whatsappBillions of messages are sent over the WhatsApp chat platform every day. One of the reasons for the service's massive popularity is that it lets users send and receive as many media-rich messages as they want, which – as long as they've limited WhatsApp's use of their cellular data plan – costs them next to nothing.

That's great news for senders, but one of the drawbacks of receiving multiple images and video clips from your WhatsApp contacts is that they're automatically saved to your iPhone's Photos app. Apart from being an unwelcome sight in your personal photos, they can start to take up valuable storage space. Fortunately, you can easily prevent this default behavior by following the steps below.

How to Stop WhatsApp Saving to Photos

  1. Launch the WhatsApp app on your iPhone.

  2. Tap the Settings icon (the small cog wheel) at the bottom right of the screen.

  3. Tap Chats.
  4. Toggle off the Save to Photos option so that it no longer shows as green.

whatsapp

Once you've turned off the above setting in WhatsApp, you can still manually opt to save individual media files that you receive in a chat thread. Simply long press on the photo or video clip in question and choose the Save option.

How to Limit WhatsApp Media Downloads to Wi-Fi

If receiving images or video over WhatsApp is sapping your cellular data when you're out and about, you can prevent them from downloading to your iPhone until you're safely back in range of a Wi-Fi connection.

whatsapp
To do so, return to WhatsApp's Settings tab and tap Storage and data. The options under the "Media Auto-Download" section let you dictate which types of media can be downloaded and under what circumstances. Make sure that the media types you're happy to wait for are set to Wi-Fi.

Top Rated Comments

Infinite Vortex Avatar
94 months ago
And use what?
Signal.

If you read the Terms of Use WhatsApp, and Facebook, can grab the full contents of your Contacts app any time they want to. And they want to quite a bit. Not just names and phone numbers, the whole damn lot! WhatsApp won't work without access to Contacts either to ensure they get that data from you… Signal will work with or without your contact data.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
emulajavi Avatar
94 months ago
Whatsapp should let send and receive pics at full resolution, without compressing them.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RightMACatU Avatar
94 months ago
How to Stop WhatsApp Auto-Saving Images and Video to Your iPhone's Camera Roll
By not installing the app? :p
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pika2000 Avatar
94 months ago
Signal.

If you read the Terms of Use WhatsApp, and Facebook, can grab the full contents of your Contacts app any time they want to. And they want to quite a bit. Not just names and phone numbers, the whole damn lot! WhatsApp won't work without access to Contacts either to ensure they get that data from you… Signal will work with or without your contact data.
Any alternative IM service sounds good, until you realize where all your friends are. And at this point, everybody is too lazy to install/set up yet another messaging service after Whatsapp, Line, Wechat, Telegram, Facebook messenger, etc. Even Google couldn't penetrate the messaging market. Add on the region complexity if you have international friends. Telling your friends of yet another app to install (just to communicate with you) will be greeted with an eye-roll.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arkitect Avatar
94 months ago
iMessage of course remember you are on apples turf
I'll be sure to tell my Android using family and friends I want them all to switch to Apple. For my convenience, of course. ;)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
n-evo Avatar
94 months ago
Thank god 99% of my family and friends are on iOS so this isn’t necessary. But my question is...why wouldn’t you just SMS your Android friends? Most plans have unlimited texting these days.
SMS doesn't allow for sending video's, photos, voice memo's, location (with map), live location for a set time, group chat among other things. Also not all plans allow for free unlimited MMS, while SMS is unlimited without extra charges.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

Survey: Nearly 70% of Users Plan to Upgrade to iPhone 17

Monday September 1, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
A new survey has found that nearly seven in ten iPhone owners in the United States plan to upgrade to an iPhone 17 model, signaling strong demand ahead of Apple's expected unveiling of the devices at its September 9 keynote. Smartphone price comparison platform SellCell surveyed over 2,000 U.S.-based iPhone users in August to assess upgrade interest and brand loyalty before Apple's event....