This is for you if… WhatsApp photos and videos are filling your phone storage and you are not sure what is safe to delete.
I was helping someone in Ely whose phone was almost full, even though they had deleted lots of apps. The real culprit was years of WhatsApp videos saved inside busy family chats.
Before you start
Deleting WhatsApp media can free a lot of space, but check before deleting anything important. If a photo matters, save it to Photos or make sure it is backed up first.
Step-by-step: check WhatsApp storage
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap Settings. On iPhone it is usually at the bottom right. On Android, tap the three dots first.
- Tap Storage and Data.
- Tap Manage Storage.
- Wait for WhatsApp to show what is using space.
- Look for large files, videos and frequently forwarded items.
- Tap a chat or storage category to review it.
- Tap items you do not need.
- Choose delete or bin.
- Confirm only when you are sure.
Step-by-step: stop WhatsApp saving everything automatically
- Open WhatsApp.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Storage and Data.
- Look for Media Auto-Download.
- Choose what downloads on mobile data, Wi-Fi and roaming.
- Turn off automatic downloading for photos and videos if you want more control.
- On iPhone, also check whether WhatsApp is saving to Photos.
- Open a chat and test by saving only the photos you actually want.
What to delete first
- Long videos usually free the most space.
- Forwarded joke videos can build up quickly.
- Old group chats often contain lots of duplicate media.
- Voice notes and documents can also use space.
Need help?
For ongoing help and peace of mind across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, see my membership. For one-off storage help, you can book a visit.