If you delete messages in WhatsApp, are they deleted for everyone - briefly?
When you delete a message on WhatsApp, it is only removed from your device and not from the recipient's device. The message will still be visible to others who have received it.
If you delete messages in WhatsApp, are they deleted for everyone - in detail?
When you delete a message in WhatsApp, it is not actually removed from the recipient's device or from WhatsApp's servers. Instead, the message is simply hidden from your view and replaced with a "You deleted this message" placeholder. This means that while the message may no longer be visible to you, it can still exist on the recipient's device and on WhatsApp's servers, depending on various factors.
WhatsApp offers two main methods for deleting messages: "Delete for Me" and "Delete for Everyone." The "Delete for Me" option only removes the message from your own device, leaving it intact on the recipient's end. On the other hand, the "Delete for Everyone" feature allows you to delete a message from both your own device and the recipients' devices. However, this option comes with certain conditions and limitations:
- Time Limit: The "Delete for Everyone" feature can only be used within 7 minutes (1 hour and 8 minutes on some platforms) after sending the message. After this timeframe, you will no longer have the option to delete the message for everyone.
- Message Status: If the recipient has not yet seen or opened the message, it can still be deleted using the "Delete for Everyone" option. Once a message is read or delivered (indicated by checkmarks), it cannot be deleted from the recipient's device.
- Device and Software Compatibility: The success of deleting messages for everyone also depends on the compatibility of devices and software versions used by both the sender and the recipients. Outdated software might not support this feature properly.
- Backup and External Storage: Even if a message is successfully deleted using the "Delete for Everyone" option, it may still be present in backups or external storage locations such as Google Drive or iCloud. These backups are created automatically by WhatsApp to preserve your chat history and can contain messages that were deleted from the main app.
In summary, while WhatsApp provides a "Delete for Everyone" feature, it is important to note that deleting a message does not guarantee its complete removal from all devices or servers. The effectiveness of this feature depends on various factors, including time constraints, message status, device compatibility, and the presence of backups. Users should be aware of these limitations when considering the use of WhatsApp's delete functions.