WhatsApp says "storage full", what to do on iPhone?

WhatsApp says "storage full", what to do on iPhone - briefly?

If your WhatsApp says "Storage Full" on an iPhone, the most effective solution is to clear up some space by deleting unnecessary files, photos, or videos from your device. Additionally, you can back up and delete old WhatsApp media within the app itself.

WhatsApp says "storage full", what to do on iPhone - in detail?

If you're seeing the message "Storage Full" in WhatsApp on your iPhone, it means that your device has run out of storage space. This can be a frustrating issue, but there are several steps you can take to resolve it and free up some space.

Firstly, check your current storage usage by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Here, you'll see how much storage is used and which apps are taking up the most space. If WhatsApp is one of the largest consumers, consider the following actions:

  1. Delete Unnecessary Chats and Media:

    • Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Data and Storage Usage > Storage Usage.
    • Here you'll see a list of chats sorted by the amount of storage they use.
    • Tap on any chat to view its details, including the size of media files (photos, videos, etc.).
    • Delete unnecessary media or entire conversations by swiping left and tapping "Delete".
  2. Clear the WhatsApp Cache:

    • Unfortunately, iPhone doesn't allow users to clear app cache directly like Android does. However, you can try deleting and reinstalling WhatsApp to clear its cache.
    • To do this, long press on the WhatsApp icon until it wiggles, then tap the "x" to delete it. After that, go to the App Store, search for WhatsApp, and reinstall it.
  3. Optimize Storage Settings:

    • Go to Settings > WhatsApp > Data and Storage Usage.
    • Under "Photos", choose "Never Save Photos" or "Save When Using Cellular". This will prevent WhatsApp from saving every image and video you receive to your camera roll, which can take up a lot of space.
  4. Backup and Delete Media:

    • If you have important media files in WhatsApp, consider backing them up before deleting. You can do this by going to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
    • After backing up your chats, you can delete media directly from the Photos app:
      • Open the Photos app and tap on "Albums" at the bottom.
      • Tap on "WhatsApp Images" or "WhatsApp Videos".
      • Select the unwanted media files, then tap the trash can icon to delete them.
  5. Check for Large Attachments:

    • Sometimes, large attachments like videos can take up significant space. Check your recent messages for any large files and consider deleting them if they're not needed.
  6. Free Up iPhone Storage in General:

    • Apart from WhatsApp, there are other ways to free up storage on your iPhone:
      • Delete unused apps by long-pressing on their icons until they wiggle, then tapping the "x".
      • Clear the cache for other apps that allow it (e.g., Safari).
      • Offload apps that you don't use frequently but still want to keep installed. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, then scroll down and tap on an app under the "Recommendations" section. Tap "Offload App", and its data will be removed, but the app itself will stay installed.
      • Use iCloud or other cloud storage services to back up and delete local files.

By following these steps, you should be able to free up enough storage space on your iPhone to resolve the "Storage Full" issue in WhatsApp.