Khaberni - With the significant increase in the volume of messages, photos, and documents exchanged via the WhatsApp app, managing storage has become a recurring challenge for smartphone users.
Although the app does not contain a visible trash can as is the case in some other programs, Android devices retain a hidden location akin to a "digital trash can," which contains media sent and received via WhatsApp and consumes space on the phone even after being deleted from conversations.
Where can you find this location?
This hidden folder can be accessed via the "File Manager" on the phone, then by following the next path in the device's internal memory:
Android > media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media
Inside this folder, there are multiple categories according to the type of file, such as:
WhatsApp Images
WhatsApp Video
WhatsApp Audio
WhatsApp Documents
All these folders contain files you might no longer use, but they still consume memory space and are a burden on the device’s performance.
What can you do?
By entering these folders, the user can manually delete old media, especially those no longer needed, without affecting the text chat log.
This method is useful in reducing storage consumption and improving the performance of both the phone and the app, especially since WhatsApp does not permanently delete media as soon as messages are deleted.
What about backups?
WhatsApp automatically creates backup copies of chats and stores them in an internal folder called Databases, within the same path.
Over time, these backups accumulate and can consume hundreds of megabytes. Experts recommend reviewing this folder, keeping only the most recent backup, and deleting old ones to free up additional space.
Why is cleaning WhatsApp advised?
Regularly managing WhatsApp media and backups contributes to:
Speeding up the device and preventing freezing
Saving space for future updates
Enhancing the daily user experience
Prolonging the life of the device, especially for active users
