What happens to my account if I delete WhatsApp - briefly?
If you delete WhatsApp from your device, your account and all its data will remain intact on the servers of Facebook, which owns WhatsApp. However, you will no longer be able to access or use the application until it is reinstalled.
What happens to my account if I delete WhatsApp - in detail?
If you decide to delete WhatsApp from your device, the fate of your account depends on several factors. Firstly, it's crucial to understand that deleting the app does not automatically deactivate or delete your WhatsApp account. When you uninstall WhatsApp, all your messages and media files stored locally on your device will be removed. However, any data backed up to iCloud (for iOS users) or Google Drive (for Android users) will remain intact, preserving your chat history, photos, videos, and other shared content.
Your account itself remains active as long as it is not explicitly deleted from the WhatsApp servers. This means that if you reinstall WhatsApp on the same device or even on a different one, using the same phone number, you can restore your chat history and continue where you left off. To do this, simply verify your phone number during the setup process, and when prompted, choose to restore your chats from the cloud backup.
It's also worth noting that if you delete WhatsApp but don't reinstall it for an extended period (typically 120 days), your account may be considered inactive. In such cases, WhatsApp has the right to delete the account entirely, including any data stored on their servers. If you plan to take a break from using WhatsApp, it might be prudent to inform your contacts about your temporary absence to avoid any confusion or concerns.
In conclusion, deleting the WhatsApp app from your device primarily affects the local storage of your messages and media files. Your account remains active, and you can easily restore your data if you reinstall the app within a reasonable time frame. However, prolonged inactivity may result in the permanent deletion of your account and associated data.