- See how much space WhatsApp is using
- Review large files and items forwarded many times
- Delete WhatsApp media you don't need
- Clear media from one WhatsApp chat
- Clear chat vs delete chat: what's the difference?
- What clearing WhatsApp storage keeps and removes
- Stop WhatsApp storage filling up again
- If your phone says storage is low
- Frequently asked questions
To clear WhatsApp storage, open Settings, tap Storage and data, then Manage storage to see what's using space. Then review large files and items forwarded many times, delete media per chat, or clear a chat's media. Deleting this way is permanent and only for you.
If your phone keeps warning you that it's full and WhatsApp is near the top of the list, you're not alone. Years of photos, videos, voice notes and forwarded clips pile up quietly, especially if you're in a few busy groups or you answer customers on the app all day. WhatsApp has a built-in tool for sorting it out, so you can clear the bulk without deleting the chats you care about. Here's how it works, following WhatsApp's help centre, and what stays and what goes.
See how much space WhatsApp is using
WhatsApp's help centre describes two kinds of storage: device storage, which is the space on your phone used by WhatsApp media and files, and backup storage, which is the space your backup uses. This guide is about device storage.
On Android
- Go to WhatsApp Settings.
- Tap Storage and data, then Manage storage.
- The amount of space WhatsApp takes up on your device is shown at the top of the screen.
On iPhone
- Tap your profile picture.
- Tap Storage and data, then Manage storage.
- The approximate amount of space WhatsApp takes up on your device is shown at the top of the screen.
You can also check one chat at a time. Open the chat, tap the chat name, then tap Manage storage. WhatsApp says this shows how much space that chat's media takes up, with files sorted from largest to smallest.
Review large files and items forwarded many times
WhatsApp's help centre says you can free up storage by deleting items that are large or have been forwarded many times, and you can also delete items per chat. On Android, the route is Settings, Chats, Chat backup, Manage your storage, then Review and delete media. In the Review and delete items section, tap Larger than 5 MB to find large files. On iPhone, tap your profile picture, then Chats, Chat backup, Manage your storage and Review and delete media.
Tap an item to look at it before deciding. You can sort by Newest, Oldest or Largest, and the file size shows in the corner of each item. If something important is hiding among the big files, a star is one way to protect it. On iPhone, WhatsApp offers Delete all except starred when your selection includes starred items.
Delete WhatsApp media you don't need
- In Review and delete media, select a chat or channel.
- On Android, tap and hold an item to select it. On iPhone, tap Select.
- Tap more items to pick several, or use Select all.
- Tap the delete icon. If WhatsApp offers to delete copies of duplicates, choose that to free the most space.
- Confirm the delete.
WhatsApp's warnings here are worth reading twice. Deleting an item this way permanently deletes it, and you won't be able to download it again from the chat. It only deletes the item for you, so other people in the chat still see it. And deleted items might still be saved elsewhere on your phone, such as your gallery, so if you've got several copies of an item you'll need to delete all of them to free the space.
Clear media from one WhatsApp chat
Perhaps one group is the problem, such as a family chat full of videos. WhatsApp lets you clear just the media from a chat.
On Android
- Open the chat, tap the three dots, then More, then Clear chat.
- Select Clear media files.
- Tick or untick Videos and GIFs, Photos, Stickers, Documents and Audio to choose what goes.
- Select Clear starred messages if you want starred messages deleted as well.
- Tap Clear media.
On iPhone
- Tap and hold the chat you want to clear, then tap Clear chat.
- Select Clear all media.
- Tick or untick Videos and GIFs, Photos, Stickers, Documents and Audio.
- Tap Clear media.
Clear chat vs delete chat: what's the difference?
You can also clear the entire contents of a chat, including media, links, files and messages. On Android that's the three dots, More, Clear chat, then Clear chat. On iPhone, tap the contact or group name, then Clear chat, then Clear all messages.
| Option | What WhatsApp says it does |
|---|---|
| Clear media | Removes the media types you tick; the messages stay. |
| Clear chat | Removes the chat's contents, including media, links, files and messages. The chat itself isn't deleted and you're not removed from a group, so it's still listed on the Chats tab. |
| Delete chat | Removes the chat from your Chats tab. It's a separate action from clearing. |
A warning: clearing and deleting can't be undone from inside the app, so if the chat matters, keep a copy first. My guide to exporting a WhatsApp chat shows how, and if you only want a chat out of sight, hiding a WhatsApp chat with archive or chat lock keeps it without deleting anything.
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What clearing WhatsApp storage keeps and removes
- Removed: the items you select, from your WhatsApp media on your phone. Other people in the chat still have their own copies.
- Kept: your chats and their messages, unless you clear or delete those separately.
- Kept in your backup for now: WhatsApp says a deleted item stays in your backup until the next time you back up.
- Not removed automatically: copies saved elsewhere on your phone, such as your gallery.
That last point catches people out. If WhatsApp has been saving media to your gallery, deleting it inside WhatsApp may not free the space. I've explained how to stop the saving in my guide to stopping WhatsApp saving photos to your gallery.
Stop WhatsApp storage filling up again
- Set media auto-download to Wi-Fi only, or switch off the types you don't need. It lives in Storage and data, and my guide to how WhatsApp uses data goes through it.
- Check Manage storage now and then, rather than waiting for the full-phone warning.
- Leave groups you no longer need.
- For business use, save important customer files into a folder or cloud storage instead of leaving them buried in chats.
If your phone says storage is low
WhatsApp's help centre warns that if the available storage on your phone gets critically low, WhatsApp might stop working as it should, and it may prompt you to free up space. It says that for freeing up space on your phone outside WhatsApp, you should contact your phone's manufacturer. The WhatsApp article doesn't describe a cache button, so I won't invent one. Use Manage storage and the phone's own storage screen for the rest.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clear WhatsApp storage?
Open WhatsApp Settings, tap Storage and data, then Manage storage to see usage. To delete items, use Review and delete media under Chats, Chat backup, Manage your storage, or clear media from a chat.
Will clearing WhatsApp storage delete my chats?
Not if you only delete media. WhatsApp says clearing a chat doesn't delete the chat itself or remove you from a group, but it does remove the chat's messages and media.
What does Forwarded many times mean in WhatsApp storage?
WhatsApp's help centre lists items that have been forwarded many times as one kind of item worth reviewing and deleting to free up space.
Can I get a deleted WhatsApp photo back?
WhatsApp says deleting an item this way is permanent and you won't be able to download it again from the chat. A copy might still exist elsewhere on your phone or in an older backup.
What's the difference between clear chat and delete chat?
Clear chat removes the contents but leaves the chat on your Chats tab. Delete chat is a separate action that removes the chat from the tab. Neither changes what other people have.
