If you are ready to leave WhatsApp behind by following the new privacy policy, we cannot blame you. Maybe you’re ready for an exchange, and that’s okay too. Either way, there are many messaging platforms to choose from, but first, you have to abandon WhatsApp forever. Here are the steps you need to delete a WhatsApp account.
While we can guide you through the necessary steps, it’s up to you to decide where to go next. At the moment, Signal and Telegram are among the most popular options, so we suggest starting there. For now, let’s say goodbye to WhatsApp once and for all.
How to delete your WhatsApp account:
There is practically only one way to skin this cat, and you will need your phone to do so. You can’t get rid of your WhatsApp account using the web app – we tried. On the positive side, it should only take a minute and you do not need to provide much justification as to why you want to leave. Just follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone.
- Touch the three points icon in the upper right corner. This will open a small menu of options.
- To choose settings in the drop-down menu.
- Enter the Account settings menu section. You will find Account just below your name at the top of the screen. Your first two menu selections will look like this:
Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority
- Locate the Delete my account option at the bottom of the list and touch it.
- Enter your phone number and tap the red Delete my account button.
- Indicate why you are deleting your account from the drop-down menu and touch the red Delete my account button.
- Touch the red Delete my account button one last time. Here’s what your last three menus should look like:
Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority
And that’s it, enough WhatsApp account for you. As we said, this was not very painful to do. You will have to confirm that you really want to delete your WhatsApp account a few times, but that may not be a bad thing. This helps to emphasize that you will not get that account back in the future. Once your account is closed and you return to the login page, it will disappear forever.
Now that you’ve learned how to delete a WhatsApp account forever, you should probably choose your new messaging app. Check out some of our favorite private encrypted options here.