How to permanently delete a conversation in WhatsApp on iPhone - briefly?
To permanently delete a conversation in WhatsApp on an iPhone, you need to first archive the chat and then delete it.
How to permanently delete a conversation in WhatsApp on iPhone - in detail?
Permanently deleting a conversation in WhatsApp on an iPhone involves several steps to ensure that the chat is completely removed from your device and from WhatsApp's servers. Here’s how you can achieve this:
- Open WhatsApp: Start by launching the WhatsApp application on your iPhone.
- Navigate to Chats: Once in the app, go to the "Chats" tab at the bottom of the screen. This is where all your conversations are listed.
- Select the Conversation: Find and tap on the conversation you want to delete permanently. This will open the chat window.
- Access Chat Settings: At the top right corner of the chat window, you'll see an icon with three dots (⋮). Tap on this icon to access the chat settings.
- Delete Chat: In the dropdown menu that appears, select "More" and then tap on "Delete Chat". This action will remove the conversation from your iPhone but it is not yet permanently deleted.
- Clear Chat: After deleting the chat, you need to clear it from WhatsApp's local storage. To do this, go back to the main Chats screen and swipe left on the recently deleted chat. A red "Delete" button will appear; tap it to remove the conversation from your iPhone's local storage.
- Delete Media from Device: WhatsApp conversations often include media such as photos and videos. To ensure these are also deleted, go to your iPhone’s Settings app, select "General", then "iPhone Storage". Here you can find and delete any remaining WhatsApp data.
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Deleting Backups (Optional but Recommended): If you have enabled iCloud backup for WhatsApp, the deleted conversation might still be present in your iCloud backup. To remove it:
- Go to "Settings" on your iPhone.
- Tap on your name at the top, then select "iCloud".
- Scroll down and tap on "Manage Storage", then select "WhatsApp".
- Delete any unwanted backups from here.
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Request Account Deletion (Advanced Option): If you want to ensure that the conversation is deleted not just from your device but also from WhatsApp's servers, you can request account deletion. Note that this will delete your entire WhatsApp account and all associated data:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Go to "Settings" > "Account".
- Tap on "Delete My Account".
- Enter your phone number, select the reason for deleting your account, and tap “Delete My Account”.
By following these steps, you can permanently delete a conversation in WhatsApp on your iPhone. Always ensure that you have backed up any important data before proceeding with permanent deletion.