WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. As you use WhatsApp, your contact list can get cluttered with people you no longer talk to or want to message. Fortunately, WhatsApp makes it easy to delete and remove contacts you no longer need.
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When to Delete Contacts
Here are some common reasons to delete WhatsApp contacts:
- You no longer talk to the person and want to remove clutter from your contacts list
- You want to block someone from messaging or calling you on WhatsApp
- The person has changed phone numbers and you only want their updated contact
- You want to delete old business contacts that are no longer relevant
How to Delete a Contact
On Android
- Open the WhatsApp app
- Go to the Chats tab
- Tap the menu icon (3 vertical dots) in the top right
- Select Settings
- Choose Contacts
- Select the contact you want to remove
- Tap Delete to confirm
On iPhone
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab
- Tap the pencil icon in the top right to open your contacts
- Select the contact you want to delete
- Tap Edit in the top right
- Tap Delete Contact and confirm deletion
After deleting, refresh your WhatsApp contacts list to remove the contact.
Removing Contacts from Your Phone’s Address Book
Keep in mind that your WhatsApp contacts come from your phone’s address book. So if you delete a WhatsApp contact, it deletes them from your address book too.
Here’s how to remove a contact just from your address book:
On Android
- Open your phone’s Contacts app
- Find the contact you want to delete
- Tap the menu icon (3 dots)
- Select Delete to remove the contact
On iPhone
- Open your phone’s Contacts app
- Select the contact you want to remove
- Scroll down and tap Delete Contact
- Confirm deletion
This removes the contact from your address book but keeps it in your WhatsApp contact list. You can then delete it separately within WhatsApp if needed.
Important Things to Know
Here are some key points to remember about deleting WhatsApp contacts:
- Blocking a contact prevents them from calling or messaging you, but doesn’t delete the contact
- When you delete a contact, their chat history and media remain in WhatsApp. You have to manually delete the chat.
- Your number will still appear in the contact’s WhatsApp list even if you delete them
- Deleted contacts can be added back by importing back into your address book or re-saving their number
Overall, deleting WhatsApp contacts is straightforward. Just tap through a few menus to remove contacts you no longer need or want messaging you. Keep your digital life tidy by cleaning out old contacts every so often!