WhatsApp may soon let you logout of the account without losing your data

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is constantly working on new features, which are generally first seen in beta versions before a public release. Now, the popular messaging platform is adding a new logout option, which will let users temporarily switch from their WhatsApp primary account without deleting the existing data. At the moment, WhatsApp only allows you to log out on secondary linked devices, like on computer or tablet. But on the primary device, the only way to stop using WhatsApp is by deleting the account or uninstalling the app.

WhatsApp to let users retain data while logging out: Key details

Reliable tipster AssembleDebug, in collaboration with Android Authority, has spotted a new ‘Logout’ option under the Settings > Account section of the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.17.37. The new logout option provides users with three options: ‘Erase all Data & preferences,’ ‘Keep all Data & preferences,’ and ‘Cancel.’ Choosing the first option will delete all the chats from a user's device, while the second option allows users to log out of their account while preserving all chats, media files, and personal settings.

This option will allow WhatsApp users to return to their account and instantly access their stored messages and files, once they log back in. This is a big change from the current method, where if a user wants to log out of the app, the only real option is to uninstall it or delete their account, or they need to back up their data to Google Drive or to the device’s internal storage to later restore it.

This feature could be suitable for users who want to take a break from using WhatsApp, instead of deleting their account. There's no word on when this new ‘Logout’ button will be rolled out to all users on WhatsApp, but it is expected to be available to beta testers initially before a broader rollout.