WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging platforms, with over 2 billion monthly active users. One of the many useful features of WhatsApp is the ability to send and receive PDF files. However, every time someone sends you a PDF file on WhatsApp, you have to manually download it to view the contents.
Having to manually download PDF files each time can be tedious, especially if you receive a lot of PDFs daily. Fortunately, there are a few ways to enable the automatic download of PDF files on WhatsApp so you can access them right away without any extra steps.
Enable Auto-Download for All Media in WhatsApp Settings
The easiest way to enable auto-download of PDF files on WhatsApp is to turn on auto-download for all media. This will automatically download any type of media file you receive on WhatsApp, including photos, videos, GIFs, documents, and PDFs.
Here are the steps to enable auto-download for all media in WhatsApp on an Android phone:
- Open WhatsApp and tap on the 3 dot menu icon in the top right.
- Go to Settings > Data and Storage Usage.
- Under Media Auto-Download, tap on When Using Mobile Data and When Connected on Wi-Fi.
- Select Download All Media.
This will enable WhatsApp to automatically download all media when connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data. Whenever someone sends you a PDF on WhatsApp, it will automatically download without requiring any manual action.
To enable it on an iPhone:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap on Data and Storage Usage.
- Under Auto-Download, tap on When Using Mobile Data and When Connected to Wi-Fi.
- Select Download All Media.
The steps are mostly similar for enabling auto-download of all media on WhatsApp for both Android and iPhone. This is the simplest option if you want all types of WhatsApp media to download automatically.
Enable Auto-Download for Documents Only
If you only want PDF files and documents to automatically download, but not photos and videos, you can select the Auto-Download option for Documents Only.
On Android:
- Open WhatsApp > Tap More Options > Settings > Data and Storage Usage.
- Under Media Auto-Download, tap on When Using Mobile Data and When Connected on Wi-Fi.
- Select Download Documents.
On iPhone:
- Open WhatsApp > Settings > Data and Storage Usage.
- Under Auto-Download, tap on When Using Mobile Data and When Connected to Wi-Fi.
- Select Download Documents.
Choosing the Documents Only option will enable only PDF files, documents, spreadsheets etc. to be downloaded automatically. Media like photos and videos will not download unless you manually choose to download.
Use a File Manager App to Auto-Download PDFs
Certain third-party Android file manager apps like ES File Explorer, X-plore File Manager, etc. allow auto-download of WhatsApp PDF files to a specified folder on your device storage. This can be useful if you only need PDFs to be saved automatically.
To set this up:
- Install and open the file manager app like ES File Explorer.
- Go to App Manager > WhatsApp.
- Tap on Auto-Download and select PDF Auto-Download.
- Choose the folder location where you want PDFs to be saved.
Now whenever someone sends you a PDF on WhatsApp, ES File Explorer will detect it and automatically download it to the specified folder.
Use Automation Apps to Auto-Save PDFs
You can use Android automation apps like MacroDroid or Tasker to detect and auto-download PDF files sent to you on WhatsApp. These apps allow creating custom automation workflows.
For example, you can set up a macro in MacroDroid that will:
- Detect when a PDF file is received on WhatsApp.
- Trigger the download and save it to a chosen folder on your device.
The benefit of using an automation app is you can customize exactly when and where to save the PDFs. But it requires more technical knowledge compared to the simple WhatsApp media auto-download settings.
Save PDFs from WhatsApp to Google Drive
You can auto-download and import WhatsApp PDF files directly to Google Drive for cloud backup using apps like WAMR and DriveSync.
WAMR allows auto-syncing of WhatsApp media to Google Drive. DriveSync can detect new PDFs in WhatsApp and save them to your Google Drive.
The steps would be:
- Install WAMR or DriveSync app on your Android phone.
- Link the app to your Google Drive account.
- Give the required permissions to access WhatsApp media.
- Configure auto-sync settings like frequency, file types, etc.
