How to Stop WhatsApp Auto Download Media on Android and iOS

How to Stop WhatsApp Auto Download Media on Android and iOS

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, and it’s no secret that it can quickly eat up your phone’s storage with the constant stream of photos and videos that are automatically downloaded.

If you’re tired of constantly deleting unwanted media or running out of storage space, you’ll be glad to know that there’s a simple solution: turning off auto-download. In this post, we’ll walk you through the quick and easy steps on how to stop WhatsApp auto-download media on Android and iOS devices.

WhatsApp is the most popular global mobile messenger app worldwide with over five billion downloads on  Play Store, and 2 billion downloads on iOS devices, with approximately two billion monthly active users, outranking WeChat at 1.2 billion users, and Facebook Messenger at 988 million global users.

How to Stop WhatsApp Auto Download Media on Android

STEP 1: Go to WhatsApp on your mobile and open the app. Click on the bullet icons and then go to settings.

How to Stop WhatsApp Auto Download Media on Android step 3

STEP 2: Go to storage and data 

WhatsApp Auto Download Media on Android step1

STEP 3: Media Auto-Download

Then go to media auto download and click on when using mobile data, and uncheck all four (4) options including:

  • photos,
  • audio,
  • video
  • documents.
WhatsApp Auto Download Media on Android

Note: It’s best to leave the WhatsApp auto-download media turned off when you are using mobile data and when roaming. This will help you save your data. Only allow auto-download WhatsApp media when you are connected to WiFi. 

WhatsApp Auto Download Media on Android

How to Stop WhatsApp Auto Download Media on iOS

STEP 1: First, locate and open the WhatsApp app on your iPhone’s home screen.

STEP 2: Settings

Once you’re in the app, click on “Settings

STEP 3: “Storage and Data.”

Here, you’ll see the “Media Auto-Download” option, which you can tap to open. From here, you can toggle off the “Voice Messages,” “Photos,” “Audio,” and “Videos” options to stop WhatsApp from automatically downloading media in each category.

Once you have turned off auto-download media, you will need to manually download any media that you want to save. To do this, open the chat where the media is located and tap the media file. Then, tap Download.

Disabling auto-download media can help to save space on your device and prevent your data usage from running out.

Conclusion

The best way to keep your phone working seamlessly without any issues is by preventing WhatsApp from automatically downloading media on your Android or iOS device can be a great way to save storage space, reduce data usage, and keep your device running smoothly. By following the simple steps outlined in our guide, you can easily take control of your WhatsApp media settings and enjoy a more personalized messaging experience.

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Posted by
Khael Eke

Khael Eke is an experienced writer and blogger in the field of consumer technology with 3 years of hands-on experience. He has been an editor at Techfyba.com from the outset and his focus and key interests are Android, Xiaomi products, Social Media applications, iOS and accessibility as well as consumer technology in general. Mike's articles will provide you with the practical solutions, knowledge and tools you need to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of technology.

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