If I clear the chat in WhatsApp, what will the interlocutor see - briefly?
If you clear the chat in WhatsApp, your interlocutor will not see any changes on their end. The messages and conversation history remain intact for them.
If I clear the chat in WhatsApp, what will the interlocutor see - in detail?
If you choose to clear the chat history in WhatsApp, your interlocutor will experience several changes in their interaction with you. Here is a detailed breakdown of what they will see:
- Message Deletion: All messages sent and received within that specific chat will be permanently removed from your device. This action cannot be undone, so it is important to consider this before proceeding.
- Chat Status: The chat will appear as if it has been newly created. Your interlocutor will see a clean slate with no prior conversation history. This means all previous messages, including text, images, videos, and any other media exchanged, will be gone from your end.
- Unread Messages: Any unread messages that were present in the chat before you cleared it will remain unread for your interlocutor. They will still see the double-check marks (?) indicating that their message has been sent but not yet read by you.
- Group Chats: If the chat is part of a group, clearing the chat history will only affect your device. Other members in the group will continue to see the full conversation history as usual.
- Backup and Restore: It's worth noting that clearing chat history does not affect WhatsApp backups. If you have enabled chat backup, your conversations will still be stored in your cloud backup (e.g., Google Drive or iCloud). However, restoring from a backup will bring back the entire conversation history, including the messages you thought were cleared.
- Media Files: While messages are deleted, media files such as images and videos sent to you might still be stored in your device's gallery or file manager, depending on your settings. Clearing chat history does not delete these files from your phone’s storage.
In summary, clearing the chat history in WhatsApp will present a fresh start for you but will have no effect on your interlocutor's view of unread messages or their experience within group chats. It is a decisive action that should be undertaken with full understanding of its irreversible nature and impact on both parties involved in the conversation.