WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging platforms in the world, with over 2 billion active users. It allows people to easily connect with friends, family, colleagues, and more through messaging, voice calls, and video calls. However, there may come a time when you decide you want to delete your WhatsApp account permanently. But what exactly happens when you delete your WhatsApp account? Here’s a closer look at the effects of deleting your WhatsApp account.
Your account is deactivated for 30 days
When you initiate deletion of your WhatsApp account, it does not get deleted right away. WhatsApp deactivates your account for 30 days before fully deleting all your data. During this 30 day period, your WhatsApp account still exists but enters a disabled state where you are unable to use it. You cannot send or receive messages and your profile is removed from all WhatsApp groups. Your contacts will see a notice in chat that you have left WhatsApp.
The 30 day deactivation period gives you an opportunity to back out of the deletion if you change your mind. You can simply reinstall WhatsApp and verify your phone number to reactive your account within 30 days. All your messages and groups will reappear. After 30 days however, the deletion becomes permanent.
Your WhatsApp data is erased
After the 30 day deactivation period, WhatsApp erases all data associated with your account. This includes:
- Your chat history and media – All your individual and group chats, messages, photos, videos, voice messages, documents etc. are deleted from WhatsApp servers.
- Your contacts – Your WhatsApp contacts are deleted.
- Your groups – You are removed from all WhatsApp groups you were a part of.
- Your account information – Details like your phone number, profile name, profile photo, about info etc. are erased.
- Your whatsApp web sessions – All linked WhatsApp web sessions are logged out and removed.
In essence, all personal data tied to your account is deleted by WhatsApp when the 30 day grace period expires. Your account practically ceases to exist anymore on WhatsApp.
You lose access to your chat history
One of the biggest impacts of deleting your WhatsApp account is losing access to your chat history. Unless you previously took a backup of your chats, they are gone forever once your account is deleted. You lose all records of your conversations, media files exchanged and information shared on WhatsApp after account deletion. Backing up chats before deleting your account is the only way to preserve your chat history.
You are removed from all WhatsApp groups
WhatsApp groups allow people to stay connected in larger circles. When you delete your WhatsApp account, you automatically get removed from all WhatsApp groups that you were previously a member of. The group admin sees a notification that you left the group. To rejoin any groups, you’ll have to be added back once again after restoring your account.
Your WhatsApp contacts don’t see your profile anymore
Your contacts on WhatsApp will no longer see your profile and status updates after you delete your account. WhatsApp removes your profile details and phone number from their contacts list. The only indication they get is a notice within your chat that you left WhatsApp. Your profile picture, about info, status etc. all become inaccessible to them.
You lose access to WhatsApp on linked devices
WhatsApp allows linking your account to companion devices through WhatsApp web and desktop apps. If you delete your WhatsApp account, you automatically get logged out from WhatsApp on any linked devices. Your chat history is removed from these devices and you cannot use WhatsApp web or desktop without your main WhatsApp account on your phone.
Your phone number becomes available for new accounts
Deleting your WhatsApp account frees up your phone number to be associated with a new WhatsApp account. Once fully deleted, someone else can register a new WhatsApp account using your old phone number. They will not be able to see any data from your old deleted account.
You lose access to your chat backups
WhatsApp gives you the option to backup your chats to your phone’s local storage or cloud services like Google Drive and iCloud. However, when your WhatsApp account is deleted, you can no longer restore these chat backups to a new account. Your backups are deleted along with your account. The only way to keep backups is to export them to a computer before deleting your account.
Your phone space used by WhatsApp is freed up
WhatsApp can take up a considerable amount of storage space on your phone depending on your usage. Media files like photos and videos are stored on your device’s internal storage. When you delete your WhatsApp account, all this data is removed and the phone space is freed up for other usage.
You stop seeing WhatsApp notifications
WhatsApp notifications allow you to stay on top of incoming messages and updates even when you are not actively using the app. Once your account is deleted, all WhatsApp notifications stop. You no longer receive alerts for new WhatsApp messages, group updates or anything else on WhatsApp.
Your WhatsApp payment data is erased
WhatsApp Payments allows users in some countries to send and receive money via WhatsApp. If you have used WhatsApp Payments, all your transaction data and bank account details linked to it are erased when your account is deleted. You will have to set it up again if you restore your account.
You cannot see messages sent to you after deletion
Even if someone sends you new WhatsApp messages or media after you delete your account, you will be unable to see them. Since your account ceases to exist, any new messages will not be received. The sender will get an error that your phone is unreachable.
Conclusion
In summary, deleting your WhatsApp account erases your personal data from WhatsApp’s servers, removes you from all groups, disables your account for 30 days, and makes your phone number reusable for new accounts. The effects can be long-lasting unless you backup your data prior to deletion. While deleting your WhatsApp account can be done in just a few taps, it has major impacts that must be considered before proceeding.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Account deactivated for 30 days | Account disabled temporarily before permanent deletion |
| WhatsApp data erased | Chats, media, info removed from servers |
| Lose chat history access | Cannot see old chats without backup |
| Removed from WhatsApp groups | No longer a member of any groups |
| Contacts don’t see profile | Profile, info become inaccessible to contacts |
| Lose access on linked devices | Logged out from WhatsApp Web/Desktop |
| Phone number freed up | Number can be reused for new account |
| Lose chat backups | Backups deleted and irrecoverable |
| Freed up phone storage | WhatsApp media/data removed from phone |
| No more WhatsApp notifications | No alerts for messages or updates |
| WhatsApp Payments data erased | Transactions and bank info erased |
| Cannot see new messages | No access to messages sent after deletion |