Doing a factory reset on your phone can be a great way to give it a fresh start and clear out any bugs or performance issues. But before resetting your device to factory settings, you may be wondering if you need to uninstall apps like WhatsApp first.
The Short Answer
The short answer is no, you do not need to uninstall WhatsApp before doing a factory reset. The reset will erase all data and settings on your phone, including any installed apps. So uninstalling apps beforehand is not necessary.
Will a Factory Reset Delete WhatsApp?
Yes, a factory reset will delete WhatsApp along with all other installed apps and their data. During the reset process, the phone’s memory is wiped clean and the original factory settings and software are restored.
When you reset your phone, the operating system is reinstalled in its original form without any apps, accounts, settings or personal content on it. This includes pre-installed apps as well as apps you’ve downloaded and installed yourself like WhatsApp.
So you do not need to manually delete or uninstall WhatsApp prior to factory resetting. The reset will automatically remove WhatsApp and all other apps.
What Data is Deleted During a Factory Reset?
Here is an overview of all the data that gets erased when you do a factory reset on a phone:
- Installed apps and their data/settings
- Accounts and passwords
- System settings and preferences
- Downloaded files like photos, videos, documents
- Text messages
- Call history
- Contacts
- Music, books or other media
- WiFi passwords and connections
- Home screen customizations
So as you can see, absolutely everything is deleted including all apps like WhatsApp. Your phone is restored to its original factory condition.
What About WhatsApp Backups?
WhatsApp lets you create backups of your messages and data either locally to your phone’s storage or cloud-based backups to Google Drive or iCloud. But these backups are also deleted during a factory reset.
So don’t count on being able to restore your WhatsApp data from a previous backup after resetting your phone. The reset wipes the entire phone, including all backup files.
You’ll have to create a new WhatsApp backup after reinstalling the app and setting up your account again following the reset.
What Happens to WhatsApp After a Factory Reset?
Here is exactly what happens to WhatsApp when you reset your phone:
- The WhatsApp app is uninstalled from your phone along with all other apps.
- All WhatsApp data and settings are deleted, including your messages, call history, media, groups, and contacts.
- Your WhatsApp account is dissociated from your phone.
- Backups of WhatsApp data are erased.
- Your phone number remains linked to your WhatsApp account.
- You can reinstall WhatsApp after the reset and reconnect your account using the same phone number.
- You’ll have to set up WhatsApp again and re-verify your number via SMS.
- None of your previous WhatsApp data will be restored unless you had a backup on iCloud/Google Drive that wasn’t deleted.
Should I Create a WhatsApp Backup Before Reset?
Considering that factory reset erases all WhatsApp data, it’s a good idea to create a backup before you reset your phone. This will allow you to restore your chats after reinstalling WhatsApp.
Follow these steps to create a WhatsApp backup before factory reset:
- Open WhatsApp Settings.
- Tap Chats > Chat Backup.
- Select Back Up to Google Drive or iCloud Drive.
- Tap Back Up Now to manually create a fresh backup.
- Check that the Last Backup date shows a recent time.
This will save a backup of your WhatsApp data either on Google Drive or iCloud depending on your phone’s operating system. The backup data won’t be deleted during factory reset.
Once you reinstall WhatsApp after the reset, you can restore your chats and media from this backup so you don’t lose your previous WhatsApp data.
Can I Save WhatsApp Media Before Reset?
Apart from chat backups, you may also want to save WhatsApp media files like photos and videos before a factory reset. These files will also be erased from your phone storage during the reset.
To save WhatsApp media before resetting:
- Open the WhatsApp Media folder in your phone’s local storage.
- Select the photos or videos you want to save.
- Tap the Share icon and upload files to a cloud storage service like Google Photos or iCloud.
- You can also transfer the files to a computer for backup before reset.
This will ensure you have copies of your WhatsApp media that can be restored once you set WhatsApp up again after factory reset.
Steps to Reinstall WhatsApp After Factory Reset
Once you have reset your phone and gone through the setup process for the operating system, you can reinstall WhatsApp with these steps:
- Download and install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Open WhatsApp and enter your phone number when prompted.
- You will receive an SMS with a verification code to activate your account.
- Enter the code to verify your number.
- WhatsApp will reload your account information and settings.
- If you had a backup enabled, you’ll be asked if you want to restore your chats and media.
- Restore your backup when prompted to get back your old WhatsApp data.
And that’s it! With your account restored, it will be like your WhatsApp was never deleted in the first place.
Can I Transfer WhatsApp to a New Phone Before Resetting?
If you’re factory resetting your current phone because you have a new phone, you may want to move your WhatsApp account to the new device before resetting.
There are a couple ways to transfer WhatsApp to a new phone:
- Create a new backup from WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and then restore this backup on your new phone after installing WhatsApp.
- Use the WhatsApp built-in Change Number feature to change your account’s associated number to your new phone number.
- Scan the WhatsApp QR code from your old phone in WhatsApp on your new phone to transfer your account.
This will allow you to set up WhatsApp on your new device with your existing account and data before resetting your old phone.
Should I Delete WhatsApp Account Before Selling My Phone?
If you plan to sell your phone or give it away to someone else, you should delete your WhatsApp account and perform a factory reset beforehand. This protects your privacy and ensures the next user doesn’t have access to your WhatsApp data.
To fully remove your WhatsApp before selling or recycling your phone:
- Open WhatsApp Settings.
- Go to Account > Delete My Account.
- Enter your phone number and tap Delete My Account to confirm.
- Perform a factory reset on the phone to wipe all data.
This completely erases your WhatsApp account along with all your messages, groups, and media before the phone changes ownership.
Closing Thoughts on Resetting WhatsApp
To recap the key points on whether to uninstall WhatsApp before a factory reset:
- You do not need to manually delete WhatsApp prior to resetting your phone.
- The factory reset will automatically wipe WhatsApp and all other apps.
- Make sure to back up your WhatsApp chats so you can restore them later.
- Also save any important WhatsApp media you want to keep.
- Once your phone is reset, reinstall WhatsApp and restore your backup.
With a properly preserved backup, you won’t lose your WhatsApp data and history even after a full factory reset. Just make sure your backup is recent before resetting your phone.
FAQs About Resetting WhatsApp
Does factory reset delete WhatsApp backup files?
Yes, a factory reset will delete any WhatsApp backup files saved locally on your phone’s storage. Cloud-based backups on Google Drive or iCloud will not be deleted.
Can I recover my WhatsApp backup after factory reset?
You can only recover your WhatsApp backup from a cloud service like Google Drive or iCloud. Local phone backups are erased during factory reset.
Will my WhatsApp messages be deleted if I reset my phone?
Yes, resetting your phone deletes all WhatsApp messages, media, settings along with everything else on the device.
Can I use WhatsApp on a new phone before resetting my old phone?
You cannot use the same WhatsApp account on two phones simultaneously. You’d need to transfer your account to the new phone before resetting and wiping your old device.
Is it better to delete or uninstall WhatsApp before selling my phone?
It’s best to both uninstall WhatsApp and delete your WhatsApp account before selling your phone to fully remove your data.