How to delete incoming messages in WhatsApp?

How to delete incoming messages in WhatsApp - briefly?

To delete incoming messages in WhatsApp, you can either select the message and tap the "Delete" icon or use the "Clear Chat" feature from the chat settings to remove all messages in a conversation.

How to delete incoming messages in WhatsApp - in detail?

Deleting incoming messages in WhatsApp can be a valuable skill for maintaining privacy and managing your chat history effectively. Here's a detailed guide on how to accomplish this:

For Individual Messages:

  1. Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your device.
  2. Select the Chat: Navigate to the chat where the message you want to delete is located.
  3. Long Press on the Message: Find the message you wish to delete and press down on it for a few seconds until a menu appears at the top of the screen.
  4. Delete Option: In the menu, select the 'Delete' option (represented by a trash can icon). This will remove the message from your chat history.
  5. Confirm Deletion: A confirmation dialog may appear, asking if you are sure you want to delete the message. Confirm your choice.

For Multiple Messages:

  1. Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your device.
  2. Select the Chat: Navigate to the chat where the messages you want to delete are located.
  3. Long Press on a Message: Find one of the messages you wish to delete and press down on it for a few seconds until a menu appears at the top of the screen.
  4. Select Messages: Once the menu is visible, tap on the messages you want to delete. They will be highlighted.
  5. Delete Option: After selecting all desired messages, tap on the 'Delete' option (represented by a trash can icon) at the top of the screen. This will remove the selected messages from your chat history.
  6. Confirm Deletion: A confirmation dialog may appear, asking if you are sure you want to delete the messages. Confirm your choice.

For Group Chats:

  1. Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your device.
  2. Select the Group Chat: Navigate to the group chat where the messages you want to delete are located.
  3. Long Press on a Message: Find one of the messages you wish to delete and press down on it for a few seconds until a menu appears at the top of the screen.
  4. Select Messages: Once the menu is visible, tap on the messages you want to delete. They will be highlighted.
  5. Delete Option: After selecting all desired messages, tap on the 'Delete' option (represented by a trash can icon) at the top of the screen. This will remove the selected messages from your chat history.
  6. Confirm Deletion: A confirmation dialog may appear, asking if you are sure you want to delete the messages. Confirm your choice.

Important Considerations:

  • Delete for Me: The above steps will only delete the message from your device. The sender and other recipients in a group chat will still see the message unless they also delete it.
  • Delete for Everyone: If you want to delete a message for everyone in a chat, you must do so within 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds after sending. Long press on the message and select 'Delete for Everyone'. This feature is not available for messages sent to or from groups with more than 1024 members.
  • Backup: Regularly backup your WhatsApp data to avoid losing important conversations accidentally.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and clean up your WhatsApp chat history, ensuring that only relevant and desired messages remain.