How do I delete unwanted contacts on WhatsApp?

WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. As you use WhatsApp, your contact list can get cluttered with people you no longer want to stay in touch with.

Deleting unwanted contacts helps keep your WhatsApp contact list organized and manageable. Here are the steps to delete contacts on WhatsApp:

Open WhatsApp and go to your contacts list

Launch the WhatsApp app on your phone. Tap on the “Contacts” tab at the bottom of the screen. This will open up your full contacts list within WhatsApp.

Find the contact you want to delete

Scroll through your contacts list to find the person you want to remove. You can use the search bar at the top to quickly find a specific contact.

Tap and hold on the contact

Once you’ve located the contact, tap and hold your finger on their name. This will highlight the contact.

Tap Delete contact

A menu will pop-up – tap on “Delete contact” to remove the person from your WhatsApp contacts.

Confirm deletion

WhatsApp will ask you to confirm that you want to delete the contact. Tap “Delete” to permanently remove the contact.

That’s it! The selected contact will be removed from your WhatsApp contacts list. You can repeat these steps to delete as many unwanted contacts as you like.

Things to know about deleting WhatsApp contacts

Here are some key points to keep in mind when deleting WhatsApp contacts:

Deleting a WhatsApp contact only removes them from your contacts list within WhatsApp. It does not delete them from your phone’s contacts list. Their phone number will remain saved in your phone contacts.
You can still find deleted contacts using their phone number in WhatsApp’s search bar. So they may still be able to message you first on WhatsApp.
If you delete a contact and later want to re-add them, you will need to get their phone number again. Your chat history with them will return once you re-add them.

Deleting a WhatsApp contact also deletes the entire chat history you’ve had with that person within WhatsApp. So only delete contacts you are sure you no longer need to communicate with.
You can delete multiple WhatsApp contacts at once by tapping “Select” in the contacts list and selecting all the contacts you want removed.

How to delete contacts without removing chat history

If you want to delete a WhatsApp contact but keep the chat history with them, here are the steps:

Open the chat with the contact you want to delete.
Tap on the contact’s name at the top of the chat screen.
Tap “Export chat” then select whether to export the chat with or without media.

The exported chat will be saved to your phone’s storage. You can then delete the contact.

This preserves your chat history with this person, in case you need to look back at past conversations. You can access the exported chat file from your phone’s file manager.

How to block a WhatsApp contact

Instead of deleting a contact completely, you can choose to block them on WhatsApp. Here’s how:

Open the chat with the contact you want to block.
Tap on the contact’s name at the top of the chat screen.
Tap “Block contact”. Confirm by tapping “Block” again.

Blocking prevents the contact from messaging or calling you within WhatsApp. The contact will not be notified they have been blocked. To unblock, go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked contacts.

Use WhatsApp’s ignore option for unwanted contacts

WhatsApp also gives you the option to ignore a contact’s messages without deleting or blocking them entirely. Here’s how to ignore someone:

Open the chat with the contact you want to ignore.

Tap the contact’s name at the top of the chat.
Enable “Ignore messages” in their contact info settings.

You will stop receiving notifications for new messages from this contact. Their messages will still be visible in the chat, but you can safely ignore them.

How to delete large groups or broadcast lists

If you’ve been added to unwanted groups or broadcast lists on WhatsApp, here is how to leave or delete them:

Groups: Open the group, tap the group name, select Exit Group. You’ll stop receiving messages from the group.
Broadcast Lists: Open the list, tap the list name, select Exit Broadcast. You’ll be removed from the broadcast list.

The creators of groups or broadcast lists will not be notified when you leave their group or list. Leaving groups and broadcast lists prevents you from receiving further messages from large unwanted threads.

How to report unwanted contacts or chats

You can report individual WhatsApp users who are sending unwanted, offensive, or spam messages. Here’s how to report within WhatsApp iOS or Android apps:

Open the chat with the contact you want to report.

Tap the contact’s name at the top of the chat.
Scroll down and tap “Report contact” or “Report spam”.

WhatsApp moderators will review the report and take appropriate action against the contact. Reporting helps keep WhatsApp free of abuse.

Use WhatsApp’s privacy settings

Adjusting your privacy settings can also control unwanted interactions. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy to configure:

Profile photo visibility – Choose who can see your profile photo.
About visibility – Select who can view your About info in your profile.

Read receipts – Turn read receipts off if you don’t want senders to know when you’ve read their messages.
Groups – Configure who can add you to groups without your permission.

Setting your privacy preferences appropriately helps avoid unwanted contacts and messages.

Conclusion

Keeping your WhatsApp contact list organized and spam-free is important for a good messaging experience. Now you know how to remove unwanted contacts, block or report spammers, leave unwanted groups and lists, and control your privacy settings.

With these tools at your disposal, you can effectively manage your WhatsApp contacts and curb unwelcome interactions. Keep your contact list tidy so you can stay in touch efficiently with the people you really want to communicate with on WhatsApp.

Question	Answer
How do I open my WhatsApp contacts list?	Tap on the “Contacts” tab at the bottom of the WhatsApp app screen to open your contacts list.
Can I delete multiple WhatsApp contacts at once?	Yes, tap “Select” at the top of your contacts list and select all the contacts you want to remove. Then tap “Delete” to delete them together.
What happens when I delete a WhatsApp contact?	Deleting a contact removes them from your WhatsApp contacts list and deletes your entire chat history with them.
How do I delete a WhatsApp group?	You cannot directly delete a WhatsApp group you created. You can only leave a group by opening the group, tapping the group name, and selecting Exit Group.
Can I retrieve a deleted chat history?	No, deleting a WhatsApp contact permanently erases your chat history with them. Export the chat before deleting a contact to preserve the chat history.

How to Backup WhatsApp Chats

How to Schedule WhatsApp Messages

Deleting unwanted WhatsApp contacts is easy once you know the steps. With a few taps, you can remove contacts to organize your friends, family, and important work connections. Keep your WhatsApp tidy by regularly clearing out contacts you no longer communicate with.

WhatsApp’s growth to over 2 billion users makes managing contacts more important than ever. Use WhatsApp’s tools responsibly to avoid spam and focus on the connections you truly care about. Your most meaningful relationships deserve your attention without the clutter of outdated contacts.

When removing contacts, think about whether you may need to reconnect down the line. You can always add them again later by re-obtaining their number. For total peace of mind, consider backing up chat history before deletion.

A clean, organized WhatsApp contact list clears out what’s irrelevant and highlights who matters most. Keep things simple by regularly pruning unnecessary contacts. Valuable conversations flourish when not bogged down by the outdated connections of yesterday.

With a few taps, you’re in control over who resides in your virtual WhatsApp address book. Removing unwanted contacts enables more meaningful exchanges with your true inner circle.

Messaging apps have compressed our social worlds into our phones. A tidy, handpicked contacts list removes noise and clutter to enhance closer human connections.

WhatsApp’s utility comes from facilitating easy communication with those who enrich our lives. Save your digital space for the people that count by routinely deleting unwanted contacts.