Clearing the WhatsApp storage data can be useful if you are running low on phone storage space or want to delete old chats and media. However, it also deletes your WhatsApp account information and settings. So before clearing the WhatsApp data, it’s important to understand what exactly will be deleted.
What gets deleted when you clear WhatsApp data?
Here are the items that will be deleted if you clear the WhatsApp storage data:
- Your chat history – All individual and group conversations will be erased.
- Media files – Photos, videos, GIFs, voice messages, documents etc. sent and received on WhatsApp will be deleted.
- Call history – All call logs made over WhatsApp will be removed.
- Backup – Any local backups you have saved on your device will be cleared.
- Settings – All your preferences and customizations will go back to default.
- Account info – Your phone number association with your WhatsApp account will be removed.
So in essence, clearing the WhatsApp data deletes your entire account info and chat history from the app on your phone. Your WhatsApp account continues to exist but will have no data associated with it on your device.
What data is retained after clearing WhatsApp storage?
Some items are not deleted when you clear WhatsApp storage data:
- Your WhatsApp account – Your account continues to exist but has no data.
- Backups on Google Drive – Cloud backups are not touched.
- Media files sent to others – Photos, videos etc. you have sent to other people will still be there on their devices.
- Linked accounts – Any social media accounts linked to your WhatsApp account will remain intact.
So your actual WhatsApp account, cloud backups and data sent to other users is retained. But all personal chat history, media, settings etc. on your phone is erased.
Step-by-step guide to clear WhatsApp data
Here are the steps to clear storage data for WhatsApp on Android and iOS devices:
On Android
- Open WhatsApp and tap the More options (three dots) icon.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap on Clear Data and confirm when prompted.
- Wait for WhatsApp to clear all storage data and cache.
- Your WhatsApp will restart with all data erased except your account.
On iPhone
- Go to iPhone Settings > Tap on the WhatsApp option.
- Tap on the Clear Data option at the bottom.
- Confirm clearing the data again when prompted.
- Wait for WhatsApp to restart with all local data deleted.
This process takes just a few minutes to complete.
What happens when you re-install WhatsApp after clearing data?
Re-installing WhatsApp on your device after clearing data will be like using WhatsApp for the first time:
- You’ll have to validate your phone number again.
- All your chats and media will appear empty.
- You’ll have to re-customize all settings and preferences.
- None of your chat history is restored.
- You’ll see the onboarding screens again before accessing your account.
So clearing data resets WhatsApp entirely on your device. Re-installing it starts you on a clean slate.
Can you recover cleared WhatsApp data?
Unfortunately, there is no way to retrieve deleted WhatsApp data like chats and media after clearing the storage. But here are some recovery options:
- iCloud/Google Drive backups – If you had recent backups enabled, you can restore data.
- Media sent to others – Ask people you chatted with to send your media back to you.
- Linked accounts – You can still access any social media accounts you had linked.
- Repair tool – Some data recovery apps claim to salvage residual data.
But there are no guarantees. Preventive backups are the only foolproof way to protect your WhatsApp data.
Useful tips before clearing WhatsApp storage data
Here are some useful tips to follow before clearing your WhatsApp storage:
- Backup chats – Create a manual backup on Google Drive or iCloud.
- Export chats – Use the Export Chat option in WhatsApp to save important conversations.
- Media transfer – Move important photos, videos etc. to another app or your phone storage.
- Note key info – Save names, numbers of important groups or contacts somewhere else.
- Unlink accounts – Disconnect any social media accounts linked for convenience.
Taking these preparatory steps will ensure you don’t lose data that matters.
When should you clear WhatsApp storage data?
Here are some common situations when clearing WhatsApp storage makes sense:
- Switching phones – Move to a new phone with a clean slate.
- Freeing up space – Deleting old data you no longer need.
- Selling your phone – Wipe before selling your device to be safe.
- Troubleshooting – Fix bugs or crashes by resetting the app.
- Privacy – Start fresh if you don’t want old data lying around.
Clearing WhatsApp is essentially a factory reset for the app on your phone. It’s useful when changing devices or spring cleaning your data.
Risks of accidentally clearing WhatsApp data
Accidentally clearing all WhatsApp data is easy to do and has some risks:
- Permanent data loss – Contacts, chats, media etc. can’t be recovered.
- Loss of memories – Conversations and photos from years may disappear.
- Missing information – Like passwords sent and received on WhatsApp.
- Stalled conversations – Ongoing discussions with people will abruptly stop.
- Confused contacts – Friends and family will wonder why you aren’t replying.
So you must be very careful while clearing WhatsApp storage. Accidental data loss can disrupt your digital life significantly.
How to avoid accidentally clearing WhatsApp data
Here are some tips to avoid accidentally clearing all WhatsApp data:
- Be attentive – Read prompts carefully before tapping OK to delete data.
- Add authentication – Set up fingerprint lock or face ID to access WhatsApp settings.
- Lock down settings – On iPhone, disable ability to modify WhatsApp settings.
- Caution with backups – When taking backups, don’t choose to include WhatsApp data.
- Extra confirmation – Enable an extra deletion confirmation prompt in WhatsApp settings.
Setting up precautions like double authentication and disabling modifications can prevent major mistakes.
Conclusion
Clearing WhatsApp data provides a fresh start by erasing your personal chats, media, settings and other information stored on your phone by the app. It does not delete your actual WhatsApp account. However, the data loss is permanent unless you have preventive backups in place. Clearing WhatsApp makes sense when changing phones, troubleshooting issues or freeing up space by deleting old data. But you must be very careful not to clear data accidentally without backups. Following some simple precautions can help avoid this disastrous mistake.