WhatsApp is one of the most popular mobile messaging apps, which lets you send photos and videos to your loved ones for free. And you must have noticed that WhatsApp automatically downloads most media and piles up your storage. Fortunately, WhatsApp lets you stop those annoying automatic downloads on your mobile and computer devices. Here’s how to stop auto download on mobile and computer.
All these media come from chats, groups, and the recently introduced Channels. Turning off WhatsApp auto-download can save you from running out of mobile data and storage space and even some embarrassing moments when someone has sent you NSFW media and it gets automatically shown in your gallery. In this article, we will stop this for good. Let’s get started.
Turn off Auto-Download in WhatsApp on Mobile
If you’ve joined too many WhatsApp groups and Channels, you must know the pain of tons of unnecessary photos and videos getting downloaded on your device without even opening them.
Plus, turning off auto download of WhatsApp media can also help save your mobile data. Let’s look at the steps to stop this on Android and iOS.
On Android
Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your Android smartphone and tap the kebab menu.
Step 2: Tap Settings from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Tap Storage and data in the WhatsApp Settings page.
Step 4: Tap on an option from the Media auto-download section to change it.
For illustration, we’re proceeding with mobile data and Wi-Fi options.
Step 5: Tap and uncheck the type of media that you wish not to download on your mobile data automatically and tap OK.
Step 6: Now, do the same for Wi-Fi and tap OK.
Tip: Tap and choose When Roaming to change the auto-download settings while roaming.
Tip: Learn how to read WhatsApp messages without letting the sender know.
On iPhone
Step 1: Launch the WhatsApp app on your iPhone and tap the Settings tab.
Step 2: On the Settings page, tap Storage and Data.
Step 3: Tap Photos under the Media Auto Download section.
Step 4: Now, choose Never or Wi-Fi, depending on your preference for auto-downloading photos on your iPhone. Once done with the Photos settings, tap the back arrow to go back.
Step 5: Now, tap Audio.
Step 6: Tap and select Never or Wi-Fi for audio, too. Once done, tap the back arrows to go back to WhatsApp. And that’s it.
Tip: If needed, repeat the same steps for Video and Documents from the same page.
Once done, WhatsApp will stop automatically downloading for all chats, groups, and channels.
Also Read: How to download WhatsApp status (photos and videos) on any device.
Stop Media From Automatically Downloading on WhatsApp on Computer
Unlike mobile devices, WhatsApp doesn’t directly save the media to a folder on the computer. But if you have been using WhatsApp for too long, you can notice the growing amount of space the WhatsApp app or the web browser takes.
Like WhatsApp on mobile devices, you can also stop photos, videos, and other media from automatically downloading on WhatsApp on your computer. Follow these steps.
On Web
Step 1: Open the WhatsApp web in any browser on your Mac or PC.
Step 2: Click the kebab menu (three dots).
Step 3: Now, click Settings from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Click Media auto-download.
Step 5: Now, click and uncheck the box next to the type of media you don’t want to download while using WhatsApp on the web automatically.
Step 6: Once done, click the back arrow to go back to the WhatsApp app, and that’s it.
On Windows App
Step 1: Open the WhatsApp app on your Windows PC.
Step 2: Click Settings (gear icon) from the left bar.
Step 3: Now, click Storage.
Step 4: Click and uncheck all the media you wish not to download automatically. Click outside the pop-up to close Settings and go back to WhatsApp. And that’s it.
On Mac App
Step 1: Launch the WhatsApp app on your Mac or PC.
Step 2: Click on the down arrow to expand the menu.
Step 3: Click Settings from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Now, select Media auto-download.
Step 5: Click and uncheck the box next to the type of media you don’t want to download on your computer automatically.
Step 6: Click the back arrow to go back to the WhatsApp app, and that’s it.
Must Read: How to stop auto-downloading photos in WhatsApp groups.
Bonus: Turn on Low Data Calls in WhatsApp
If you wish to save more data using WhatsApp on your mobile devices, try turning on low data calls from the WhatsApp settings. Let’s look at the steps to take.
On Android
Step 1: Launch the WhatsApp app on your Android smartphone and tap the kebab menu (three dots).
Step 2: Tap Settings.
Step 3: Tap Storage and data in the WhatsApp settings page.
Step 4: Tap and turn on ‘Use less data for calls’. And that’s it.
On iPhone
Step 1: Open the WhatsApp app on your iPhone and tap the Settings tab.
Step 2: Tap Storage and Data.
Step 3: Now, tap to turn on the toggle for ‘Use Less Data for Calls’. And that’s it; from now on, WhatsApp calls will use less data on your iPhone.
Save Data Using WhatsApp
Turning off automatic media downloads in WhatsApp will not only save you storage and mobile data but also help you declutter your gallery. Take control of your WhatsApp by following the steps mentioned in this guide.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
