What will happen if I clear WhatsApp data - briefly?
If you clear WhatsApp data, your chat history and media files stored on the device will be deleted. However, your messages and data backed up to cloud storage (like Google Drive or iCloud) will remain unaffected.
What will happen if I clear WhatsApp data - in detail?
Clearing WhatsApp data can have several consequences, primarily affecting the app's functionality and your personal information. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect:
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Login Requirement: After clearing WhatsApp data, you will be logged out of the app. This means that you will need to enter your phone number and complete the verification process again to regain access to your account.
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Loss of Local Data: All locally stored messages, media (photos, videos, documents), and chat history on your device will be deleted. However, this does not affect the data stored in WhatsApp’s cloud backups or the messages sent to other users.
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No Impact on Cloud Backups: Any data backed up to Google Drive or iCloud will remain intact. You can restore these backups if you decide to reinstall WhatsApp and set it up with the same phone number.
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Group Chats: Your participation in group chats may be disrupted temporarily. You might need to request an invite link from another member to rejoin the groups, or you may find that your messages and media are no longer visible within those groups until they are backed up and restored.
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Media and Files: Any multimedia files (images, videos) shared through WhatsApp will be deleted from your device’s storage. However, these files might still exist on the sender or recipient's devices if they have not been cleared.
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Custom Settings: Personalized settings such as notification preferences, wallpapers, and customization options will revert to their default states. You will need to manually adjust them again according to your preferences.
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Contacts Sync: WhatsApp syncs with your device’s contacts list. Clearing data may disrupt this synchronization temporarily, and you might need to allow the app to access your contacts again.
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Security: If you have enabled features like two-step verification or specific privacy settings, these will be reset. You will need to reconfigure them for optimal security and privacy.
In summary, while clearing WhatsApp data does not permanently delete any information stored in the cloud or sent to other users, it does result in the loss of locally stored data on your device. To mitigate this, ensure you have a recent backup before proceeding with the data clearance process.