WhatsApp status on iPhones are stored locally on the device. When a user views a status or uploads their own, it is downloaded and saved in the iPhone’s local storage. The specific location where WhatsApp status files are stored depends on the version of iOS.
iOS 10 and earlier
On iOS 10 and earlier, WhatsApp status files are stored in the app’s Documents folder. The path is:
/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/[WhatsApp ID]/Documents/Statuses
The [WhatsApp ID] will be a long string of characters unique to each install of the app. Within the Statuses folder, there are sub-folders for each contact, named [Contact ID].status. Within each contact folder are the media files downloaded when viewing that contact’s status.
iOS 11 and later
Starting in iOS 11, WhatsApp status files are stored in the app’s Library folder instead of Documents. The path is now:
/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/[WhatsApp ID]/Library/Statuses
The structure of sub-folders for each contact is the same as before. This change was likely done to segregate user data from app data, as the Library folder is the designated location for app data in iOS 11 and up.
Viewing WhatsApp Status Files
To view the local WhatsApp status files on your iPhone, you need access to the phone’s file system. This can be done in a few ways:
- Connect the iPhone to a computer and browse the files via iTunes.
- Jailbreak the iPhone and use a file browser app like Filza to access the full file system.
- Use a non-jailbreak method like iMazing or iExplorer to browse app files from a computer.
Here is an example summary of how to view WhatsApp statuses using iMazing:
- Download and install iMazing on your computer.
- Connect your iPhone to the computer via USB.
- Launch iMazing and select your iPhone from the sidebar.
- Navigate to Apps > WhatsApp > Documents (iOS 10) or Library (iOS 11+).
- Open the Statuses folder and browse the saved statuses.
File Format of WhatsApp Statuses
WhatsApp statuses use the same formats as WhatsApp media attachments. This includes:
- JPG for photos
- MP4 for videos
- MP3 for audio
Statuses with text only will be saved as 0 byte JPG files. The maximum file size for statuses is 16MB for photos and 64MB for videos.
How Long Are WhatsApp Statuses Saved?
WhatsApp statuses are saved locally even after they expire on the server. There is no limit to how long they remain on the user’s device.
Statuses older than 30 days may not display a preview in chat, but the media files will still be present in local storage.
The only way statuses get removed from the iPhone is if the user deletes the WhatsApp app from the device.
Why Save Expired Statuses Locally?
There are a few reasons WhatsApp continues storing expired statuses:
- Allows users to recover and repost recent statuses
- Lets users keep special memories and moments
- Saves bandwidth since statuses don’t need to be re-downloaded if viewed again
- Acts as a local backup of statuses
Managing Used Storage Space
Since WhatsApp indefinitely stores statuses, the app can gradually consume more and more storage space on a device over time. Here are some tips for managing WhatsApp’s storage usage:
- Occasionally review and delete old statuses you no longer need.
- Use a file browser to find giant statuses that might be wasting space.
- Turn on auto-delete in WhatsApp’s Settings to remove statuses older than a specified duration (24 hours, 7 days, etc).
- Offload unused WhatsApp media to cloud storage like Google Photos or iCloud.
- Delete and reinstall WhatsApp to wipe its data and start fresh.
Backing Up Statuses
If you want to preserve important WhatsApp statuses before deleting them, you have a few options:
- Use a file browser to copy statuses to a computer or cloud storage.
- Screen record statuses within WhatsApp.
- Use third party apps to download and back up statuses.
Sharing Statuses from Local Storage
Since statuses in local iPhone storage are retained even after expiring, it is possible to re-share them after the 24 hour window.
You can re-post an old status or forward it to contacts by accessing the files with a file browser and then sending them through WhatsApp like a regular media attachment.
However, keep in mind that statuses are encrypted so they can only be viewed by your contacts who were able to see them originally. The encryption keys are discarded after the 24 hour expiration so statuses won’t be decryptable if shared again later on.
Conclusion
To summarize:
- WhatsApp statuses are stored locally on iPhones in the app’s Documents or Library folder
- Media files are organized in sub-folders for each contact
- Statuses are saved indefinitely, even after expiring
- This allows recovery and re-sharing of recent statuses
- But statuses can’t be decrypted after the 24 hour expiry period
- Saved statuses continue occupying storage space so periodic cleanup is recommended
Being aware of how and where WhatsApp stores statuses on your iPhone can give you more control and options for managing these ephemeral moments.