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How to Stop WhatsApp from Saving Photos

Kirk McElhearn
Kirk McElhearn
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Hey there WhatsApp users ✌🏼

I bet at least one person receives thousands of pics and videos on WhatsApp, and all of them land on their iPhone Camera Roll. I bet twice that this is one of the most annoying things in the world. So, how can you stop this frenzy and finally take control of your iPhone media?

Why would I do this?

Well, we all have those chats with a million participants, college groups, or parent chats where moms and dads discuss whether kids should stay home or go to school during the quarantine. And yes, not even a single percent of all the videos and images you receive need to be saved on your iPhone.

Currently, WhatsApp's default settings automatically download shared media files to the device, using up a lot of storage space. You just lose track of your iPhone storage, and it gets on your nerves. Your Camera Roll becomes a mess, and you can't find a necessary picture or video. Let's resolve it once and for all.

And when managing your media becomes overwhelming, don’t forget that AltTunes can also assist with tasks like how to transfer photos from iPhone to PC for backup or organization.

How to Stop WhatsApp from Saving Images in Photos on iPhone

Right, so if you're tired of seeing all the media from WhatsApp in 'Photos', just follow these simple steps:

  1. Open WhatsApp
  2. Go to Settings and select 'Chats'
  3. Turn off the toggle for 'Save to Photos'
How to Stop Whatsapp From Saving Photos iPhone

That's it! You can now enjoy a cleaner Camera Roll without random media cluttering your space. To avoid losing important files in the process, it’s a great idea to learn how to back up your iPhone without iCloud using AltTunes.

How to Stop WhatsApp From Saving Photos At All on iPhone

Now, let's forbid WhatsApp from downloading photos (or any other media) without approval.

  1. Open WhatsApp
  2. Go to Settings and select 'Storage and data'
  3. Select the media type (Photos, Audio, etc.) and the type of connection to use for downloads. Select 'Never' to disallow downloading those files without you trying to open them.
How to Stop Whatsapp From Saving Photos Completely iPhone

This way, you control what gets downloaded to your phone. And if you need to manage the space better, check out AltTunes to transfer files from iPhone to PC quickly and efficiently.

How to Stop WhatsApp from Saving Images in Gallery on Android

  1. Tap the three-dot menu and go to 'Settings' and select 'Chats'.
  2. Toggle off Media visibility. This prevents WhatsApp from showing newly downloaded media in your gallery. You can also do this for specific chats. Once in a chat, tap the 'contact' or 'group name' then 'Media visibility,' pick 'No' and confirm.
How to Stop Whatsapp From Saving Photos in Gallery Android

Once you set these, you will need to manually tap on photos to download them in chat. Managing your media afterward is easy, and AltTunes can help you keep things tidy, such as learning what happens if delete iCloud backup to save space.

How to Stop WhatsApp From Saving Photos At All on Android

  1. Tap the three-dot menu and go to 'Settings' and select 'Storage and Data'.
  2. Under the 'Media auto-download' section, you can select different options (like Wi-Fi, Mobile Data, and Roaming) and the type of media you allow to be downloaded with them. In our case, disable 'Photos' under each section.

You'll need to manually tap the photos in chat to download and cache them on your device afterward.

How to Stop Whatsapp From Saving Photos Android

Afterwords

Congrats, you've got it sorted! Now, you can sigh with relief and not worry about mobile data usage or filling up your iPhone or Android storage.😌

Remember, AltTunes can also be your go-to tool for managing more than just WhatsApp media. Whether you want to save iCloud messages, or maybe you wish to transfer contacts to a new iPhone, it’s your all-in-one solution for managing your iPhone files with ease. 

Plus, AltTunes makes it simple to transfer iPhone to iPhone whenever you upgrade.

Stay tuned for more tips & tricks!

FAQ

How do I stop WhatsApp from saving photos to my iPhone Camera Roll?

To stop WhatsApp from automatically saving photos to your iPhone’s Camera Roll, go to WhatsApp Settings, tap on ‘Chats,’ and turn off the toggle for ‘Save to Photos.’ This will prevent media from automatically saving in your Photos app.

Can I stop WhatsApp from downloading media automatically on iPhone?

Yes, to prevent WhatsApp from automatically downloading media, go to WhatsApp Settings, tap ‘Storage and data,’ and select the media type (Photos, Audio, etc.). Then, choose ‘Never’ to stop automatic downloads for those files.

How do I stop WhatsApp photos from showing in the gallery on Android?

To stop WhatsApp from saving media to your gallery on Android, tap the three-dot menu, go to ‘Settings,’ select ‘Chats,’ and toggle off ‘Media visibility.’ This will prevent new media from appearing in your gallery.

How can I prevent WhatsApp from downloading photos on Android?

To prevent automatic photo downloads on Android, go to WhatsApp Settings, select ‘Storage and Data,’ and under ‘Media auto-download,’ disable ‘Photos’ for Wi-Fi, Mobile Data, and Roaming options. You’ll then need to manually download photos when needed.

Should I block WhatsApp from saving media on my device?

Stopping WhatsApp from saving media helps avoid cluttering your Camera Roll or gallery with unnecessary files, saves storage space, and reduces mobile data usage by preventing automatic downloads of large files.

Kirk McElhearn
Kirk McElhearn
Contributing Writer at Softorino
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