WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. It allows you to send messages, make voice and video calls, share photos and videos, and more. WhatsApp stores all your conversations, media, and account information in an encrypted database on your device.
If you delete the WhatsApp database, you will lose all of your WhatsApp data and history. Your contacts will remain, but all previous conversations, photos, videos, voice messages, etc. that you sent or received on WhatsApp will be erased. Your account will also be logged out of WhatsApp on that device.
Why Would You Want to Delete the WhatsApp Database?
There are a few reasons why you may want to delete the WhatsApp database:
- You’re buying a new phone and want to wipe the WhatsApp data from your old phone.
- You need to free up storage space on your phone.
- You want to erase your WhatsApp history and start fresh.
Deleting the database is an irreversible action, so think carefully before proceeding.
Where is the WhatsApp Database Located?
The WhatsApp database is stored in the internal storage of your Android or iOS device. The exact file path varies by operating system:
On Android:
/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases
On iPhone:
/var/mobile/Containers/Shared/AppGroup/{app group id}/WhatsApp Databases
You’ll need to access this folder on your device to delete the database.
How to Delete the WhatsApp Database
Here are step-by-step instructions for deleting the WhatsApp database on Android and iPhone:
On Android:
1. Open the File Manager app on your Android device.
2. Navigate to sdcard > WhatsApp > Databases.
3. Long press on the msgstore.db.crypt12 file and delete it.
4. Go back to the WhatsApp Databases folder and delete the entire folder.
5. Open WhatsApp – your chat history will now be wiped clean.
On iPhone:
1. Connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes.
2. Under Backups, select your device and click Manage Backups.
3. Find the WhatsApp backup in the list and delete it.
4. On your iPhone, open WhatsApp and force close it from the app switcher.
5. Hold down the power button until the “Slide to power off” prompt appears. Slide to turn off your device.
6. Turn your iPhone back on and open WhatsApp. Your chat history will be deleted.
What Happens When You Delete the WhatsApp Database?
Here’s what happens when you delete the WhatsApp database:
- All of your WhatsApp chats will be erased permanently.
- Media files sent and received on WhatsApp will be deleted.
- Your WhatsApp call history will be wiped out.
- All WhatsApp settings will be reset to default.
- Your WhatsApp account will be logged out.
- Your profile photo, About info, and Last Seen status will be removed.
- You’ll have to verify your number again to log back in.
Essentially, it will be like you are using WhatsApp for the first time on that device. Your contacts will remain intact since they are stored separately, but everything else specific to WhatsApp will be deleted.
Things That Won’t be Deleted
- Your WhatsApp account and number will still exist.
- WhatsApp backups stored externally, like on Google Drive or iCloud.
- Media files from WhatsApp that were saved to your device’s storage.
- Contacts.
So your account and some data can be restored if you have backups enabled. But the local WhatsApp database will be erased completely.
Can You Recover Deleted WhatsApp Data?
Unfortunately, there is no way to recover deleted WhatsApp data after erasing the database, unless you have a backup. Since the data is encrypted, once the database file is deleted, the data is lost forever.
Some things to keep in mind:
- If you created a Google Drive or iCloud backup before deleting, you can restore and recover your WhatsApp history.
- Backups are done automatically on a daily, weekly or monthly basis if enabled.
- You can also manually backup WhatsApp at any time from the Chats screen > Menu button > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Without a backup, the WhatsApp database is gone forever once deleted.
So enabling backups regularly is highly recommended to avoid permanent data loss.
Can You Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages?
If you just deleted a few messages but still have the WhatsApp database, you may be able to recover them using data recovery apps for Android and iPhone. However, this does not work if you deleted the entire WhatsApp database.
Recovering Deleted WhatsApp Messages on Android
On Android, you can use data recovery apps like:
- Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Recovery
- iMyFone D-Back
- FonePaw Android Data Recovery
These scan your device storage and extract residual data to recover deleted WhatsApp messages, as long as they weren’t overwritten by new data.
Recovering Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone
For iPhones, data recovery apps like:
- iMyFone D-Back
- Fonelab
- iSkysoft Toolbox – iOS Data Recovery
Can recover deleted WhatsApp chats by extracting leftover data from iOS backups and device storage.
However, this only works if the WhatsApp database still exists. Once the database is deleted, messages are unrecoverable.
Precautions Before Deleting the WhatsApp Database
Here are some precautions to take before deleting your WhatsApp database:
- Backup your WhatsApp data – Enable Google Drive or iCloud backup so you have a copy of your chats.
- Save important media – Make sure to save photos, videos or voice messages you want to keep to your device storage or cloud storage.
- Note down important info – Jot down any crucial information or details you need from WhatsApp before wiping it.
- Be certain you want to delete – Think carefully before erasing your WhatsApp history as it can’t be undone.
- Have another messaging option – Line up another messaging app like Telegram or Signal so you can contact people after deleting WhatsApp.
Taking these precautions will ensure you don’t lose data permanently and can still communicate with your contacts after deleting WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting WhatsApp delete my account?
No, your WhatsApp account is not deleted when you erase the WhatsApp database. Your account continues to exist but all the local data on your device will be erased.
Can I retrieve my WhatsApp data after deleting the database?
You cannot retrieve the deleted WhatsApp data unless you have a backup. With a proper backup, you can restore your chats after reinstalling WhatsApp.
Will my WhatsApp contacts be deleted if I erase the database?
No, your WhatsApp contacts are stored separately and will not be erased when deleting the database. Only your conversations and chat history will be removed.
Can I delete WhatsApp messages selectively?
On Android and iPhone, you can selectively delete certain WhatsApp chats or messages. But you cannot selectively delete data from the WhatsApp database – it’s an all or nothing approach.
Is there any way to recover deleted WhatsApp messages without backup?
Without a backup, there is no way to recover deleted WhatsApp messages or media if you delete the app’s database. The data is permanently gone unless you have a backup.
Conclusion
Deleting the WhatsApp database erases your chat history irrevocably. Ensure you have backups, save important media, and only delete if absolutely sure. With backups, you can restore your WhatsApp data. But without one, recovery is impossible if you delete the database. Think carefully before wiping your WhatsApp history.