Knowing how to enable or disable automatic file downloads in WhatsApp is one of those things that you must learn. This is just one of the many options that the most popular instant messaging application has for you. And if you don’t know how to handle it, don’t worry! Since this article has all the information you need.
Throughout this writing, you will understand why it is one of the most striking and important configuration functions. You will also realize how easy it is to access this function and the advantages it offers you. It’s time to start!
The giant of messaging and file transfers, WhatsApp
Becoming the most popular instant messaging app in the world doesn’t happen overnight. It has been arduous years of effort, dedication, work and investment.
WhatsApp currently has more than two billion users. Being surpassed only by Facebook. This application, in fact, was acquired by Facebook in 2014. However, it is important to take a look at its past.
Was WhatsApp thought to be what it is today? Apparently not. The application was designed in 2009 by the Ukrainian-American Jan Koum. This former employee of Adobe, Apple and Yahoo! thought of a smart agenda.
What was the function of WhatsApp? Provide information about the availability of people to strike up a chat. Of course, the application did not serve as a channel to establish communication. Once the availability of a person was confirmed, other means were used, such as text messages (SMS) or MSN.
A different present
The rest is history. WhatsApp was gaining popularity as it was making updates and incorporating features. Currently, it not only gives you the ability to disable automatic photo and video downloads. It also has many other benefits. The latest one has what temporary messages are and how they work.
However, you can perform other types of operations, such as configuring the privacy of my WhatsApp profile to the contacts. Among many other things. The versatility of this application is what has made it so popular.
Space problems in WhatsApp file downloads
Now, not everything can always be wonderful. Unfortunately, the mobile devices on which this app is used have limited storage capacities. Having a large number of chats and belonging to many groups can, in the long run, become a problem.
The constant sending and downloading of multimedia content, at some point, will saturate your cell phone. This can cause some problems. The most frustrating is why I can’t update my WhatsApp due to lack of space. Reasons enough to learn how to turn automatic downloads on or off once and for all.
How to disable automatic downloads in WhatsApp?
The procedure to activate or deactivate automatic downloads is quite simple and will not take much time. Therefore, it is worth it, considering all that you are going to save thanks to this function. All you have to do is open the app and follow the instructions below:
- Locate the three dots icon at the top right of the screen and tap on it.
- Access the “Settings” option.
- Now go to the “Storage and data” section.
- You can choose when to disable automatic downloads. Either that in “Download with mobile data”, “Download with Wi-Fi” or both.
- When you click on one of the options, the boxes will appear to uncheck the items that you do not want to be downloaded automatically.
- Clever!
Enabling this feature again is just as easy. You just have to follow the same procedure described above. Only, in this case, instead of unchecking boxes, you are going to check them and activate WhatsApp automatic downloads again.
As you can see, activating or deactivating automatic downloads in WhatsApp is very simple. This will give your phone storage a little breathing space.
You decide what gets downloaded and what doesn’t! It is even possible to download music, photos and videos from WhatsApp Web on my Windows or Mac PC. So don’t wait any longer and get the most out of this extraordinary application.
