Automatically Download Images on WhatsApp
This article teaches you how to enable WhatsApp to automatically download received pictures and videos to your phone's camera roll or gallery.
Steps
Using an iPhone
- Open WhatsApp. It's the white phone icon on a green and white chat bubble.
- If this is your first time opening WhatsApp, you'll need to set up WhatsApp.
- Tap Settings. It's in the bottom right corner of the screen.
- If WhatsApp opens to a conversation, tap the back button in the top left corner of the screen first.
- Tap Chats. This option is in the middle of the screen.
- Slide Save Incoming Media to the "On" (right) position. It will turn green. Now any pictures or videos people send to you in WhatsApp will automatically download to your camera roll.
Using Android
- Open WhatsApp. It's the white phone icon on a green and white chat bubble.
- If this is your first time opening WhatsApp, you'll need to set up WhatsApp.
- Tap ⋮. This button is in the top-right corner of the screen.
- If WhatsApp opens to a conversation, tap the back button in the top-left corner of the screen first.
- Tap Settings. It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
- Tap Data usage. It's near the bottom of the page.
- Tap When using mobile data. This option is directly below the "Media Auto-Download" heading on this page.
- Tap each type of message you wish to download. Your options include the following:
- Photos
- Audio
- Videos
- Documents
- Be careful when downloading large files using cellular data as it may result in extra charges on your account.
- Tap OK. It's in the bottom-right corner of the media options window.
- Tap When connected on Wi-Fi. This option is below the "When using mobile data" one.
- Tap each type of message you wish to download. Your options will be the same here as they were for mobile data.
- Tap OK.
- Tap When roaming. It's the last option in the "Media Auto-Download" group of settings.
- Tap each type of message you wish to download. Your options here are the same as with the other two auto-download categories.
- Be careful downloading media while using roaming data as it may result in hefty data charges.
- Tap OK. Now any photo or video messages people send to you will automatically download to your Android's gallery as per your selected download preferences.
Tips
- If you haven't permitted WhatsApp access to your phone's camera roll, you'll be prompted to tap OK to do so when you slide the switch right.
Warnings
- Downloading photos while using data may incur charges.
