---
title: "Handling Deleted Messages"
slug: "handling-deleted-messages"
updated: 2025-07-31T11:42:04Z
published: 2025-07-31T11:42:04Z
canonical: "docs.smarsh.com/handling-deleted-messages"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.smarsh.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Handling Deleted Messages

WhatsApp Phone Capture allows you to delete messages. The app archives the deleted messages with the new DELETED status. When the deleted messages are archived, the subject line indicates whether the message was read prior to deletion. The deleted messages are archived with the original message. Attachments are not archived to reduce the storage volume.

When deleted messages are archived, the subject line is displayed as follows in the archive:

| **Message Deleted By** | **Conversation Type** | **Subject Line** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sender | One-to-One Chat | - Receiver has read the message: - DELETED – READ – is prefixed to the original subject line. - Example: DELETED – READ WhatsApp Message From 16174354634 to 12124325249 - Receiver has not read the message: - DELETED – UNREAD – is prefixed to the original subject line. - Example: DELETED – UNREAD - WhatsApp Message From 16174354634 to 12124325249 |
| Sender | Group Chat or Broadcast Chat | - All users have read the message: - DELETED – READ – is prefixed to the original subject line. - Example: DELETED – READ - WhatsApp Message from 16174354634 to Sales Group. - All participants are listed in the recipients list. - All users have not read the message: - DELETED – UNREAD – is prefixed to the original subject line. - Example: DELETED – UNREAD - WhatsApp Message from 16174354634 to Sales Group - All participants are listed in the recipients list. - Some group members have read the message and some have not: - DELETED – UNKNOWN – is prefixed to the original subject line. - Examples: - DELETED For Me - UNKNOWN WhatsApp message from 13132613968 to broadcast group - DELETED For All - UNKNOWN WhatsApp message from 13132613968 to broadcast group |
| Receiver | - | - Message is always archived with DELETED – READ – prefixed to the original subject line. - Example: DELETED – READ - WhatsApp Message From 16174354634 to 12124325249 |