In this tutorial, we will show you how to temporarily deactivate your WhatsApp account, or delete it permanently. All this directly from your iPhone.
Are you suffering from information overload? Is using multiple chat services to stay in touch with friends and family starting to feel like a burden?
People who rarely use WhatsApp and don’t envision using the service much going forward might be wondering whether they can nuke their account and all of the underlying data. The answer to that question is a resounding ‘yes!’ But first, let’s talk about deactivating it.
Deactivate WhatsApp temporarily
Unlike most social media apps that offer the option to deactivate your account and take a break for some time, there is no way to deactivate your WhatsApp account.
However, if you lost your phone, you can email WhatsApp at support@whatsapp.com, and they will deactivate your account. Make sure the email subject title or body has the phrase “Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account” and tell them your phone number in full international format with country code and local code (if applicable). You can learn more about it here.
Permanently delete your WhatsApp account
- Launch WhatsApp on your iPhone.
- Tap Settings from the bottom right.
- Head into the Account section.
- Choose Delete My Account.
- Select your country and enter your phone number.
- Finish the process by tapping Delete My Account at the bottom and following the simple on-screen instructions.
Once your WhatsApp account is deleted, you can remove its app from your iPhone.
What happens when you delete your WhatsApp account
When you delete your WhatsApp account, the following things happen:
- Your phone number is no longer associated with WhatsApp
- Your account is removed from your friends’ WhatsApp Favorites lists
- Your account is deleted from all WhatsApp groups
- Your WhatsApp chats and media are erased from the app
- Your service payment information is removed from WhatsApp servers
Keep in mind that you can always reactivate your account by re-registering your mobile phone number, or some other, with the service, but you cannot get back your old chats.
Reactivate your deleted WhatsApp account
- Download WhatsApp on your iPhone and open it.
- Enter your phone number to verify and register with the service.
What if you just want a break?
Here are some things you can do to take a break from WhatsApp on your iPhone:
- Turn off all its notifications: Settings app > Notifications > WhatsApp, and turn off Allow Notifications.
- Hide WhatsApp from the Home Screen so that it isn’t visible.
- Offload the app, which will delete the app but keep its data intact.
- Delete the app. You can reinstall it later and sign in again using your phone number. Note that this will remove all your chats unless you back up and restore them while re-setting up your account.
WhatsApp automatically deletes inactive accounts
WhatsApp will delete your account if you have not been active for 120 days. So to keep your account active, connect your phone to the internet and open the WhatsApp app at least once every four months.
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