If you clear the chat in WhatsApp, will it be deleted from both sides - briefly?
If you clear a chat in WhatsApp, the messages and media will only be deleted from your side. The other participant(s) in the conversation will still have access to the chat history unless they also choose to delete it.
If you clear the chat in WhatsApp, will it be deleted from both sides - in detail?
When you clear a chat in WhatsApp, it is important to understand that this action primarily affects your local device and does not automatically delete messages from the other party's device. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happens:
- Local Deletion: Clearing a chat on your end removes all messages, media, and files associated with that conversation from your WhatsApp application. This frees up storage space on your device but does not affect the other party's device in any way.
- Server Storage: Even after you clear a chat, the messages are still stored on WhatsApp’s servers. This is because WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that only the participants of a conversation can read its contents. The server does not have access to the actual message content but retains metadata and delivery receipts.
- No Notification: The other party will not receive any notification or indication that you have cleared the chat from your device. Their copy of the messages remains unaffected, and they can still view the conversation history as it was before you took any action.
- End-to-End Encryption: WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption ensures that only the devices involved in a conversation can access its contents. This means that even if you clear your chat, the other party's messages will still be encrypted and stored securely on their device.
- Potential Future Deletion: If you delete your WhatsApp account or the other party deletes their WhatsApp account, the messages associated with that conversation may be permanently deleted from WhatsApp’s servers, depending on the specific circumstances and policies at the time. However, this is not an immediate effect of simply clearing a chat.
In summary, clearing a chat in WhatsApp only removes the messages and media from your device. The other party's device remains unaffected, and they will still have access to the conversation history unless they independently choose to delete it themselves.