To delete a WhatsApp message, open the chat, press and hold the message, tap Delete, then choose Delete for Me or, when available, Delete for Everyone. The first removes only your copy; the second requests removal from participants’ chats and replaces the message with “This message was deleted.”
Delete a message for everyone
- Open the individual or group chat containing the message you sent.
- Press and hold the message.
- Tap Delete.
- Choose Delete for Everyone.
WhatsApp currently gives you two days after sending a message to request Delete for Everyone. The sender and recipients should be using the latest WhatsApp version. The feature is a request, not a guarantee: someone may have read, copied, photographed or otherwise retained the message before it was removed, and WhatsApp says a deletion can fail without notifying you.
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When the operation succeeds, participants see “This message was deleted.” WhatsApp also synchronizes the deletion across the online devices where you are logged in.
Deleting in a group
You can delete your own message for everyone in a group within the same two-day window. A group administrator can also delete another member’s message; the replacement notice identifies that it was deleted by an admin.
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Photos, videos and other media
Deleting a message does not guarantee that every copy of an attachment disappears. A recipient may already have saved the file, and WhatsApp notes that an iOS recipient may still have sent media in the Photos app after the message is deleted.
Delete a message for yourself
- Open the chat and press and hold the message.
- Tap Delete.
- Choose Delete for Me.
This removes only your device’s copy. Other participants continue to see the message in their chat screens. WhatsApp provides a five-second Undo option immediately after you use Delete for Me. Once that window closes, the app cannot recover the message unless it was included in a backup.
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- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.5
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- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
Delete an entire chat
Individual chat
From WhatsApp’s Chats tab, use the chat’s delete command and confirm. Deleting the chat removes it from your chat list and cannot be undone inside WhatsApp. It does not delete the other participant’s copy of the conversation.
Group chat
To remove a group from your chat list, exit the group first, then delete it. Deleting the group without leaving does not end your membership.
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Delete all chats
WhatsApp also offers a delete-all-chats option. Group chats remain visible and you remain a member unless you leave each group first.
Clear messages but keep the chat
Clear chat removes the messages inside a conversation while keeping the chat listed in the Chats tab. It does not remove you from a group.
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- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
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- Product may come in generic Box.
When clearing a chat, WhatsApp lets you choose whether received media should also be removed from your device’s gallery. This is different from deleting the chat itself: the conversation entry remains available for future messages.
Free up storage without deleting the conversation
If storage is the problem, open the chat, choose Manage Storage, and delete large files rather than removing the entire conversation. WhatsApp announced this option in March 2026. It is designed to reduce media storage while preserving the chat history.
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What happens to backups and recovery?
After deleting a message
A message deleted for yourself is recoverable only if it was included in a backup, apart from the five-second Undo period. A message deleted for everyone is replaced in the chat by the deletion notice; restoring an older backup can affect what history appears on your device, but it cannot force other participants’ copies to disappear.
After deleting or clearing a chat
WhatsApp cannot undo a deleted chat or a cleared chat from inside the app. Recovery depends on having a backup made before the deletion or clearing. Restoring that backup can also lose messages created after the backup date, so check its timing before proceeding.
Quick Recap
Choose the right deletion option
| Action | What changes | Time limit | Does the chat stay listed? | Group membership | Recovery considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delete for Me | Only your copy is removed; recipients still see the message. | Five-second Undo window | Yes | Unchanged | Only a suitable backup may contain the message after Undo expires. |
| Delete for Everyone | Requests removal from participants’ chats; a deletion notice appears if successful. | Two days after sending | Yes | Unchanged | Recipients may have seen or saved the content; deletion can fail without notice. |
| Delete chat | Removes the conversation from your chat list. | No stated time limit | No | For groups, leave first; deleting alone does not remove membership. | Only a pre-deletion backup can restore history, and later messages may be lost. |
| Clear chat | Removes messages but keeps the conversation entry. | No stated time limit | Yes | You remain in the group. | A pre-clear backup may restore history, with possible loss of newer messages. |
| Manage Storage | Deletes selected large files while retaining the conversation. | No stated time limit | Yes | Unchanged | Only the selected files are removed from your device. |
Before you confirm deletion
- Use Delete for Everyone only for messages you sent and only while the two-day request window is open.
- If you need to keep a record, export or back up the chat before deleting or clearing it.
- Check your phone’s gallery or Photos app separately when removing media.
- Choose Manage Storage when you need space but still want the conversation available.
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