WhatsApp | DeFacebookMe

In this section, we'll discuss how to backup and download your WhatsApp data. Then we'll walk through how to delete WhatsApp account, which will also delete any backups so it's important to download a backup if you want to keep that data.

Also, as a nomadic person - living without WhatsApp is nearly impossible, therefore I suggest creating a burner phone number to sign up to WhatsApp with and use it for businesses / group chats / acquintances(aka people you really don't want to give your phone number to).

Open WhatsApp on Your Phone

Go to 'Settings'

Click on 'Chats'

Click on 'Chat Backup'

Click on 'Backup Now'

Check Latest Backup Time

DOWNLOAD BACKUP

DELETION: Go to 'Account'

Click on 'Delete My Account'

Enter Your Phone Number and Click 'Delete My Account'

OPTIONAL: Create a new 'burner' account

Click on 'For personal use' and Click on 'Web'

Sign In to Your Google Account

Search for an Area Code You'd Like to Use

Choose a Number and Click on Select

Click on Verify

Enter Your Personal Number to Verify

Click on Send code

Enter the Code Sent to Your Phone and Click on Verify

Click on Finish

Click on Finish (again)

You Can Now Download and Sign Up for WhatsApp Using Your New Number

Alternatives

1. Open WhatsApp on Your Phone

2. Go to 'Settings'

Step 2 screenshot

3. Click on 'Chats'

Step 3 screenshot

4. Click on 'Chat Backup'

Step 4 screenshot

5. Click on 'Backup Now'

Backup will take sometime to complete Step 5 screenshot

6. Check Latest Backup Time

Make sure your 'Last Backup' was Today Step 6 screenshot

7. DOWNLOAD BACKUP

Without this step - when you delete your account you will lose all chat history

8. DELETION: Go to 'Account'

NOTE - Deleting your account will:

Delete your account info and profile photo.
Delete you from all WhatsApp groups.
Delete your WhatsApp message history backup.

9. Click on 'Delete My Account'

Step 9 screenshot

10. Enter Your Phone Number and Click 'Delete My Account'

WARNING: This will completely delete your account and chat backups. If you haven't downloaded a backup you will lose your history.

From WhatsApp...

If you delete your account:

You can't regain access to your account.
It may take up to 90 days from the beginning of the deletion process to delete your WhatsApp information. Copies of your information may also remain after the 90 days in the backup storage that we use to recover in the event of a disaster, software error, or other data loss event. Your information isn't available to you on WhatsApp during this time.
It doesn't affect your information related to the groups you created or the information other users have relating to you, such as their copy of the messages you sent them.
We may retain certain log data in our databases even after you delete your account, but such data will be disassociated from any identifying information such that it can no longer be linked to your account. To do this, on a regular basis, we wipe certain identifying information from this log data, and we replace any instance of your account ID with a replacement identifier which cannot be linked back to your account once it is deleted.
We may also keep your information for things like legal issues, terms violations, or harm prevention efforts.
Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.
Your information shared with other Facebook Companies will also be deleted.

11. OPTIONAL: Create a new 'burner' account

If you travel often, or live in a country where WhatsApp is used regularly for business you may need to have it. You can use your personal number although I suggest creating a 'burner' phone number to have a WhatsApp for small business ordering or casual relationships where you mainly have transactional discussions. You can continue to use your personal phone number or set up another number on a number of apps...Burner, Google Voice, Skype, etc.

Google Voice Step 11 screenshot