WhatsApp Storage Full on iPhone? 4 Easy Ways to Free Up

Is WhatsApp saying storage full on iPhone? Here are 4 easy and effective ways to fix this issue and free up space.

Demi by Demi Updated March 6, 2025
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Why Does WhatsApp Fill Up iPhone Storage?

Have you ever opened WhatsApp and seen the dreaded "Storage Almost Full" prompt? When hundreds of chat and group media files accumulate, WhatsApp may quickly consume more storage space than expected. 

Factors that WhatsApp takes up on iPhone storage: 

⛔ An enabled automatic download feature in WhatsApp.

⛔ The number of the message history in WhatsApp.

⛔ The size of the WhatsApp app itself.

⛔ The number of contacts you have on WhatsApp.

 If your iPhone storage is almost full, don't worry, here are 4 easy solutions to help you stop worrying about WhatsApp storage full on iPhone, you don't even need to delete data!

whatsapp storage full

4 Solutions of WhatsApp Storage Full on iPhone

You are offered 4 workable solutions to try in this part when your WhatsApp taking up too much space on iPhone. Just in case, you’d better fully backup WhatsApp chats before any troubleshoots. The bonus section below suggests a powerful backup tool.

Solution 1. Free Up WhatsApp Storage from App Settings

WhatsApp has a built-in feature that helps you manage and delete unnecessary files. You can free up WhatsApp storage directly from your iPhone settings.

Step 1. Open the WhatsApp app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap Settings > Select Data and Storage Usage > Storage Usage.

storage usage

Step 3. On this interface, you can see the breakdown of WhatsApp chat and media footprint. Click to Review and Delete Items to free up storage space.

   
★Tip:
   
It is recommended that you prioritize deleting videos and voice notes, as they usually take up the most WhatsApp space!

Solution 2. Stop WhatsApp from Auto-Saving Media to Photos app

WhatsApp will automatically save every received photo and video to the iPhone's photo app, and your storage space will be filled over a long period. You can stop the process by following the steps below.

Step 1. Go to the iPhone WhatsApp > Tap Settings > Select Chats.

Step 2. Scroll down to locate Save to Camera Roll, and toggle it off.

svae to camera roll

   
★Tip:
   
You can also change the auto-saving settings for your WhatsApp chats, go to Contact Name > Tap Save to Camera Roll > Select Never.

Solution 3. Re-install WhatsApp to Clear Cache

If WhatsApp becomes too bloated with unnecessary files, reinstalling WhatsApp can reset its storage usage in case too many unnecessary files are piled up. However, this method will also delete all WhatsApp data, so it is recommended that you first backup your WhatsApp chat history.

Step 1. On your iPhone’s home screen, long-press the WhatsApp app icon.

Step 2. From the context menu, choose Remove app to uninstall it.

remove app

Step 3. Reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store.

   
★Tip:
   
If you have never released the cached data of WhatsApp applications, this method is especially useful for solving the problem of full WhatsApp storage.

Solution 4. Regular Clean Up Group Chats and Conversations

Have you joined multiple WhatsApp groups? Your iPhone likely lacks storage space is caused by unnecessary group information, forwarded media, and stickers. It is recommended that you delete unnecessary content regularly through the following steps.

Step 1. Open the WhatsApp group chat, and tap the More icon (three dots) > Select Clear Chat.

clear group chat

Step 2. You can add an asterisk to important information and select Delete all messages. Messages with asterisks will be retained.

   
★Tip:
   
If you don't want to lose these important chat, you can export and delete them to clean up WhatsApp storage, which allows you to export WhatsApp chat more than 40,000.

Bonus: One-Click Backup iPhone WhatsApp Chat

iCloud backup WhatsApp is a common choice, but it often fails if your iPhone has full storage space. You'd better use non-cloud storage to back up WhatsApp to your computer. We highly recommend you to use the free FoneTool, a powerful iOS data manager that allows you to back up, export, and transfer WhatsApp data.

FoneTool

This powerful iPhone data management tool is the best way to backup iPhone without iCloud or iTunes.

  • 1-click backup all WhatsApp data (messages, photos, settings, etc.).
  • Store backups on your PC with almost unlimited space.
  • Easily restore WhatsApp chat history when needed. 
  • Seamlessly transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud.

Step 1. Download and open FoneTool on your computer > Connect your iPhone to PC via USB and tap Trust on your iPhone.

Step 2. Click WhatsApp Manager from the left pane > Choose Backup WhatsApp > Click Get Started.

start backup

Step 3. Optionally, you can enable Backup Encryption for extra security > Click Start Backup.

backup WhatsApp

   
★Tip:  

If you need to restore your WhatsApp chat to iPhone, just go to the My Backups and one-click Restore button to complete!

restore backup

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Conclusion

Hope you have resolved the WhatsApp storage full on iPhone issue with 4 effective solutions above and can continue chatting with your friends and family without any interruptions. Remember to regularly clean up your iPhone and make sure you have enough space for all your needs. Happy messaging!

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