WhatsApp is not just a messaging app but allows users to share photos, videos, documents and even GIFs and stickers to make communication fun. The meta-owned app also rolls out new features from time to time to enhance user interface and privacy. However, all the shared media and data of the new updates pile up in the storage, clogging the internal memory of the smartphone.
The filled up storage makes the device slow and even WhatsApp prompts users to free up space in order to continue using the app. To free up space one has to delete app data like large videos, photos, or files saved on your phone which you no longer need.
Here are some of the ways in which you can manage WhatsApp media and delete files you no longer want. But first, how to view WhatsApp storage?
Before deleting any data, check how much space WhatsApp is taking up on your smartphones. You can later delete the items to free up internal storage. To view WhatsApp data:
Open WhatsApp> Settings> Storage and data > Manage storage. You can see the available phone memory and how much space WhatsApp media is taking up.
How to review and delete WhatsApp media
After viewing storage, you can review media and free up storage by deleting items that are large or have been forwarded many times. You can also delete media as per chat. To review and delete media:
- Under Manage Storage, tap on ‘Larger than 5 MB’, or select a specific chat.
- You can also sort media by tapping the sort icon to by Newest, Oldest, or Largest.
- Select and tap on individual or multiple media and then delete them.
Note that even after you delete media from WhatsApp it may still be available on your phone’s storage. So to delete it permanently delete it from the gallery too.
Incase you deleted some files accidentally you can also restore deleted WhatsApp photos and videos
How to delete WhatsApp media through search
You can also delete individual media by using the new filter search feature.
- Open the WhatsApp CHATS tab and then tap on Search.
- Select Photos, Videos, or Documents whatever media you want to search and delete.
- Tap and open the item you want to delete.
- Now tap on More > Delete.
How to set limit to WhatsApp upload quality
WhatsApp also allows users to set limits to media upload quality. To do so-
- Open WhatsApp Settings
- Tap on Storage and data
- Under the available options on Media upload quality, set Auto, Best quality or Data saver.
Users can also control media auto download so that unnecessary media do not auto download on mobile data or Wi-Fi.
