How to delete the backup of WhatsApp chats?

How to delete the backup of WhatsApp chats - briefly?

To delete a backup of WhatsApp chats on an iPhone, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and tap "Delete Backup." For Android users, navigate to Settings > Chats > Backup and select "Delete all backups."

How to delete the backup of WhatsApp chats - in detail?

Deleting the backup of WhatsApp chats can be a crucial step when you need to free up storage space or start fresh on your device. Here’s a detailed guide on how to delete the backup of WhatsApp chats:

On Android

  1. Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your Android device.
  2. Access Settings: Tap on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner to open the menu, then select "Settings."
  3. Navigate to Chats: In the Settings menu, tap on "Chats" to access chat-related options.
  4. Backup: Under the "Chats" section, you will see an option for "Back up to Google Drive." Here you can manage your backup frequency and ensure that no unnecessary backups are being created.
  5. Delete Backup from Google Drive: To delete the WhatsApp backup from Google Drive:
    • Open the Google Drive app on your Android device.
    • Tap on the three lines (☰) in the upper left corner to open the menu, then select "Backup."
    • Find and tap on "WhatsApp" to see your backup files.
    • Tap on the three dots (⋮) next to the backup file you want to delete, then select "Delete forever."
  6. Clear Local Backup: To clear local backups stored on your device:
    • Open File Manager or any file explorer app that can access internal storage.
    • Navigate to the WhatsApp folder (usually located at /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases).
    • Delete the backup files with names like msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12.

On iPhone

  1. Open Settings: Go to your device's Settings app.
  2. Access WhatsApp: Scroll down and tap on "WhatsApp" in the list of apps.
  3. Delete Backup: Under the "Chat Backup" section, you can see options related to backups. To delete the backup:
    • Tap on "Delete Account" (if you want to remove all data associated with your account).
    • Confirm by tapping "Delete My Account."
  4. Clear Local Backup: If you want to clear local backups stored in iCloud, you need to delete the WhatsApp app and reinstall it:
    • Press and hold the WhatsApp icon until it starts wiggling.
    • Tap on the "x" that appears on the icon.
    • Confirm by tapping "Delete."
  5. Reinstall WhatsApp: Go to the App Store, search for WhatsApp, and reinstall it. This will remove any local backup data stored on your device.

On Windows and Mac

  1. Open File Explorer/Finder: Launch File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac.
  2. Navigate to Backup Folder: Go to the folder where WhatsApp backups are stored:
    • For Windows: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\WhatsApp\Backups
    • For Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/WhatsApp/Backup
  3. Delete Backup Files: Locate the backup files with names like msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12.
  4. Empty Trash/Recycle Bin: After deleting the files, make sure to empty your Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac) to permanently remove them from your system.

By following these steps, you can effectively delete the backup of WhatsApp chats on Android, iPhone, Windows, and Mac devices. Always ensure that you have a recent backup if you need to preserve any important data before deleting.