WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. It allows you to easily communicate with friends, family and coworkers through instant messaging, voice and video calls. While WhatsApp can be very useful, there may come a time when you want to manually uninstall it from your device. In this article, we will walk through the steps to manually uninstall WhatsApp on both iPhone and Android devices.
Reasons to Uninstall WhatsApp
Here are some of the common reasons you may want to uninstall WhatsApp:
- You don’t use WhatsApp anymore and want to free up storage space on your device
- You’re getting too many notifications from WhatsApp groups and want a break
- You want to temporarily uninstall WhatsApp before traveling or lending your phone to someone
- You’re switching to a different messaging app and no longer need WhatsApp
- You’re experiencing bugs, glitches or other issues with WhatsApp
Manually uninstalling WhatsApp can help resolve any of these issues. It removes the app from your device completely, along with all of its data and settings. You can always reinstall it later if you change your mind.
How to Manually Uninstall WhatsApp on iPhone
Here are the steps to manually remove WhatsApp from your iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
- Tap on General and go to iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage on iPad).
- Under Space Used by Apps, find and select WhatsApp.
- Tap on Delete App to confirm you want to uninstall WhatsApp.
- Tap Delete again on the pop-up confirmation.
Once you delete WhatsApp through these steps, the app will be completely removed from your iOS device along with all of its data. It will no longer show up on your home screen or app drawer.
To reinstall the app later, you can simply go to the App Store and download WhatsApp again for free. Your previous chat history will not be saved though, so you’ll be starting fresh.
Alternative Method to Remove WhatsApp on iPhone
Here is another way to uninstall WhatsApp from your iPhone or iPad:
- Find and long press the WhatsApp icon until icons start to wiggle.
- Tap the X icon on the WhatsApp icon to delete the app.
- Tap Delete when prompted to confirm uninstallation.
This method provides a quicker way to uninstall WhatsApp directly from your home screen, without having to go through Settings.
How to Manually Uninstall WhatsApp on Android
The process is slightly different on Android devices but still fairly straightforward:
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Tap on Apps or Application Manager.
- Scroll and find WhatsApp in the list of apps.
- Tap on WhatsApp.
- Tap Uninstall.
- Tap OK to confirm.
This will completely uninstall WhatsApp and all its data from your Android device. As with iOS, you can always reinstall it from the Google Play Store later if needed.
Alternative Method for Android
Here is a faster way to uninstall WhatsApp on Android without going through Settings:
- Long press on the WhatsApp icon on your home screen.
- Drag the icon up to Uninstall at the top of the screen.
- Tap OK when prompted to confirm uninstallation.
And WhatsApp will be removed from your Android device right away.
Important Notes About Manually Uninstalling WhatsApp
Here are some key points to keep in mind when manually uninstalling WhatsApp:
- Uninstalling WhatsApp will delete your chat history, media, and backups from the device. Be sure to backup chats if you want to retain them.
- Your WhatsApp account still exists and your contacts still have you in their address book.
- If you reinstall WhatsApp, your contacts’ chat histories will remain unchanged.
- You can uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on the same device as many times as you want.
- If you use WhatsApp on multiple devices linked to one account, uninstalling it on one device does not affect the others.
So in summary, manual uninstall only removes WhatsApp from that particular device, not your account or your contacts’ apps. Keep this in mind before uninstalling the app.
How to Backup WhatsApp Before Uninstalling
Since uninstalling WhatsApp also deletes your local chat history and media, it’s a good idea to backup your WhatsApp data first:
Backup WhatsApp on iPhone
- Open WhatsApp and tap Settings.
- Tap Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap Back Up Now to backup your chats to iCloud.
You can also enable auto backup so WhatsApp backs up daily.
Backup WhatsApp on Android
- Open WhatsApp and tap the Three Dots menu.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap Back up to backup your chats to Google Drive.
You can also set a backup frequency, such as daily or weekly.
Backing up ensures you don’t lose your chat history when uninstalling WhatsApp.
How to Reinstall WhatsApp After Uninstalling
If you change your mind later and want WhatsApp back on your device, reinstalling the app is quick and easy:
Reinstall WhatsApp on iPhone
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Search for WhatsApp Messenger.
- Tap Get to download and install the app.
- Sign in with your phone number when prompted.
Your contacts and chat history will be restored from your previous iCloud backup.
Reinstall WhatsApp on Android
- Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
- Search for WhatsApp Messenger.
- Tap Install to download and reinstall the app.
- Sign in with your phone number when prompted.
Your data including chats will be restored from your Google Drive backup.
And that’s it! By following these simple steps, you can easily uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp whenever needed. Just be sure to backup your chats first.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Uninstallation Issues
In some cases, you may encounter certain issues when trying to uninstall or reinstall WhatsApp. Here is how to troubleshoot some common problems:
WhatsApp Icon Still Visible After Uninstall
Sometimes the WhatsApp icon may still appear on your home screen even after uninstalling the app. To fix this:
- On iPhone – Restart your device. This will remove leftover files and the icon.
- On Android – Long press on the icon and drag it to Remove at the top.
Error Installing WhatsApp from App Store/Play Store
If you get an error when trying to reinstall WhatsApp from the app store:
- Pull down to refresh the app store page and try again.
- Check your internet connection and retry downloading.
- Restart your device and install WhatsApp again.
Chat History Not Restoring
If your chat history doesn’t restore on reinstalling WhatsApp:
- Check your internet connection and try again later.
- Make sure you didn’t clear WhatsApp backups from iCloud or Google Drive.
- Back up your chats again and reinstall WhatsApp.
Following these troubleshooting tips should help fix any post-uninstall issues with WhatsApp on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about manually uninstalling WhatsApp:
Does uninstalling WhatsApp delete my account?
No, uninstalling only removes the app from your device. Your WhatsApp account and profile still exist and can be accessed when you reinstall.
Can I uninstall WhatsApp without losing chats?
Yes, as long as you backup your chats to iCloud (iPhone) or Google Drive (Android) before uninstalling. Your chat history will be restored when you reinstall WhatsApp.
Will my contacts still see my old WhatsApp status if I uninstall?
No, your contacts will no longer be able to see your status after you uninstall WhatsApp. Your status disappears from their app.
Can I temporarily uninstall WhatsApp for a while?
Yes, you can manually uninstall WhatsApp for any duration and reinstall whenever needed. Your account remains active even while uninstalled.
Will my group members still be able to text me if I uninstall WhatsApp?
No, you will not receive any WhatsApp messages after uninstalling the app from your device. Reinstall when you want to rejoin groups.
Conclusion
Uninstalling WhatsApp is a simple process that only takes a few taps. On iPhone, delete the app through Settings > iPhone/iPad Storage. On Android, uninstall it via Settings > Apps. Remember to backup chats so you don’t lose them. Reinstalling WhatsApp from the app store is also quick if you want the app back later. With this handy guide, you can easily uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp as needed. Just follow the step-by-step instructions outlined above.