How to delete the history of deleted chats in WhatsApp - briefly?
To delete the history of deleted chats in WhatsApp, users can clear their chat list and all associated data by going to "Settings" > "Chats" > "Chat History" and selecting the option to delete all chats. This action will remove all chat histories, including those of previously deleted conversations.
How to delete the history of deleted chats in WhatsApp - in detail?
To delete the history of deleted chats in WhatsApp, users must understand that once a chat is deleted, it cannot be recovered unless backed up via cloud services. However, managing and deleting chat histories involves several steps to ensure complete removal from both your device and WhatsApp's servers.
Firstly, it is crucial to distinguish between two types of deletion: "Delete for Me" and "Delete for Everyone." The former removes the chat from your device but keeps it on the recipient's device, while the latter attempts to remove the message from both devices. However, if the message isn’t successfully deleted within 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 20 seconds of sending, it will remain on the recipient's device.
To permanently delete chat history from your device:
- Open WhatsApp: Launch the application on your smartphone.
- Navigate to Settings: Click on the three dots or the gear icon in the top-right corner to access settings.
- Select Storage and Data: Depending on your device, this option might be labeled differently but should contain information about your storage usage.
- Manage Storage: Here, you will see a list of all the chats along with their size. You can select individual chats or choose "Clear All Chats" to delete everything at once.
- Confirm Deletion: WhatsApp will ask for confirmation before deleting the selected chat history. Confirm your choice, and the process will begin.
It is important to note that deleting chat history from your device does not remove it from WhatsApp's servers or cloud backups. For a comprehensive removal:
- Disable Cloud Backup: Go to "Settings" > "Chats" > "Chat Backup." Turn off the auto-backup feature to prevent future backups.
- Delete Backups: If you have previously backed up your chats, you can delete these backups from your cloud storage (Google Drive for Android and iCloud for iOS). This action will remove all chat history stored in the cloud.
For Android users:
- Open Google Drive.
- Tap on the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner to access the menu.
- Select "Backups."
- Find WhatsApp in the list and delete it.
For iOS users:
- Go to "Settings" > "[Your Name]" > "iCloud" > "Manage Storage" > "WhatsApp."
- Delete the backup from your iCloud storage.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage and delete the history of deleted chats in WhatsApp, ensuring that your data is removed from both your device and cloud services.