How to delete messages by date in WhatsApp?

How to delete messages by date in WhatsApp - briefly?

To delete messages by date in WhatsApp, you can use the "Search" feature to filter messages by a specific date or date range. Once you have filtered the messages, select them and delete them as needed.

How to delete messages by date in WhatsApp - in detail?

Deleting messages by date in WhatsApp can be a useful feature for managing your chat history and freeing up storage space. While WhatsApp does not provide a direct option to delete messages by date, you can achieve this through a series of steps using both the app and external tools. Here is a detailed guide on how to perform this task:

Using WhatsApp's Built-in Features

  1. Backup Your Chats: Before deleting any messages, it’s crucial to back up your chats to avoid losing important data. You can do this by going to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and following the instructions.
  2. Manual Deletion: WhatsApp allows you to delete messages manually within a specific time frame. To do this:

    • Open the chat where you want to delete messages.
    • Press and hold on the message you wish to delete until the options menu appears.
    • Select "Delete" from the menu. You can choose whether to delete the message for yourself or for everyone in the chat (if it’s a group).
  3. Clear Chats: If you want to delete all messages in a specific chat, you can clear the chat history. However, this will delete all messages, not just those from a specific date:

    • Open the chat you want to clear.
    • Tap on the three dots (⋮) at the top right corner of the screen.
    • Select "More" and then choose "Clear Chat". Confirm your action when prompted.

Using Third-Party Tools

If manual deletion is not feasible, you can use third-party tools designed to manage and delete WhatsApp messages based on specific criteria such as date. Here are some popular options:

  1. WAMR (WhatsApp Message Recovery): This app allows you to recover and delete WhatsApp messages selectively. It’s available for both Android and iOS devices.

    • Download and install WAMR from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
    • Open the app and follow the on-screen instructions to recover your messages.
    • Use the search function to find messages by date and delete them as needed.
  2. WhatsApp Cleaner: This is another tool that can help you manage your WhatsApp messages more effectively. It’s available for Android devices.

    • Download and install WhatsApp Cleaner from the Google Play Store.
    • Open the app and grant it permission to access your WhatsApp data.
    • Use the built-in filters to search for messages by date and selectively delete them.

Important Considerations

  • Data Privacy: Be cautious when using third-party tools, as they may require access to your personal data. Ensure you choose reputable apps with good user reviews.
  • Backup: Always back up your chats before performing any deletions to prevent accidental loss of important messages.
  • Group Chats: When deleting messages in group chats, remember that the "Delete for Everyone" option only works if the message was sent less than 13 hours ago and if everyone in the chat is using the latest version of WhatsApp.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and delete your WhatsApp messages based on date, ensuring a cleaner and more organized chat history.