How to delete a WhatsApp message forever on iPhone?

How to delete a WhatsApp message forever on iPhone - briefly?

To permanently delete a WhatsApp message on your iPhone, you need to use the "Delete for Everyone" feature within 1 hour and 8 minutes of sending the message. This will remove the message from both your device and the recipient's device.

How to delete a WhatsApp message forever on iPhone - in detail?

Deleting a WhatsApp message permanently on an iPhone involves several steps, as the platform does not provide a straightforward "delete forever" option for individual messages. However, there are methods to achieve this goal. Below is a detailed guide:

1. Delete the Message from Your Device:

   • Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
   • Navigate to the chat where the message you want to delete is located.
   • Tap and hold the message until it becomes highlighted.
   • Tap the "Delete" button at the bottom of the screen, then confirm by tapping "Delete for Me." This action removes the message from your device but leaves it intact on the recipient's device.

2. Request Message Deletion:

   • Immediately after deleting the message for yourself, you will see an option to "Request" the message be deleted for everyone involved in the chat. Tap this button.
   • A pop-up window will appear asking if you want to delete the message. Tap "Delete for Everyone." This action attempts to remove the message from all devices in the conversation, including your own.

3. Check Deletion Status:

   • After requesting deletion, you may see a notice indicating that the message was successfully deleted or that the deletion failed. If the latter occurs, the message will remain on the recipient's device.

4. Deleting Entire Chat History:

   • If you want to delete all messages in a chat and cannot do so individually, you can delete the entire conversation:
     • Open WhatsApp and go to the chat you wish to delete.
     • Tap on the contact or group name at the top of the screen.
     • Scroll down and tap "Delete Chat."
     • Confirm by tapping "Delete Chat" again. This action will remove all messages, media, and call history from your device but will not affect the recipient's devices.

5. Backup Considerations:

   • Remember that deleting messages or chats on one device does not affect backups. If you have iCloud backup enabled for WhatsApp, deleted messages may still be present in your backup until it expires or is manually deleted.

6. Contact Support (if necessary):

   • In cases where the message deletion fails repeatedly, consider reaching out to WhatsApp support for further assistance. They might provide additional insights or troubleshooting steps specific to your situation.

By following these steps, you can permanently delete WhatsApp messages from your iPhone and, in some cases, ensure they are removed from recipients' devices as well.