If you delete a message in WhatsApp, will it be deleted for the recipient - briefly?
If you delete a message in WhatsApp, it will not be deleted for the recipient. The message will remain visible to them unless they also delete it from their device.
If you delete a message in WhatsApp, will it be deleted for the recipient - in detail?
When a user deletes a message in WhatsApp, the action primarily impacts their own device rather than the recipient's device. Here is a detailed breakdown of what happens:
- Deletion on Sender's Device: When a message is deleted by the sender, it disappears from their view within the chat. This means that if they look back at the conversation, the deleted message will no longer be visible to them. However, this deletion does not remove the message from the recipient's device or any other devices where the message was delivered.
- Notification for Recipients: WhatsApp provides a feature that notifies recipients if a message has been deleted. This notification typically reads "This message was deleted" and appears in place of the original message on the recipient's device. This alert informs the recipient that something was sent and subsequently removed by the sender, but it does not provide any details about the content of the deleted message.
- Message Visibility: Even though a message is deleted from the sender’s view, it remains visible to the recipients unless they themselves delete the message from their end. This means that if the recipient has not yet seen the message or if they have already read it, they will still be able to see the content until they choose to delete it themselves.
- Backup and Storage: It is important to note that even when a message is deleted by the sender, it may still exist in backups created by WhatsApp. These backups are stored on both local devices (if enabled) and cloud storage services like Google Drive or iCloud, depending on the user's settings. Therefore, while the message is removed from active view within the chat, it might not be permanently erased from all data storage locations.
In summary, deleting a message in WhatsApp does not delete it for the recipient. Instead, it removes the message from the sender’s view and replaces it with a notification on the recipient's device indicating that a message was deleted. The content of the message remains accessible to recipients unless they choose to delete it themselves or if it is removed from their backups.