What happens when you delete a contact from WhatsApp - briefly?
When you delete a contact from WhatsApp, the conversation history with that person remains on your device. However, they will no longer appear in your contacts list and you won't be able to send messages or make calls to them through WhatsApp until you add them back.
What happens when you delete a contact from WhatsApp - in detail?
When you delete a contact from WhatsApp, several changes occur both on your device and within the app itself.
Firstly, deleting a contact from WhatsApp does not remove their phone number or any associated data from your device's contacts list. The action is limited to the WhatsApp application only. This means that if you have the contact saved in your phone's address book, they will still appear there after being deleted from WhatsApp.
Secondly, deleting a contact from WhatsApp does not delete any previous messages or media exchanged with them within the app. The chat history remains intact and accessible on your device. However, if you later decide to block this contact, their messages will no longer be visible to you. It's important to note that even after blocking, their messages still exist in WhatsApp's database but are hidden from your view.
Thirdly, deleting a contact does not stop them from attempting to communicate with you via WhatsApp. If they try to send you a message or call you, you will receive a notification indicating that the sender is not in your contacts list. You have the option to add them back to your contacts if you wish.
Lastly, deleting a contact does affect group chats. If you are part of a group with the deleted contact, they will still be able to see and participate in the group chat. However, their name will no longer appear in your list of contacts within the WhatsApp app, which can make it more challenging to identify them in group conversations.
In summary, while deleting a contact from WhatsApp removes them from your active contact list within the app, it does not delete their phone number or chat history. Their ability to communicate with you remains unchanged, and they will still be part of any shared group chats.