "Delete backup."
    • For iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > WhatsApp. Delete the backup from here.
  6. Factory Reset (Optional): For the utmost security, consider performing a factory reset on your device. This will erase all data, including any remnants of deleted WhatsApp chats. Remember to back up all important data before doing this.

    • On Android, go to Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).
    • On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

By following these steps meticulously, you can ensure that the deleted WhatsApp chat is removed from your phone forever without any possibility of recovery.