How to delete a WhatsApp number permanently?

How to delete a WhatsApp number permanently - briefly?

To permanently delete a WhatsApp number, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Open WhatsApp on your device and navigate to the Settings menu.
  2. Select Account > Delete My Account, enter your phone number in international format, and confirm the deletion.

How to delete a WhatsApp number permanently - in detail?

Deleting a WhatsApp number permanently involves several steps, each of which is crucial to ensure that the number is removed from your account and cannot be reused. Below is a detailed guide on how to delete a WhatsApp number permanently:

  1. Backup Your Data: Before proceeding with the deletion process, it's essential to back up your chats and media. This step ensures that you won't lose any important data during the deletion process. You can do this by going to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup on Android or Settings > Chats > Backup on iOS.
  2. Unlink Your Number: If your WhatsApp account is linked to multiple devices, you'll need to unlink the number from those devices first. To do this:

    • Open WhatsApp on your primary device.
    • Go to Settings > Linked Devices.
    • Tap on the device you want to unlink and confirm the action.
  3. Delete Your Account: The next step is to delete your WhatsApp account, which will remove your number from WhatsApp's servers. Here’s how:

    • Open WhatsApp on your phone.
    • Go to Settings > Account.
    • Tap on Delete My Account.
    • Enter your phone number in the international format (e.g., +1 234567890).
    • Choose a reason for deleting your account from the dropdown menu.
    • Tap DELETE MY ACCOUNT to confirm.
  4. Verify Deletion: After completing these steps, WhatsApp will begin the process of deleting your account. This process can take up to 90 days, during which your account will be listed as "deleting." Once the deletion is complete, your phone number and all associated data will be permanently removed from WhatsApp's servers.
  5. Re-register Your Number: If you ever decide to use WhatsApp again with the same number, you will need to re-register it as a new account. Simply download WhatsApp on your device, open the app, and follow the registration prompts to create a new account using your phone number.

By following these detailed steps, you can ensure that your WhatsApp number is deleted permanently from the platform, along with all associated data.