- How to delete a chat on WhatsApp
- How to delete a group chat
- How to delete all your WhatsApp chats at once
- Delete vs clear vs exit
- How to clear a chat instead
- Watch the photos tick box
- Can you get a deleted WhatsApp chat back?
- Does deleting a chat delete it for the other person?
- Old chats you're not sure about
- My advice
- Frequently asked questions
To delete a chat on WhatsApp, go to the Chats tab, tap and hold the chat, then tap More options and Delete chat. For a group, you have to exit the group first, then tap and hold it again and choose Delete group. WhatsApp says a deleted chat can't be undone, and it can't recover it for you.
The bit most people don't realise is that deleting and clearing are different. Delete removes the whole conversation from your Chats list. Clear empties the messages but leaves the chat where it was. Here's how each works, from WhatsApp Help, read in October 2026.
How to delete a chat on WhatsApp
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab.
- Tap and hold the chat you want to delete.
- Tap More options, then Delete chat.
- Confirm.
This deletes the whole conversation. If you only want to remove a message or two, that's a different job, done message by message with Delete for me or Delete for everyone.
How to delete a group chat
WhatsApp won't let you delete a group you're still in. You leave first:
- In the Chats tab, tap and hold the group chat.
- Tap More options, then Exit group, then Exit group again to confirm.
- Tap and hold the group chat again.
- Tap More options, then Delete group.
If the group is part of a community, WhatsApp says you can find it by tapping the community or by searching the group name in the search bar.
How to delete all your WhatsApp chats at once
- In the Chats tab, open the menu and tap Settings.
- Tap Chats, then Chat history.
- Tap Delete all chats, then Delete all.
Here's the catch: WhatsApp says this deletes your individual chats and status updates, but group chats stay visible in your Chats tab and you're still a member of them unless you exit each one.
Delete vs clear vs exit
| Action | What happens | Chat still in your list? |
|---|---|---|
| Delete chat | Removes the whole conversation | No |
| Clear chat | Removes all messages inside the chat | Yes, empty |
| Exit group | You leave the group | Yes, until you delete it |
| Delete all chats | Removes individual chats and status updates | Groups stay |
How to clear a chat instead
Clearing is the better option when you want a fresh start with someone but still want the chat handy at the top of your list.
- Open the chat you want to clear.
- Tap More options, then More, then Clear chat.
- Tick or untick Also delete media received in this chat from the device gallery.
- Tap Clear chat.
You can clear every chat at once too, from Settings, then Chats, then Chat history, then Clear all chats. There you'll also see an option to delete starred messages. WhatsApp says clearing won't remove you from a group or remove the chat from your Chats tab.
Watch the photos tick box
When you clear a chat, WhatsApp asks whether to also delete media received in the chat from your phone's gallery. Tick it, and those photos and videos go from your phone as well, not just from WhatsApp. Leave it unticked if you want to keep them.
Can you get a deleted WhatsApp chat back?
Only from a backup. WhatsApp says it can't recover deleted chats for you. You can only get a chat back if your latest backup happened before you deleted it, and you'll lose anything sent after that backup. The same applies to a cleared chat.
So if there's any chance you'll want it later, check when your last backup ran before you delete anything. If you're trying to read something someone else removed, here's what's possible with seeing deleted messages on WhatsApp.
Does deleting a chat delete it for the other person?
WhatsApp's chat deletion help is about your own Chats tab. Deleting a chat removes it from your phone; it doesn't describe removing anything from the other person's phone. To take back what you sent, you'd need Delete for everyone on individual messages, which has its own rules.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Thinking of removing the whole app? Our guide to deleting WhatsApp explains what happens to your account.
Old chats you're not sure about
WhatsApp doesn't delete your chats on its own unless you've set disappearing messages. My guide on whether WhatsApp deletes old messages explains when messages vanish by themselves and when they stay forever.
My advice
Clear rather than delete when it's someone you talk to often, and untick the media box unless you're sure. Delete when you want the conversation gone from your list for good. And either way, glance at your last backup date first, because there's no undo.
Removing individual messages is a different job, covered in our guide to deleting single WhatsApp messages.
Frequently asked questions
How do I delete a chat on WhatsApp?
In the Chats tab, tap and hold the chat, then tap More options and Delete chat.
How do I delete a WhatsApp group chat?
Exit the group first. Then tap and hold the group chat again and choose Delete group.
What's the difference between delete chat and clear chat on WhatsApp?
Delete removes the whole conversation from your Chats tab. Clear removes all the messages but leaves the chat in your list.
Can WhatsApp recover a deleted chat?
No. WhatsApp says it can't recover deleted chats. You can only restore one from a backup made before you deleted it.
Does deleting all chats delete my groups?
No. WhatsApp says group chats stay in your Chats tab and you remain a member unless you exit them.
Will clearing a chat delete photos from my phone?
Only if you tick Also delete media received in this chat from the device gallery.
