How to remove a contact on WhatsApp

Last update: 12/02/2025

How to remove a contact on WhatsApp

Are you a user of the Whatsapp messaging app? You may be wondering How to remove a contact on WhatsAppp then. Deleting a contact on WhatsApp is a simple process, but it can raise questions. Discover the steps to remove it from your contact list permanently.

If you've ever wondered whatHow to remove a contact on WhatsApp, in this article you will find the best ways to do it, as well as some Additional tips for managing your privacy in the app. Don't worry, because in addition to learning how to delete a contact from WhatsApp, you will leave this article with much more complementary information that will help you make better use of the most used messaging app. 

What happens when you delete a contact on WhatsApp?

How to remove a contact on WhatsApp

Before proceeding with the deletion, it is important to know what happens when you delete a contact on WhatsApp:

  • The contact will disappear from the chat list if there are no previous conversations.
  • He will continue to see your profile picture and statuses if you don't block him.
  • If they send you messages, the conversation will appear again in the chat list.
  • You won't receive notifications about their statuses, but they might still be able to see yours if your privacy settings allow it.
  • If you add it again in the future, deleted chats will not be restored.

Now that you know what happens when you delete a contact on WhatsApp, we can explain to you step by step how to delete a contact on WhatsApp. But remember, in Tecnobits We have written about any technology topic and we have a thousand guides about Whatsappl. Among them we have this one about How to recover deleted conversations on WhatsApp Web o How to set passwords on WhatsApp and hide conversations.  

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Steps to delete a contact on WhatsApp

How to hide chats on WhatsApp-8

Deleting a contact on WhatsApp is not as straightforward as on other apps, as the app syncs with your phone's address book. To delete it completely, follow these steps:

  • On Android devices:
  • Open WhatsApp and go to the “Chats” tab.
  • Find the contact you want to delete and enter the conversation.
  • Click on their name at the top to access their contact information.
  • Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select “View in Contact Book.”
  • Within the contacts app on your phone, choose “Delete.”
  • Go back to WhatsApp, refresh the contact list and the contact will be gone.
  • On iPhone devices:
  • Open WhatsApp and go to the “Chats” tab.
  • Find and select the contact you want to delete.
  • Tap their name at the top to access their information.
  • Tap “Edit” and then “Delete Contact” in the Contacts app.
  • Go back to WhatsApp and refresh your contact list.

Now you know how to delete a contact on WhatsApp on the two most widely used mobile phone operating systems.

How to delete a contact without deleting their number

Whatsapp logo

If you don't want to delete the number from your address book, but you want it to disappear from WhatsApp, you can do the following:

  • archive the chat: In the conversation list, long press on the conversation and select “Archive.”
  • Mute notifications: Go to the conversation, tap on the contact's name and select "Mute notifications."
  • Limit their visibility on your profile: In Settings > Privacy, configure who can see your photo, status, and last seen.

This method allows you to keep the number saved without the conversation constantly appearing in your chat list.

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Alternative: Block instead of delete

whatsapp logo

If you don't want to delete a contact, but you don't want to receive messages either, you can choose to block them:

  • Open WhatsApp and go to the contact's conversation.
  • Click on their name at the top.
  • Scroll down and select “Block”.
  • Confirm the action and the contact will no longer be able to send you messages or see your statuses.

Blocking is a useful option when you want to keep the number in your address book, but without interactions within the app.

How to stop deleted contacts from sending you messages

Even if you delete a contact, they could still write to you. To avoid this:

  • block the number if you do not wish to receive any more messages.
  • Change your WhatsApp number if you receive unwanted messages from deleted or unknown contacts.
  • Set your account privacy to limit who can see your information.

This is not something you were asking us for in this article on how to remove a contact on WhatsApp, but there may be a situation where you don't want to talk to the person, so we think it's useful.

Additional tips for managing your contacts on WhatsApp

  • Review privacy: Adjust who can see your profile picture, statuses, and last seen.
  • Delete old chats: If you no longer need certain conversations, delete them to free up space.
  • Use the archive option: If you don't want to delete a contact, but want to hide the conversation, archive it.
  • Check blocked contacts: In Settings > Privacy > Blocked Contacts you can manage your block list.
  • Make a backup: Before you delete important contacts or chats, save a copy to Google Drive or iCloud.

Keep reading, this article on how to delete a contact on WhatsApp does not end here. We have different frequently asked questions that we have collected from our articles about WhatsApp.

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FAQ about deleting contacts on WhatsApp

  1. Does the deleted contact know that I deleted them?

No, WhatsApp does not notify the other person when they are deleted.

  1. What happens to old messages?

Chats will remain on WhatsApp unless you delete them manually.

  1. If I delete a contact, does it disappear from my groups?

No, you will still see the contact in any groups you are in together.

  1. Can I recover a deleted contact?

Yes, if you save it again in the calendar, it will appear again in WhatsApp.

And now to finish this article on how to delete a contact on WhatsApp and leave you with the complete pack of tips, let's go with the final conclusions, don't leave yet. We hope that this FAQ on how to delete a contact on WhatsApp has been helpful to you, but if you have any more, we can collect them from the comments themselves.

How to delete a contact on WhatsApp: conclusion

Now that you know cHow to remove a contact on WhatsApp, you can better manage your contact list and privacy in the app. By following these steps, you'll keep your account organized and avoid unwanted interactions. If you just want to limit visibility to certain contacts, you can also opt for blocking or privacy settings for more control over your account. 

We hope that this article on How to delete a contact on WhatsApp and all the alternatives and tips that we have given you for each of the operating systems have been helpful to you. See you in the next article Tecnobits!