How to prevent messages from being saved to the phone from WhatsApp?

How to prevent messages from being saved to the phone from WhatsApp - briefly?

To prevent messages from being saved to your phone from WhatsApp, you can adjust the settings on your device. On Android, go to "Settings" > "Chats" and disable "Media Visibility." On iPhone, go to "Settings" > "Chats" and turn off "Save to Camera Roll."

How to prevent messages from being saved to the phone from WhatsApp - in detail?

To ensure that messages are not automatically saved on your phone from WhatsApp, you can follow these detailed steps:

  1. Disable Automatic Media Download:

    • Open WhatsApp and go to the "Settings" menu.
    • Navigate to "Data and Storage Usage."
    • Under "Media Auto-Download," you will see options for "When using mobile data," "When connected to Wi-Fi," and "When roaming."
    • Disable the media types (photos, videos, audio, documents) that you do not want to be automatically downloaded and saved.
  2. Configure Storage Settings:

    • In the "Settings" menu, go to "Data and Storage Usage."
    • Tap on "Storage Usage."
    • You will see a list of chats along with the storage they occupy.
    • To free up space, you can select individual chats or groups and tap on "Clear Chat" to delete all messages, photos, videos, GIFs, and other media shared in that chat.
  3. Use WhatsApp Web for Temporary Access:

    • If you prefer not to store any data locally on your phone, consider using WhatsApp Web.
    • Open WhatsApp on your phone, go to "Settings," then "Linked Devices."
    • Scan the QR code on the WhatsApp Web page from your computer's web browser.
    • You can now send and receive messages without storing them locally on your phone.
  4. Regularly Clear Conversation History:

    • Go to "Settings" in WhatsApp.
    • Navigate to "Chats."
    • Tap on "Chat Backup."
    • Here, you can see the last backup date and size. To clear your chat history:
      • Disconnect your device from any internet connection to prevent automatic backups.
      • Delete individual chats or groups by tapping on them and selecting "Clear Chat."
  5. Enable Two-Step Verification:

    • While this step does not directly prevent message saving, it adds an extra layer of security.
    • Go to "Settings" in WhatsApp.
    • Navigate to "Account."
    • Tap on "Two-step verification."
    • Follow the prompts to set up a PIN and provide a recovery email address.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage how messages are saved on your phone from WhatsApp, thereby ensuring better control over your data storage preferences.