If you clear the chat in WhatsApp, will it be deleted - briefly?
If you clear the chat in WhatsApp, the messages will be removed from your device but not permanently deleted. The conversation history will still exist on the recipient's device and the WhatsApp servers.
If you clear the chat in WhatsApp, will it be deleted - in detail?
When you clear a chat in WhatsApp, it does not delete the messages from your device or the recipient's device; instead, it removes them from your visible chat history. This action is primarily intended to manage and declutter your chat list without permanently losing any data.
Here’s what happens in detail:
- Local Deletion: Clearing a chat only hides the messages from your view. The messages remain stored on both your device and the recipient's device, accessible through their backups or local storage.
- Backup Retention: If you have enabled WhatsApp backups (either to Google Drive for Android users or iCloud for iOS users), the cleared chat will still be included in these backups until you decide to delete them manually.
- Visibility: Once a chat is cleared, it disappears from your main chat list. However, any notifications, media files (like photos and videos), or other data associated with that conversation remain on your device unless manually deleted.
- Recovery Options: If you ever need to access the messages again, they can be retrieved through the backup restoration process. Simply reinstall WhatsApp and restore from a recent backup to regain access to your cleared chat history.
- Permanent Deletion: To permanently delete chats, you must manually remove them from both your device’s local storage and any associated backups. This involves going into the settings of your phone or cloud service and deleting the relevant data.
In summary, clearing a chat in WhatsApp does not result in immediate deletion but rather hides the messages from your view while keeping them accessible through other means. For complete removal, additional steps are required to ensure all traces of the conversation are erased.