What happens if you delete app data in WhatsApp - briefly?
Deleting app data in WhatsApp will erase your message history and media files stored on the device. However, it will not affect your chat backups or WhatsApp account settings.
What happens if you delete app data in WhatsApp - in detail?
Deleting app data in WhatsApp is a significant action that can have several implications for users. This process essentially resets the application to its default state, removing all locally stored information such as messages, media files, and settings. It's crucial to understand what exactly happens when you delete app data in WhatsApp:
Firstly, all locally stored messages and multimedia content, including photos, videos, voice notes, and documents, will be permanently erased from your device. This action cannot be undone, and the lost data cannot be recovered through conventional means. However, it's important to note that WhatsApp automatically backs up chat history to the cloud (iCloud for iOS users and Google Drive for Android users) if the backup feature is enabled. Users can restore their chats from this backup after deleting app data.
Secondly, all custom settings and preferences configured within the WhatsApp application will be reset to their default values. This includes changes made to notifications, privacy settings, chat wallpapers, and other personalized options. Users will need to manually reconfigure these settings according to their preferences after the app data is deleted.
Thirdly, any unsent messages or media files that were in the process of being sent at the time of deletion will be lost. WhatsApp does not store these temporarily on the server, and thus, they cannot be recovered. It's advisable to ensure all important communications are successfully delivered before proceeding with the deletion of app data.
Fourthly, any group chats that you were part of will still exist, but your messages within those groups will be deleted from your device. Other participants in the group chat will not see any changes on their end. You can rejoin the groups after restoring your backup if necessary.
Lastly, deleting app data in WhatsApp does not affect the contacts stored on your device or the WhatsApp server. Your contact list remains unaffected, and you can continue to communicate with your contacts as usual once the app is restored.
In summary, while deleting app data in WhatsApp results in the loss of locally stored messages and media files, it provides a way to start fresh by resetting custom settings and preferences. Users are advised to enable automatic backups to ensure that their chat history can be easily restored if needed.