Quick Answer
No, deleted WhatsApp messages do not stay on iCloud. When you delete a message in WhatsApp, it is removed from your device and iCloud storage. The message is erased and cannot be recovered through iCloud.
Detailed Answer
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to protect chat messages. This means only you and the recipient can read the messages sent between you. Not even WhatsApp can access the content of your chats.
When you delete a WhatsApp message, it is removed instantly from your device. The copy on the recipient’s device remains intact until they also delete it. However, the message is also deleted from iCloud storage when you delete it on your device.
How WhatsApp Works with iCloud
WhatsApp utilizes iCloud to back up your chat history and media. It creates daily backups at 2 AM if your phone is connected to power and WiFi. The backup contains your messages, photos, videos and other data.
Backups allow you to restore your chat history when switching to a new device or reinstalling WhatsApp. The app uses end-to-end encryption to protect the iCloud backups as well. Only you can access them with your passcode.
Does Deleting Messages Affect iCloud Backups?
When you delete a WhatsApp message on your iPhone, it is removed from the device storage instantly. At the same time, WhatsApp tells iCloud to delete that message from the iCloud backup as well.
So if you delete a message and then restore from an iCloud backup, that particular message will not reappear. It is permanently erased from both the device and cloud storage.
Manually Deleting iCloud Backups
You can also manually delete WhatsApp backups stored on iCloud anytime. Here are the steps:
- Go to iPhone Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
- Select the WhatsApp backup you want to delete.
- Tap Delete Backup to confirm.
This will erase all WhatsApp data from iCloud, including any residual messages you may have deleted from your phone. You can create a new backup again by turning on iCloud backup for WhatsApp.
Does WhatsApp Store Anything on iCloud?
When you delete a specific WhatsApp message, it is removed completely from the app, device and iCloud backup. However, some data remains stored in iCloud even when you delete conversations:
- Your WhatsApp account information and settings.
- Your chat lists and group information.
- Your WhatsApp media that has not been deleted.
- Your starred messages.
The content of deleted chats no longer remains on iCloud. But the above data may continue to utilize some storage space.
Can You Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages from iCloud?
Since deleted WhatsApp messages are removed from iCloud backups as well, there is no direct way to retrieve them from iCloud.
However, you may be able to recover recently deleted messages using third-party data recovery apps. They scan your iPhone storage directly to find any residual data left behind after deleting messages.
Some apps that can help recover deleted WhatsApp messages include:
- iMyFone iBypasser.
- Fonelab.
- iMobie PhoneRescue.
But the success rate depends on:
- How soon you run the recovery after deleting messages.
- Whether the storage space was overwritten with new data.
- Your iPhone model and iOS version.
For Android devices, you may be able to use similar data recovery apps to restore deleted WhatsApp messages, provided the space was not reallocated to new data.
Tips to Preserve Deleted WhatsApp Messages
Here are some tips to preserve important WhatsApp messages even after deleting them:
- Back up your chats regularly using a third-party app like iMazing or iSkysoft iBackup Viewer.
- Export important chats to PDF or print them out.
- Use a file manager or data recovery app to create copies of chat backups from device storage.
- Take screenshots of conversations before deleting.
- Forward special messages to save them in your inbox.
Following these tips will allow you to store deleted WhatsApp conversations outside the app ecosystem, even though they vanish from your phone and iCloud storage after deletion.
Does Deleting WhatsApp Also Delete iCloud Backup?
Deleting the WhatsApp app from your iPhone does not automatically delete your iCloud backups. Your backup data remains intact on iCloud.
When you reinstall WhatsApp, you can restore your chat history and data from the existing iCloud backup during setup. All your conversations, even those you deleted earlier, will get downloaded again.
To permanently delete WhatsApp data from iCloud, you have to manually delete the backups from iPhone storage settings, as explained before. Only then will your messages and chats be removed entirely from the cloud.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted WhatsApp messages are erased from the app, your phone’s storage and iCloud backup.
- No direct method exists to recover deleted WhatsApp messages from iCloud.
- Third-party apps may be able to extract deleted messages from device storage by scanning residuals.
- Other WhatsApp data like accounts, chat lists and undeleted media continue to be stored on iCloud.
- Manually deleting iCloud backups erases all WhatsApp data including messages.
- Uninstalling WhatsApp does not affect existing iCloud backups.
Conclusion
In summary, WhatsApp deletes messages comprehensively from your phone and iCloud storage when you remove them from the app. iCloud cannot be used to directly access erased message contents again.
You can only preserve important deleted messages by backing up your WhatsApp data separately using third-party apps. With end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp ensures complete privacy for your chat contents. But this also means deleted data is irrecoverable through official means due to the strong security.