WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, allowing users to easily communicate with individuals and groups. WhatsApp groups make it simple to chat with multiple people at once. However, as the purpose of a group evolves over time, you may eventually want to delete a WhatsApp group from your phone.
Deleting a WhatsApp group completely removes it for all participants. Once it’s deleted, the group is gone forever and can’t be retrieved. Before deleting a WhatsApp group, it’s important to understand what exactly happens when you delete a group and how to properly delete a group you are no longer using.
What Happens When You Delete a WhatsApp Group?
Here’s an overview of what happens when a WhatsApp group is deleted:
- The group is removed from your WhatsApp groups list and your phone’s storage.
- The group is deleted for all participants, not just the person who deleted it.
- All prior chat history and media from the group is erased.
- You cannot retrieve a deleted WhatsApp group or its messages.
Deleting a WhatsApp group removes all traces of that group conversation. You won’t be able to find any group messages or details after deleting it.
However, while the group itself will be deleted, the contacts who were participants won’t be erased from your phone. Your WhatsApp contact list remains intact.
It’s also important to note that if someone in the group had the chat history backed up to Google Drive, they will still have the chat history locally on their phone even though the group has been deleted.
Who Can Delete a WhatsApp Group?
Only WhatsApp group admins have the ability to delete groups. If you created the group, you are most likely the admin. There can be multiple group admins, but standard participants don’t have access to deleting groups.
Should You Notify Participants Before Deleting a Group?
It’s considered good practice to notify group participants before deleting a WhatsApp group, especially if it’s an active group. This gives people a chance to save any media or conversations they want to keep.
Some ways to notify the group include:
- Sending a message in the group chat explaining you need to delete the group and the date you plan to do it.
- Changing the group subject to include the deletion date.
- Informing participants individually if it’s a small group.
Giving a notice helps make the group deletion transparent and allows people to prepare. But it’s not required – as an admin you can delete a WhatsApp group without advanced warning.
How to Delete a WhatsApp Group on iPhone
If you have an iPhone and want to remove a WhatsApp group from your account, here are the steps:
1. Open the WhatsApp Application
The first step is to launch the WhatsApp app on your iPhone. WhatsApp has a green icon with a white phone receiver inside. Tap the icon to open WhatsApp.
2. Go to the Chats Tab
Once WhatsApp is open, you’ll see a few tab options along the bottom of the screen. Tap on the “Chats” tab.
3. Tap and Hold the Group Chat
On the Chats screen, you will see a list of your existing conversations. To delete a group, press and hold your finger on the group chat you want to delete.
4. Tap Delete Group
This will open a menu. On this menu, tap the red “Delete Group” option at the bottom of the menu.
5. Confirm Group Deletion
A popup will appear asking “Delete this group?” Tap the red “Delete Group” button to confirm you want to permanently delete the group.
6. Group is Now Deleted
That’s it! The WhatsApp group has now been deleted from your iPhone. You will no longer see it in your Chats tab. Notification of the group deletion will also be sent to all former participants.
And remember, this group deletion is permanent. There is no way to retrieve the group after deleting it. The only record will be if someone had previously backed up the chat history.
How to Delete a WhatsApp Group on Android
Here are the steps to remove a WhatsApp group from an Android device:
1. Open the WhatsApp App
First, launch the WhatsApp application on your Android phone. Tap the WhatsApp icon from your home screen to open it.
2. Tap the Menu Button
In the top right corner of the screen, tap the 3 vertical dots menu button. This will open the WhatsApp menu.
3. Choose Settings
On the menu, choose “Settings” to open WhatsApp’s settings.
4. Select Chats
In WhatsApp Settings, tap “Chats” to manage chat settings.
5. Tap Group Info
Under Chats Settings, choose “Group Info” to view information about your groups.
6. Tap the Trash Icon
On the Group Info page, tap and hold your finger on the group you want to delete. An icon option to delete the group will appear. Tap the trash can icon.
7. Confirm Deletion
A popup will confirm “Delete group?” Tap “Delete” to confirm.
8. Group is Now Deleted
That’s all there is to it! After confirming, the WhatsApp group will be permanently deleted from your Android device and all participants.
