WhatsApp whatsapp.com How to delete your WhatsApp account
In WhatsApp, open More options, then Settings, then Account, then Delete my account. Enter your full phone number with country code, pick a reason and confirm. Do it from your primary phone. Deletion can't be reversed.
View all 112 guides- Platform
- whatsapp.com
- Type
- Delete an account
- Last updated
Step by step
- 1
Use your primary phone
You can only delete a WhatsApp account from your primary device, not from a linked device.
- 2
Open More options
In WhatsApp, tap More options, then Settings.
- 3
Go to Account
Tap Account, then Delete my account.
- 4
Enter your phone number
Type your full phone number in international format (country code first).
- 5
Pick a reason and confirm
Choose a reason from the list and confirm the deletion. WhatsApp can't reverse it, even if you did it by accident.
Watch out for
- Deletion is irreversible. WhatsApp says it can't undo it, even if you delete by accident.
- Deleting removes your account from all devices, erases your message history and takes you out of your groups.
- It also deletes your Google Account backup. Save anything you want to keep before you start.
- WhatsApp says full deletion can take up to 90 days from when it starts, and some copies can remain in disaster-recovery backups.
What stays out there
Deleting your WhatsApp account ends the account at WhatsApp. It doesn't reach copies of your details that other companies already hold. If your phone number sits in a people-search listing or a caller-ID database, it stays there until someone asks those sites to take it down.
Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them, including people-search sites that show your name, phone number or address. You can run a free scan to see what's out there.
Frequently asked
Can I delete WhatsApp from a linked device?
No. WhatsApp says you can only delete your account from your primary device.
Does uninstalling WhatsApp delete my account?
The help page describes deletion as a separate action inside the app, under Settings, Account, Delete my account. Use that route.
How long does WhatsApp take to delete my data?
WhatsApp says it can take up to 90 days from the start of the deletion process, and some copies may remain in disaster-recovery backups.
Can I undo deleting my WhatsApp account?
No. WhatsApp says deletion is irreversible and it can't reverse it, even if you delete by accident.
Sources
Related guide Guide: How to Delete Yourself from the Internet Something changed? If these steps no longer match what you see, tell us and we'll re-check it.
