Are you considering switching to another messaging app for privacy reasons? If so, you might be wondering how you can delete your WhatsApp account and collect all your data. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to permanently delete your WhatsApp account and retrieve your data. We’ll also address some commonly asked questions to ensure a smooth process. Let’s get started!
What Happens When You Delete WhatsApp?
Before deleting your WhatsApp account, it is important to understand the consequences. Here are a few things that happen when you decide to delete your WhatsApp account:
- Delete your WhatsApp account.
- Clear your message history.
- Remove you from all your WhatsApp groups.
- Delete your Google Drive backup.
- Separate your phone number from your account.
- Remove your phone number from your friends’ WhatsApp contact lists.
If these actions seem too drastic, you may want to consider temporarily disabling your account instead. However, if you’re determined to delete your account, make sure to back up your data first.
How to Backup Your WhatsApp Data
Before deleting your account, it’s advisable to back up your data. Here’s how you can do it on both Android and iOS:
iOS/iPhone Backup
To automatically backup your WhatsApp on an iPhone using iCloud:
- Go to Settings and tap on your name/profile picture.
- Tap iCloud.
- Scroll down to WhatsApp and make sure the toggle switch is turned on (green).
To manually backup your account from within WhatsApp:
- Tap Chats.
- Tap Chat backup.
- Activate automatic backup with the toggle switch.
- Additionally, you can save your WhatsApp videos by enabling the “Include Videos” option and instantly back up your account by tapping the “Backup Now” button.
Android Backup
To backup WhatsApp on an Android device using Google Drive:
- Tap the vertical three-dot menu (at the top right).
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap Backup to Google Drive.
- Select a backup frequency.
- Select your Google account or create a new one if needed.
- Choose the preferred network for backup and tap Backup to initiate the process.
How to Deactivate WhatsApp Instead of Deleting Your Account
If you’ve lost or had your cellphone stolen, you have the option to deactivate your WhatsApp account temporarily until you set it up on a new phone. To deactivate your account, send an email to WhatsApp with the subject “Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account” and include your phone number in full international format in the body of the email.
How to Permanently Delete WhatsApp
If you’re ready to permanently delete your WhatsApp account, follow these steps:
iOS/iPhone
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap Account.
- Tap Delete My Account.
- Review the warning, enter your full phone number, and tap Delete My Account.
Android Phone
- Open WhatsApp and tap the vertical three-dot menu (at the top right).
- Go to Settings > Account.
- Tap Delete My Account.
- Enter your full phone number and tap the red Delete My Account button. You can also choose to change your WhatsApp phone number or deactivate your account instead of deleting it.
Conclusion
Deleting your WhatsApp account can be a big decision, but if it’s the right one for you, make sure to follow the steps above. Remember to back up your data before deleting your account and consider temporarily deactivating it if you’ve lost your phone. We hope this guide has been helpful in understanding how to permanently delete your WhatsApp account. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Good luck!
