Where are messages from WhatsApp copied on an Android Samsung phone and how to delete them - briefly?
On an Android Samsung phone, messages from WhatsApp are typically stored in the device's internal memory or SD card, depending on your settings. To delete these messages, you can use the built-in file manager to navigate to the WhatsApp folder and manually remove the files.
Where are messages from WhatsApp copied on an Android Samsung phone and how to delete them - in detail?
On an Android Samsung phone, messages from WhatsApp are typically copied and stored in several locations. Understanding these storage paths is crucial for effectively managing and deleting these messages.
Storage Locations
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Internal Memory: By default, WhatsApp saves all incoming media (images, videos, documents) to the internal memory of your Samsung phone. The primary directory used is:
/storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Media/
Within this folder, you will find subdirectories for different types of files such as WhatsApp Images, WhatsApp Videos, and WhatsApp Documents.
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External SD Card: If your Samsung phone has an external SD card, WhatsApp can be configured to save media to the SD card instead of internal storage. The path for this is:
/storage/XXX-XXXX/WhatsApp/Media/
Here, "XXX-XXXX" represents the unique identifier for your SD card.
How to Delete Messages and Media
Deleting messages and media from WhatsApp involves removing them both from the app itself and from the storage locations where they are saved.
Deleting from WhatsApp
- Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your Samsung phone.
- Select Chat or Group: Choose the chat or group conversation from which you want to delete messages.
- Long Press on Message: Hold down on the message you wish to delete until a menu appears.
- Delete for Me/Everyone: Select "Delete for Me" to remove the message only from your device, or "Delete for Everyone" to remove it from both your device and the recipient's device (note that this option is available only for a short period after sending).
Deleting from Storage
- File Manager: Open the File Manager app on your Samsung phone. If you don’t have one, you can download a reliable file manager from the Google Play Store.
- Navigate to WhatsApp Folder: Go to the directory where WhatsApp media is stored (either internal memory or SD card).
- Select Files: Browse through the subdirectories (Images, Videos, Documents) and select the files you want to delete.
- Delete Selected Files: Use the file manager’s built-in delete function to permanently remove the selected files from your phone's storage.
Additional Tips
- Regular Cleanup: Make a habit of regularly cleaning up unnecessary files to free up space on your Samsung phone.
- Backup Important Data: Before deleting any messages or media, ensure you have backed up important data to avoid accidental loss.
- Use Cloud Storage: Consider using cloud storage services for backing up WhatsApp data, which can be more efficient than local storage.
By understanding where WhatsApp messages are stored and following these detailed steps, you can effectively manage and delete WhatsApp messages on your Android Samsung phone.