Now new PDF files received on WhatsApp will automatically be downloaded and backed up to your linked Google Drive account.
Use a File Sync & Share App
File sync & share apps like Resilio Sync, FolderSync, etc. allow auto-syncing of WhatsApp media from your phone to other devices like your computer.
You can set up two-way file sync so that:
- New PDFs received on your WhatsApp mobile get auto-downloaded to a synced folder on your computer.
- PDFs added to the synced folder on computer get auto-uploaded to your WhatsApp on mobile.
This provides seamless auto-download of WhatsApp PDFs across your devices. But it requires installing the sync app on all devices.
Use a Third-Party WhatsApp Client
Some third-party modified WhatsApp clients like GBWhatsApp and YoWhatsApp provide advanced media download options not available in the official WhatsApp app.
For example, GBWhatsApp has an option to auto-download only documents or only images received on WhatsApp. This allows more granular control over auto-download compared to the regular WhatsApp app.
However, using such third-party WhatsApp clients can violate WhatsApp’s terms and conditions.
Conclusion
Automatically downloading PDF files received on WhatsApp can save a lot of time and manual effort. The easiest options are to enable auto-download for all media or just documents in WhatsApp settings.
Using a dedicated file manager, automation, sync, or backup app provides more customization for auto-saving WhatsApp PDFs. But it requires installing additional apps and setting up the required permissions and integrations.
Overall, auto-downloading PDFs lets you access the files instantly without having to manually save each one. Choose the right method based on your specific preferences for convenience, customization, and automation.
| Method | Platform | Setup Complexity | Customization |
|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp Auto-Download Settings | Android, iOS | Simple | Limited |
| File Manager App | Android | Easy | Medium |
| Automation Apps | Android | Complex | Maximum |
| Google Drive Backup | Android | Medium | Limited |
| File Sync Apps | Android, PC | Complex | High |
| Third-party WhatsApp Clients | Android | Easy | Medium |
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about automatically downloading PDF files on WhatsApp:
Does WhatsApp automatically download PDF files sent to me?
By default, WhatsApp does not automatically download PDF files or any media. You have to enable auto-download in WhatsApp’s settings to automatically save PDF files sent to you.
How do I stop PDF files from downloading automatically on WhatsApp?
Go to WhatsApp Settings > Data and Storage Usage > Media Auto-Download and turn OFF auto-download for Documents and/or All Media. This will stop automatic downloads for PDF and other files.
Why is my WhatsApp not auto-downloading PDF files even after enabling it?
Check if you have enough free storage space on your phone. Auto-download requires at least 100MB free space. Also ensure you have an active internet connection. Restarting your phone can help if the issue persists.
Is it possible to only auto-download PDF files from specific WhatsApp contacts?
Unfortunately, the native WhatsApp settings don’t allow auto-download from select contacts only. You will need to use a third-party app like automation apps to achieve contact-specific auto-download.
How do I auto-download WhatsApp PDF files on my computer?
You can use a file sync & share app to setup automatic two-way sync between your phone’s WhatsApp media and a synced folder on your computer. New PDFs will auto-download on your computer.
Can I schedule WhatsApp auto-download to happen at night only?
Yes, using Android automation apps like MacroDroid you can configure time-based triggers to auto-download media from WhatsApp only during certain hours like at night when data is cheaper.
Is auto-downloading PDF files from WhatsApp safe?
Auto-downloading files is generally safe as long as they are from known contacts. You should have an updated antivirus app to scan for any malicious files. Also ensure WhatsApp’s security settings are enabled.
How many PDF files can I auto-download from WhatsApp per day?
There is no set limit by WhatsApp, but it depends on your phone storage capacity. If storage is full, auto-download will not work. Old media may get deleted if auto-download is enabled to make space for new files.
Can I move my auto-downloaded WhatsApp PDFs to an external SD Card?
Yes, you can set up your auto-download location to be on an external SD card instead of internal phone storage. Some file manager apps also allow moving existing files to SD card in bulk.