Quick Answer
No, you cannot delete a WhatsApp group if you are not the admin. Only the admin of the WhatsApp group has the ability to delete the group. If you want to leave a WhatsApp group that you no longer want to be a part of, you can simply exit the group. But deleting the group entirely is only possible if you are the admin.
Explanation
WhatsApp groups allow multiple users to communicate together in one place. They are useful for families, friends, coworkers, classmates, and many other collectives to easily chat with each other.
However, WhatsApp gives special privileges to the admin of each group. The admin is the person who originally created the WhatsApp group. They have the power to add and remove participants, change the group’s icon, name, and description, and ultimately – delete the group forever.
Normal participants in a WhatsApp group do not have this ability. If you are not the admin of a WhatsApp group, you cannot remove other members from the group, or make any administrative changes. And most importantly, you cannot delete the WhatsApp group.
The delete group option is only visible to the admin in the group settings. For other members, this option is hidden. This is an intentional choice by WhatsApp to prevent anyone besides the admin from accidentally or intentionally deleting the group.
So if you want to fully delete a WhatsApp group as a normal participant, it is not possible. Your only options are to either convince the admin to delete it for you, or exit the group yourself if you no longer want to be a part of it.
When is a WhatsApp group deleted?
A WhatsApp group is permanently deleted in two scenarios:
1. The admin chooses to delete the group
As mentioned above, the power to delete a WhatsApp group lies solely with the admin. If the admin no longer wants to maintain the group, they can delete it for everyone.
When the admin taps on the delete group button, a confirmation prompt appears. If the admin confirms, the group will be permanently deleted and wiped from existence for all participants.
2. No messages are sent for 90 days
WhatsApp also automatically deletes any groups that have been completely inactive for a long period of time. If no member sends a message in a group for 90 consecutive days, WhatsApp will automatically delete that group.
So even without the admin’s intervention, an abandoned WhatsApp group will eventually be removed by WhatsApp’s system after 3 months of inactivity.
What happens when a WhatsApp group is deleted?
When a WhatsApp group is deleted, either by the admin or due to the 90 day inactivity policy, the following happens:
| Impact | Description |
|---|---|
| Group is removed | The group will no longer appear in any participant’s list of joined groups. It is completely erased. |
| Message history is deleted | The entire message history of the group is wiped out. All photos, videos, links, documents etc. shared in the group will be permanently deleted. |
| You need a new invite to rejoin | You cannot rejoin the group unless the admin creates it again and adds you back. Everyone essentially has to start over. |
So when a WhatsApp group is deleted, it is gone for good along with the entire chat history. This action cannot be reversed.
What if I exit a WhatsApp group instead of deleting?
If you are not the admin of a WhatsApp group, but want to remove yourself from it, you have the option to voluntarily exit the group instead of deleting it entirely.
Here is what happens when you choose to exit a WhatsApp group:
| Impact | Description |
|---|---|
| You are removed | You will no longer appear as a participant of the group. You will not receive any new messages. |
| Past messages stay | Unlike deleting the group, the entire chat history remains intact and is still accessible to the remaining participants. |
| You can rejoin | The admin can simply add you back into the group unless they have banned you. You don’t need a completely new invite. |
So voluntarily exiting a group is a much less drastic measure compared to deleting the group entirely. It removes you from further participation without destroying the group or the chat history.
How can I convince the admin to delete a WhatsApp group?
Now you may be in a situation where you want a WhatsApp group to be deleted entirely, but you are not the admin. Here are some tips on how to convince the admin to delete a group:
Politely ask the admin
Simply message the admin directly and make a request for them to delete the group. Explain why you think the group is no longer needed – perhaps the task is complete, the teammates have changed, or it is causing unnecessary distraction.
Get other members to also request deletion
If multiple participants agree the group should be deleted, your case will be stronger. Try persuading other members to also message the admin and ask for the group to be removed.
Suggest creating a new group instead
Propose to the admin that a brand new group be made with only the members who are interested. This way they don’t have to delete the current group, but can start fresh.
Leave the group yourself first
The admin is less likely to delete a group if there are still active members. Leaving yourself may motivate them to clear out the remaining inactive participants.
Make sure important data is backed up
Remind the admin to save any crucial files, links, or data from the chat history before deleting the group and its messages permanently.
What to do if the admin refuses to delete a group?
If you make a request for the WhatsApp group to be deleted, but the admin outright refuses, you have a few options:
Simply exit the group yourself
As mentioned before, you can voluntarily exit the group to stop receiving notifications. This doesn’t fulfill your wish of fully deleting the group, but removes you from it.
Mute notifications
If you want to stay in the group but are tired of constant notifications, mute the chat so you aren’t bothered by updates.
Block the group
Instead of just muting, you can block the group chat so messages never reach your phone in the first place. Only do this if you will never need to return.
Report the group to WhatsApp
If the group is being used for harmful illegal activity, you can report it to WhatsApp directly to get it removed.
Delete WhatsApp entirely
In extreme cases of an admin refusing to delete a problematic group, deleting your WhatsApp account altogether will surely remove you from the group. But this nuclear option also means losing contact with all your other WhatsApp connections, so only use it as a last resort.
Conclusion
To summarize, only the admin has the power to delete a WhatsApp group. Normal group participants unfortunately cannot remove a group they are not in charge of. But you do have options like voluntarily exiting, muting notifications, and blocking the group if you wish to remove it from your own WhatsApp experience.
Try politely convincing the admin first before taking more drastic measures. And if you are the admin yourself who needs to delete a WhatsApp group, make sure to back up important data first before removing the chat history permanently. With the right approach, you can resolve any unwanted WhatsApp groups.