How to Delete a WhatsApp Group on WhatsApp Web
You can also delete a WhatsApp group through WhatsApp Web if you prefer to use the desktop interface. Here are the steps:
1. Go to web.whatsapp.com
Open your web browser and navigate to the WhatsApp Web website. This will allow you to access WhatsApp from your computer.
2. Scan the QR Code
The WhatsApp Web page will open a camera view. Using your phone, scan the QR code displayed on your computer screen. This will link your WhatsApp account.
3. Open the Group Chat
Once linked, you’ll see your full WhatsApp account and chats on the web interface. Click the group chat you want to delete to open the conversation.
4. Click Group Info
At the top of the group chat window, click the “Group Info” button. It looks like 3 horizontal lines.
5. Scroll Down and Click Exit Group
On the Group Info screen, scroll down until you see the red “Exit Group” option. Click it.
6. Confirm Exit Group
A popup will appear to confirm “Exit this group?” Click “Exit Group” to confirm.
7. Choose Delete Group
You will then get another popup asking “Delete this group?” Click the red “Delete Group” button.
8. Group is Now Deleted
That’s it! The group will now be permanently deleted from your WhatsApp account and phones. Close out of the browser tab when finished.
What Happens When You Exit a WhatsApp Group?
Exiting a WhatsApp group is different than deleting a group. Here’s a summary of what happens when you choose to exit a group:
- You are removed from the group’s participants.
- The group will still exist for other members.
- You won’t receive any new messages from the group.
- Your chat history remains in the group.
- You can rejoin the group anytime using a group invite link.
So unlike deleting a group, exiting only removes you from the group. The group itself continues to exist and can be joined again later. Use exit group cautiously, as your chat history remains visible.
Should You Notify the Group Before Exiting?
Similar to deleting a group, it’s courteous to let participants know if you plan to exit a WhatsApp group. A quick message explaining you need to exit and why can help make the transition smooth for other members.
How to Exit a WhatsApp Group
The steps to exit a WhatsApp group are similar to deleting it. Here’s a quick guide for exiting a group on iPhone or Android:
On iPhone:
1. Open the WhatsApp group chat
2. Tap and hold the group name
3. Tap Exit Group
4. Tap Exit Group again to confirm
On Android:
1. Open WhatsApp group chat
2. Tap the group name
3. Tap Exit group
4. Tap Exit to confirm
And you’re out of the group! Much easier than deleting the whole group.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Group Issues
Deleting or exiting WhatsApp groups is usually very straightforward. But occasionally issues can come up. Here are some troubleshooting tips for common problems:
Can’t Find Delete Button
Only group admins can delete groups. If you can’t find the delete option, it likely means you aren’t an admin and don’t have permission. Contact an admin to delete the group.
Delete Pending Forever
Sometimes group deletion gets stuck on “Deleting…” If it’s pending for more than 5 minutes, force close the WhatsApp app and try again. This typically resolves any delays.
WhatsApp Says Group Deleted but it’s Still There
On rare occasions, a WhatsApp group will show as deleted but still be visible. Give it some time to sync properly. Restart your phone to force WhatsApp to refresh.
Can’t Exit Group on WhatsApp Web
If exit group is missing on WhatsApp Web, log out of web, delete browser cookies/data for web.whatsapp.com, and log back in. Then try exiting again.
Accidentally Deleted Important WhatsApp Group
Unfortunately there is no way to retrieve a deleted WhatsApp group. However, if someone in the group had chat backups enabled, they can add you back to recreate it.
Conclusion
WhatsApp groups are useful but can pile up over time. When you need to declutter your chats, deleting groups is an easy way to permanently erase conversations. Make sure to notify participants beforehand as a courtesy.
But if you still find a group useful but just don’t want to receive the notifications, exiting the group instead allows you to silently leave while letting the other members continue conversations.
Overall, deleting and exiting WhatsApp groups is very simple on both iPhones and Android devices. Just remember that group deletion is permanent, so use caution when removing active groups or important chat histories. With a bit of spring cleaning, you can keep your WhatsApp fresh.