What happens if you clear WhatsApp - briefly?
If you clear WhatsApp, all your chat history and media files are deleted from the app on your device. However, this action does not affect the data stored on WhatsApp's servers or the conversations on other users' devices.
What happens if you clear WhatsApp - in detail?
If you decide to clear WhatsApp, several changes and implications will occur. Firstly, clearing the app involves deleting all local data stored on your device, which includes messages, media files such as photos and videos, documents, and any other content that is not backed up to cloud storage or external servers. This action does not affect the server-side storage of your WhatsApp data; instead, it removes the locally cached versions from your device.
Secondly, once you clear the app, you will lose access to all previously viewed media files and messages. This means that any photos, videos, or documents you received before clearing the app will no longer be available on your device unless they were saved manually to your gallery or file manager. However, if these files were sent from one user to another, their copies remain with the original sender.
Thirdly, after clearing WhatsApp, all notifications and message previews will be reset. This includes the ability to view message snippets in your notification center without unlocking your device. You will need to re-enable these features if desired. Additionally, any customization or settings changes you made within the app, such as changing the theme or enabling specific privacy options, will revert to their default states.
Lastly, clearing WhatsApp does not delete your WhatsApp account or remove you from any groups. Your profile information and contacts remain intact on the server side. However, it is crucial to note that if you have not backed up your data using cloud storage services like Google Drive or iCloud, you risk losing all your conversations and media permanently. Therefore, it is always recommended to create a backup before proceeding with such actions.
In summary, clearing WhatsApp primarily affects the local data stored on your device. While it does not impact server-side storage, it results in the loss of locally cached messages, media files, and custom settings. To avoid permanent data loss, ensure you have a recent backup before taking this step.