How to permanently delete WhatsApp history - briefly?
To permanently delete your WhatsApp history, you can either clear the chat for a specific contact or group, or delete all chats and media from settings.
How to permanently delete WhatsApp history - in detail?
Permanently deleting your WhatsApp history can be a crucial step in maintaining privacy and freeing up storage space on your device. Here is a detailed guide on how to achieve this:
Backup Your Data (Optional but Recommended)
Before you begin the deletion process, it's highly advisable to create a backup of your WhatsApp data. This ensures that you won't lose any important messages or media files permanently.
- Open WhatsApp on your device.
- Navigate to Settings.
- Select Chats.
- Tap on Chat Backup.
- Choose the Google Drive account where you want to back up your data and follow the prompts to complete the backup process.
Deleting WhatsApp Data from Your Device
After backing up your data, you can proceed with deleting your WhatsApp history. The steps may vary slightly depending on whether you are using an Android or iOS device.
On Android:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner to access Settings.
- Go to Chats and then tap on Chat History.
- Select Delete all chats. This will remove all your WhatsApp conversations from your device.
On iOS:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap on Settings at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Go to Chats and then tap on Chat History.
- Select Delete All Chats. This will erase all your WhatsApp messages from your device.
Deleting Backup Data from Google Drive (Android)
If you have backed up your chats to Google Drive, you might also want to delete this backup to ensure complete removal of your data:
- Open the Google Drive app on your Android device.
- Tap on the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner to open the menu.
- Select Backup.
- Find and tap on WhatsApp.
- Tap on the trash can icon to delete the backup.
Deleting Backup Data from iCloud (iOS)
For iOS users, you can manage your WhatsApp backups through iCloud:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on [Your Name].
- Tap on iCloud.
- Scroll down to find WhatsApp under the list of apps using iCloud.
- Tap on it and choose Delete Backup.
Final Steps: Uninstalling WhatsApp
After deleting your chat history and backup data, you can uninstall WhatsApp from your device for a clean slate:
- Go to the Home Screen of your device.
- Locate the WhatsApp icon.
- Press and hold the icon until it starts wiggling (Android) or shows an "X" (iOS).
- Tap on the Uninstall option to remove WhatsApp from your device.
Reinstalling WhatsApp
If you decide to use WhatsApp again, simply reinstall the app from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS) and follow the setup instructions. You can restore your backup if needed during the initial setup process.
By following these steps, you will have successfully and permanently deleted your WhatsApp history, ensuring that all your messages and media files are removed from both your device and any associated cloud storage services.