WhatsApp allows you to control whether media is automatically downloaded when you receive messages. This can help save data usage and device storage. There are a few different ways to configure your WhatsApp settings so that images are not automatically downloaded.
Disable Auto-Download in Chat Settings
The easiest way to disable auto-download of images in WhatsApp is to change the chat settings:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the 3 dot menu icon in the top right
- Go to Settings > Chats > Media auto-download
- Under Photos, toggle the switch off so it is gray and says “When using mobile data”
- Under Videos, toggle the switch off so it is gray and says “When using mobile data”
This will prevent WhatsApp from automatically downloading photos and videos sent to you when using mobile data. You can choose to manually download them instead by tapping on them.
Disable Auto-Download for Specific Chats
You can also disable auto-download of media for specific chats:
- Open the WhatsApp chat
- Tap the contact’s name at the top of the chat window
- Tap Media auto-download
- Toggle off Photos and Videos
Now images and videos will not automatically download for that chat, but your general auto-download settings will still apply to other chats.
Use Data Saver/Low Data Mode
Some Android devices have a “Data Saver” or “Low Data Mode” setting which prevents apps from using background data. Enabling this can stop WhatsApp from downloading images and videos in the background:
- Go to Android Settings > Network & internet > Data saver
- Toggle Use Data saver on
When Data Saver is enabled, WhatsApp won’t be able to download media until you open the app, and any downloads will wait until you are connected to Wi-Fi.
Limit Automatic Downloads Based on Connection
You can customize WhatsApp’s auto-download settings based on whether your phone is using mobile data or connected to Wi-Fi:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Data and storage usage
- Under Media auto-download, tap When using mobile data
- Select an option:
- All: Download all media automatically
- Photos: Only download photos automatically
- Videos: Only download videos automatically
- None: Don’t download anything automatically
- Tap When connected on Wi-Fi and select your preferred settings
This allows you to only download items on Wi-Fi if desired. You can set different preferences for when on mobile data vs. Wi-Fi.
Use WhatsApp’s Data Settings
There are a few other WhatsApp data usage settings you can adjust:
- Low Data Usage: Limits traffic used for calls, but may impact quality.
- Media Upload Data Saver: Use less data when uploading videos and photos, without reducing quality.
- Message Delivery Optimizer: Adjust image, video, document quality to save data.
Enable these in WhatsApp Settings > Data and storage usage. They provide more granular control over how media is handled.
Troubleshoot Image Download Issues
If you are still having issues with WhatsApp downloading images automatically despite adjusting settings, here are some things to try:
- Force close and restart the WhatsApp app
- Check for any WhatsApp updates and install if available
- Toggle Airplane mode on and off to reset the network connection
- Clear cache and data for the WhatsApp app
- Restart your phone
- Remove and re-add your WhatsApp account
Clearing app data will cause you to re-verify your WhatsApp account and re-download chats and media when you log back in. But it may resolve any persistent bugs related to auto-download settings.
Use Third-Party Apps to Block Media Download
If changing WhatsApp’s built-in settings doesn’t work, another option is to use a third-party app to block media downloads:
- NetGuard: Open source Android app that functions as a firewall and lets you block internet access for specific apps.
- NoSurf: Blocks app functionality including disabling media download for chosen apps.
- RestrictBot: Use chatbot to restrict app permissions and disable media auto-download.
These apps work by blocking WhatsApp’s internet access or revoking permissions necessary for downloading images and videos in the background.
Use WhatsApp Business API
If this is for a business account, the WhatsApp Business API provides additional control over media downloading:
- Set a default media upload/download setting for your business
- Override media preferences per conversation
- Get callbacks when media is downloaded by recipients
This requires technical integration but gives businesses the most flexibility in managing media use.
Conclusion
Preventing WhatsApp from automatically downloading images and videos helps optimize data usage. Adjust settings in the app, use data saving modes, or install third-party apps to disable media prefetching. With the right configuration, you can take control over how and when media is downloaded for each chat.