How to delete information from WhatsApp forever?

How to delete information from WhatsApp forever - briefly?

To permanently delete information from WhatsApp, you can either use the "Delete for Everyone" feature within 1 hour 8 minutes and 16 seconds of sending a message or choose to delete your entire chat history and media by selecting the "Clear Chat" option in the settings menu.

How to delete information from WhatsApp forever - in detail?

Deleting information from WhatsApp permanently requires a comprehensive approach, as the platform is designed for data retention and backup. To ensure that your data is removed forever, follow these detailed steps:

  1. Delete Messages or Media Locally:

    • Open WhatsApp and navigate to the chat or media you want to delete.
    • Select the message or media by long-pressing it.
    • Tap on the trash can icon at the top of the screen to delete it.
    • Confirm the deletion by tapping "Delete for me." This removes the data from your local device but not from WhatsApp's servers or other users' devices.

  2. Clear Conversation History:

    • Go to the chat you want to clear and tap on the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner.
    • Select "More" > "Delete chat."
    • Choose "Delete for me" to remove the conversation from your device. This action does not delete the data from WhatsApp's servers.

  3. Revoke Messages:

    • For messages you regret sending, use the "Delete for everyone" feature.
    • Long-press on the message and select the trash can icon.
    • Choose "Delete for everyone." This option is available only for a short period after sending the message.

  4. Log Out of WhatsApp:

    • Logging out of your account ensures that no new data is sent to or from your device.
    • Go to Settings > Account > Delete my account. This action will remove your profile photo, display name, and status updates from your friends' phones.

  5. Delete Backups:

    • WhatsApp backs up chats to cloud storage services like Google Drive (for Android) or iCloud (for iOS).
    • To delete these backups:
      • For Android: Open Google Drive, tap on the three lines in the top left corner, select "Backup," find your WhatsApp backup, and tap on the trash can icon to delete it.
      • For iOS: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > WhatsApp, then tap "Delete Backup."

  6. Contact WhatsApp Support:

    • If you need to permanently delete sensitive information from WhatsApp's servers, contacting WhatsApp support is crucial.
    • Provide them with the necessary details, and they may be able to assist in removing your data from their systems.

  7. Delete Your Account Permanently:

    • As a last resort, deleting your WhatsApp account will remove your messages, photos, videos, and calls from your device.
    • Go to Settings > Account > Delete my account.
    • Enter your phone number and tap "Delete my account." This action is irreversible, and all your data will be deleted from WhatsApp's servers.

By following these steps meticulously, you can ensure that your information is permanently deleted from WhatsApp, providing a comprehensive solution to maintaining your digital privacy.