WhatsApp storage can easily grow beyond 5 GB on Android and iPhone due to photos, videos, voice notes, and forwarded media. Over time, this can slow down your phone and eat up valuable space.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to reduce WhatsApp storage, delete unnecessary media, and prevent WhatsApp from using too much space without losing important chats.
How to Check WhatsApp Storage Usage
Before deleting anything, identify what’s taking up space.
Steps:
Open WhatsApp
Go to Settings → Storage and Data → Manage Storage
Here you can see:
Total WhatsApp storage used
Chats sorted by size (largest chats first)
This makes it easy to find and delete large files quickly.
Find and Delete Large Files in WhatsApp
Large videos and forwarded media are the biggest storage hogs.
What to delete first:
Old videos
Forwarded memes
Unnecessary images
Voice notes you no longer need
Tip: Deleting media from just 3–5 large chats can free several GB of storage instantly.
Stop WhatsApp From Auto-Downloading Media
Auto-download is a major reason WhatsApp storage increases rapidly.
Disable auto-download:
Go to Settings → Storage and Data → Media Auto-Download
Set:
Mobile Data: No media
Wi-Fi: Select only essentials
Roaming: No media
This prevents WhatsApp from downloading every photo and video automatically.
Clear Forwarded Media From WhatsApp Groups
Group chats are silent storage killers.
How to clean group media:
Open Manage Storage
Select a large group
Filter by Videos or Photos
Select all unnecessary forwarded content and delete
Focus on removing:
Status videos
“Good morning” or “Good night” messages
Random viral clips
You don’t need years of forwarded junk stored on your phone.
Enable Disappearing Messages to Reduce Storage
Disappearing messages help keep WhatsApp storage under control automatically.
How to enable:
Open a chat
Tap the contact or group name
Select Disappearing Messages
Choose:
24 hours or 7 days for active groups
90 days for low-priority chats
Messages will auto-delete, reducing long-term storage buildup.
Reduce WhatsApp Backup Size (Android & iPhone)
Cloud backups can become huge over time.
For Android (Google Drive):
– Open Google Drive app → Menu → Backups
– Find WhatsApp backup → check size
– If it’s massive, consider:
– Turning off video backup in WhatsApp (Settings → Chats → Chat backup)
– Deleting old backup and creating a fresh, lighter one
For iPhone (iCloud):
– Go to Settings → [YourName] → iCloud → Manage Storage → WhatsApp
– See how much it uses and adjust backup options in WhatsApp
Backups should save essentials, not every meme ever sent.
Your phone storage frees up, WhatsApp feels lighter, and you don’t lose what truly matters.
Best Way to Manage WhatsApp Storage Regularly
The easiest way to stay in control:
Open WhatsApp → Settings → Storage and Data → Manage Storage
WhatsApp shows exactly which chats and files are using the most space, allowing quick cleanup anytime.
By cleaning large chats, stopping auto-downloads, managing backups, and using disappearing messages, you can reduce WhatsApp storage from 5+ GB to under 1–2 GB easily.