How to delete chat history in a WhatsApp chat - briefly?
To delete the chat history in a WhatsApp chat, follow these steps:
- Open the WhatsApp chat you want to clear.
- Tap on "More options" (three vertical dots) and select "Delete Chat". Confirm your choice by tapping "Delete".
How to delete chat history in a WhatsApp chat - in detail?
Deleting chat history in a WhatsApp chat can be necessary for various reasons, such as freeing up storage space or maintaining privacy. WhatsApp offers several methods to achieve this, depending on whether you want to delete messages from your device only or from both your device and the recipient's device. Here is a detailed guide on how to delete chat history in a WhatsApp chat:
Deleting Messages for Yourself
If you wish to delete messages only from your device, you can do so by following these steps:
- Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your smartphone.
- Select the Chat: Navigate to the chat from which you want to delete messages.
- Long Press on a Message: Tap and hold on the message you wish to delete until it is highlighted.
- Select Additional Messages (Optional): You can select multiple messages by tapping on them while still holding down on the initial message.
- Delete: Once the desired messages are selected, tap on the trash can icon at the top of the screen. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Deleting Messages for Everyone
If you want to delete messages from both your device and the recipient's device, use the "Delete for everyone" feature:
- Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your smartphone.
- Select the Chat: Go to the chat where the message(s) you want to delete are located.
- Long Press on a Message: Tap and hold on the message until it is highlighted.
- Select Additional Messages (Optional): You can select multiple messages by tapping on them while still holding down on the initial message.
- Delete for Everyone: After selecting the messages, tap on the trash can icon at the top of the screen and choose "Delete for everyone." Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Important Notes:
- Time Limit: The "Delete for everyone" feature is only available within 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds after sending a message. After this time frame, you can only delete messages from your device.
- Group Chats: In group chats, other participants will still see the deleted message unless they also delete it from their devices.
- Media Files: Deleting messages does not free up space on your phone if media files (like photos or videos) are involved. You may need to manually delete these files from your device's gallery as well.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage and delete chat history in a WhatsApp chat, ensuring that your conversations remain private and your storage remains optimized.