What happens if you delete and then reinstall WhatsApp - briefly?
If you delete and then reinstall WhatsApp, your chat history will be lost unless you have previously backed up your data to either Google Drive or iCloud. Additionally, any media files that were not saved externally will also be deleted.
What happens if you delete and then reinstall WhatsApp - in detail?
When you delete and then reinstall WhatsApp, several key changes occur to your account and data. Firstly, all local data stored on your device, including messages, media, and app settings, will be erased. This means that any conversations or files saved locally will no longer be accessible once the app is deleted.
Upon reinstalling WhatsApp, you will need to go through the initial setup process again. This involves verifying your phone number, which WhatsApp uses as your unique identifier. After verification, the app will attempt to restore any backed-up data from your cloud storage service (such as Google Drive for Android or iCloud for iOS). If a recent backup exists, you can choose to restore it, which will repopulate your message history and media files. However, if no recent backup is available or if you opt not to restore the backup, you will start with a clean slate, and all previous data will be lost permanently.
It's important to note that even though the app is reinstalled, your WhatsApp account itself remains linked to your phone number. This means that your contacts can still send messages to your number, but until you set up the app again, you won't receive any notifications or see these messages. Once the setup is complete and you have verified your number, WhatsApp will sync with its servers, and all new messages sent after the reinstallation will be delivered to your device.
In summary, deleting and then reinstalling WhatsApp leads to a temporary loss of local data, which can be mitigated by restoring from a backup. Your account remains tied to your phone number throughout this process, ensuring that you retain access to your contacts and message history once the app is set up again.