What happens if I clear WhatsApp data - briefly?
If you clear WhatsApp data on your device, it will delete the app's cache and local files, but not your chat history or media files stored on your phone's internal storage or SD card. However, this action may log you out of your account, requiring re-login to regain access to your messages.
What happens if I clear WhatsApp data - in detail?
If you choose to clear the data of WhatsApp on your device, several significant changes will occur. This action essentially resets the application to its default state, removing much of the information and settings that were previously stored.
Firstly, all locally stored messages, media (photos, videos, documents), and other files will be deleted from your device. However, it's important to note that this does not affect WhatsApp backups or the data stored on WhatsApp servers. If you have enabled cloud backup (either through Google Drive for Android users or iCloud for iOS users), you can restore your messages and media when you reinstall or log back into WhatsApp.
Secondly, all settings and preferences within the app will be reset to their default values. This includes notifications settings, chat wallpaper, message tone, and any other customizations you may have made. You will need to set these up again after clearing the data.
Thirdly, your WhatsApp account will remain intact, but you will need to log in again using your phone number. Once logged back in, you can choose whether to restore your chat history from a backup or start fresh with new conversations.
Clearing WhatsApp data is often done as a troubleshooting step when the app is experiencing issues or glitches. It can help resolve problems related to crashes, slow performance, or other anomalies by removing corrupted files and restarting the application from a clean slate.
In summary, clearing WhatsApp data will remove all locally stored messages and media, reset settings and preferences, and require you to log back into your account. If you have enabled cloud backup, you can restore your chat history and media after logging back in. This process is typically used for troubleshooting purposes when the app is not functioning correctly.