WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. At some point, you may wish to delete your WhatsApp account permanently. But how long does it actually take to delete your WhatsApp account fully?
The answer is not straightforward. When you request to delete your WhatsApp account, it is not immediately erased. WhatsApp goes through a waiting period before fully deleting all your data. This waiting period gives you a chance to reactivate your account if you change your mind.
In this article, we will explain the WhatsApp account deletion process in detail. We will cover:
- How to delete your WhatsApp account
- The waiting period before full account deletion
- How long WhatsApp retains your data during the waiting period
- When your account is permanently deleted
- If deleted WhatsApp accounts can be recovered
Knowing the ins and outs of account deletion will help you understand how long the process takes from start to full completion.
How to Delete Your WhatsApp Account
Here are the steps to delete your WhatsApp account:
- Open WhatsApp on your mobile device
- Go to Settings > Account > Delete My Account
- You will see an option to delete your account with a note that says “This will delete your account and remove you from all of your WhatsApp groups. Backup your data before proceeding.”
- Tap on Delete My Account
- Confirm your selection to delete your account permanently
Once you confirm account deletion, WhatsApp will begin a waiting period before erasing your account fully.
The WhatsApp Account Deletion Waiting Period
When you request to delete your WhatsApp account, it is not immediately removed from WhatsApp’s servers. There is a waiting period that lasts up to 90 days.
Here are key things to know about the waiting period:
- The waiting period is up to 90 days, but the exact duration is not specified by WhatsApp.
- During this time, your account is deactivated but not yet permanently deleted.
- You can still reactivate your account within the waiting period if you change your mind.
- After the waiting period, your account is fully erased from WhatsApp’s servers.
The purpose of the waiting period is to give you an opportunity to retrieve your account in case you deleted it by mistake.
WhatsApp wants to make sure you really intend to delete your account before erasing all your data permanently.
What Happens to Your WhatsApp Data During the Waiting Period
When your account is deactivated during the waiting period, here is what happens to your WhatsApp data:
- You will no longer have access to your messages and call history.
- Your contacts will no longer see your profile photo, last seen status, or any updates from you.
- You are removed from all WhatsApp groups automatically.
- Your undelivered messages in chat history will be deleted.
- Your account info remains on WhatsApp’s servers but is inaccessible to anyone.
So your data is hidden away during the waiting period. You cannot access it, but it’s still retained by WhatsApp in case you want to reactivate your account.
When Is Your WhatsApp Account Permanently Deleted?
Your WhatsApp account is permanently deleted when the waiting period ends after you requested account deletion.
The exact timing is not confirmed by WhatsApp, but based on reports from users, full account deletion typically occurs:
- Within 90 days of requesting deletion
- Around 45-60 days after deactivation
- After 30 days in some cases
So you can expect your account to be completely erased within 1-3 months after starting the deletion process.
Once the waiting period is over, all your WhatsApp data is permanently deleted including:
- Your profile info
- Profile photo
- Individual and group chats
- Media files you shared or were shared with you
- Your WhatsApp payment account and transaction history (if enabled)
At this point, it will be like you never had a WhatsApp account. There is no way to recover any data.
Can You Recover a Deleted WhatsApp Account?
Since WhatsApp offers a waiting period before permanently deleting your account, the company does not allow you to recover deleted accounts.
Here are the key facts on restoring deleted WhatsApp accounts:
- You cannot recover a WhatsApp account after the waiting period ends
- All your messages, groups, and files are erased permanently
- There is no WhatsApp customer support to help retrieve deleted accounts
- Your only option is to sign up for a new WhatsApp account
The waiting period gives you a final chance to keep your account. But once permanent deletion happens, there is no going back.
How to Know When Your WhatsApp Account Is Fully Deleted
Since the exact account deletion timing is uncertain, how can you confirm when your WhatsApp account is permanently erased?
Here are some ways to check if your account is fully deleted:
- Try registering for WhatsApp again using your old phone number. If the number is available, your old account was likely deleted.
- Check if your WhatsApp backup is still listed in your phone storage or iCloud. If not, your account was likely removed.
- See if any mutual WhatsApp contacts still show your profile photo or last seen status. If not viewable anymore, your account was likely deleted.
- Try logging in on WhatsApp Web using your old phone number. If unable to log in, your account was likely deleted.
Using these methods, you can get a sense of whether the waiting period expired and your account was fully erased from WhatsApp’s system.
Conclusion
Deleting your WhatsApp account permanently takes time. WhatsApp does not immediately remove accounts when deletion is requested.
Instead, there is an unspecified waiting period from the time you delete your account to when it is permanently erased. This period allows you to reactivate your account if desired.
Based on user reports, full WhatsApp account deletion typically takes around 30-90 days. Once the waiting period ends, all your WhatsApp data is permanently erased with no way to recover it.
Knowing about the waiting period dynamics allows you to manage your expectations and understand how long the full account deletion process takes. With billions of users, WhatsApp needs time to thoroughly wipe accounts from their systems.