How to delete a group in WhatsApp

WhatsApp groups are ideal for keeping in touch with family and friends at the same time. They also provide a great platform for disseminating information to a large number of people at once, such as planning an event.

However, at some point, you might want to leave a WhatsApp group. It may have become tedious or you find the constant chatter between participants distracting. Or maybe the event you had planned has ended and you no longer need the group.

Whatever your reason for wanting to leave a WhatsApp group, the good news is that it can be done easily. In this article, we are looking at how to delete WhatsApp groups from different devices. We also cover how to remove messages and media from a group and how you can hide a group from your view without actually leaving.

How to Delete a Group in WhatsApp on iPhone

Deleting a group on WhatsApp is relatively simple. You can do this as an administrator or as a member. Here's how to delete a group in one of these roles.

Delete a group as admin

1. Open the WhatsApp chat of the group you want to delete.
   
2. Tap the group name at the top of the screen.
   
3. Tap the name of each member you want to remove and choose "Remove from group" from the pop-up window.
   
4. The "Leave Group" option will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap this option.
   
5. The option "Delete group" will appear. Click to confirm your choice.
   

Remove a group as a member

To remove a group as a member, follow these steps:

1. Open the WhatsApp group you want to delete.
   
2. Tap the top bar with the name of the group. The “Group Information” menu will open.
   
3. Tap "Leave Group" at the bottom of the screen. Confirm your choice if prompted.
   
4. Tap "Delete group" to permanently delete the group.
   

Removing a group as a member will not affect other participants who will continue to use the group as usual.

How to Delete a Group in WhatsApp on Android App

To delete a WhatsApp group on Android, follow these simple steps:

Delete a group as administrator:

1. Open the WhatsApp group.
   
2. Tap the group name at the top of the screen.
   
3. In the list of participants, tap the names of the participants you want to remove and select "Remove".
   
4. When done, scroll to the bottom of the page and tap "Leave Group".
   
5. Confirm your choice by clicking on “Exit”.
   
6. When the "Delete group" option appears, tap on it and then confirm your choice by selecting "Delete" in the confirmation box that appears.
   

Remove a group as a member

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the group you want to delete. Tap the group to open the chat.
   
2. Click the group name at the top of the screen.
   
3. Scroll down and tap "Leave Group". Select "Exit" in the confirmation dialog.
   
4. Select the "Delete Group" option that appears. Confirm your choice by selecting “Delete”.
   

How to Delete a Group in WhatsApp on PC

WhatsApp is also supported on a PC and allows you to perform all the same functions as you would on a mobile phone. For example, here is how you would go about deleting a group on WhatsApp from your PC:

1. Log in to your “web.whatsapp.com” account.
   
2. Scan the QR code with your mobile phone.
   
3. Click on the group you want to delete.
   
4. Click on the top chat bar where the group name is displayed.
   
5. When the group information menu appears, scroll down and click "Leave Group". Confirm by clicking "Exit" in the pop-up window.
   
6. The 'Delete Group' option will appear at the bottom of the 'Group Information' menu. Click on it and confirm by choosing "Delete" in the pop-up window.
   

How to Simply Delete Group Media Files

Another aspect of WhatsApp groups that can become problematic is the large number of images, GIFs, and video files that sometimes come with them. This media accumulates quickly and can take up a lot of storage on your phone. Therefore, you may not want to delete a group, but rather delete the media in that group; Here's how:

1. Open WhatsApp. Tap the three dots at the top right of the screen.
   
2. In the new menu, select "Settings".
   
3. Next, choose the “Storage & Data” option.
   
4. Click "Manage Storage". Scroll through the list to find the group whose media you want to remove.
   
5. Click on the group to see all media for that particular group. You can select individual images and videos (by tapping on them to check them) or "Select all" at the top right of the screen.
   
6. After selecting, click the trash can icon at the top right of the screen. Click "Delete" to confirm your choice.
   

Deleting this media will remove it from the group chat for you, but not for other participants.

How to just delete group messages but not the group itself?

If your group chat is getting a bit long and causing storage issues, you have the option to clear group messages and free up storage space without leaving or deleting the group. Here's how to delete your messages:

Delete Messages on Android

1. Open the group you want to delete.
   
2. Click on the three-dot icon at the top right of the screen.
   
3. Choose the option labeled “More”.
   
4. Tap "Clear chat".
   
5. A confirmation window will appear. Check or uncheck the "Delete media in this conversation" box, depending on your preference. Press "Delete" to confirm your decision.
   

Erase Messages on an iPhone

1. Open the group whose messages you want to delete.
   
2. Tap the bar at the top of the screen with the name of the group.
   
3. Tap the “Clear Chat” option at the bottom of the “Group Info” page.
   
4. Check or uncheck the box in the pop-up window asking if you want to delete the media in the chat.
5. Click "Delete" to confirm your choice.

How to remove a group from your view without leaving

If you have a group that you don't want to join but don't want to ruffle the feathers when you leave, you can mute and archive the group. These actions prevent your phone from ringing whenever someone contributes to the chat and removes the group from your chat log. Here's how:

1. Open the WhatsApp group in question.
   
2. Tap the bar that displays the group name at the top of the screen.
   
3. Scroll down the 'Group Info' menu to 'Mute' or 'Mute Notifications'. Toggle to enable.
   
4. In the pop-up window, indicate for how long you want to disable the group. Make sure the "Show notifications" box is unchecked. Press “OK”.
   

You have now muted the group; it's time to archive it:

1. In the WhatsApp chat list, find the group you want to archive. Press and hold on this cat.
   
2. At the top of the screen, tap the "Archive" icon (the folder with an arrow pointing down).
   
3. Once you archive this group, it will no longer appear in your chat list.
   

Deleting groups complete

Deleting groups, messages or media in WhatsApp is relatively simple once you know what to do. Follow the simple instructions in this article, and soon you will be able to manage your WhatsApp groups with your eyes closed.

Did you delete a group in WhatsApp? Did you use a process similar to those presented in this article? If so, let us know by leaving a comment below.