# WhatsApp storage management and performance optimization > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/whatsapp-storage-management-tips > Updated: 2026-08-19T03:08:12.000Z. Sources: 39. Developments: 10. WhatsApp accumulates various data types, including photos, videos, voice notes, documents, GIFs, and stickers, which can occupy several gigabytes over time. This buildup often leads to low-storage warnings, difficulty installing new apps, and blocked sticker downloads. To manage this, both Android and iPhone versions provide a built-in storage management tool (Settings → Storage and data → Manage storage). This interface allows users to identify and permanently delete files larger than 5 MB or those categorized by size. Because the app lacks a recycle bin, deletions are immediate. Users can also mitigate future growth by using disappearing messages, managing group chats, or disabling automatic media downloads. Persistent storage issues, such as app crashes, freezing, or “insufficient storage” errors, may occur even after deleting standard media. This is often because the application accumulates other data types like sent files and voice notes that are not always cleared when individual chats are removed. Utilizing the specific management interface is recommended to optimize both the app and the device's overall performance. To prevent data loss during cleanup, users should back up chats to Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone). Note that restoring a backup requires reinstalling the app and may result in the loss of messages received after the last backup date. Additionally, users can prevent redundant cloud storage use by excluding the WhatsApp media folder from phone-wide services like Google Photos. On Android, users are also encouraged to streamline SMS and media backups to avoid consuming excessive Google storage. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-19: WhatsApp storage management and mobile memory optimization Users can optimize mobile performance by using WhatsApp’s storage management tools to delete heavy multimedia files and by clearing system cache on devices like the iPhone. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/whatsapp-users-encounter-maintenance-delays-and-account-review-alerts ### 2026-08-09: WhatsApp storage management and performance optimization Users can resolve WhatsApp storage issues and app performance errors by using the internal storage management tool to identify and delete large files, voice notes, and stickers. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/whatsapp-storage-management-and-performance-optimization ### 2026-08-07: WhatsApp storage tools let users reclaim phone space WhatsApp’s built‑in storage manager lets Android and iPhone users view and delete large media files, while backups on Google Drive or iCloud enable chat recovery. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/whatsapp-storage-tools-let-users-reclaim-phone-space ### 2026-08-05: Android users urged to streamline SMS and media backups to save Google storage Android’s built‑in Google backup saves SMS, while disabling Google Photos for WhatsApp media prevents duplicate storage and frees up cloud space. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/android-users-urged-to-streamline-sms-and-media-backups-to-save-google-storage ### 2026-07-19: Android Phones: Tips to Free Up Storage Without Deleting Apps Android phones can free storage by checking usage, enabling Smart Storage, clearing caches, deleting system files, using Google Files, and managing WhatsApp media—no app deletions needed. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/android-phones-tips-to-free-up-storage-without-deleting-apps ### 2026-07-17: SMS archive and WhatsApp ephemerals aid storage management Instructions explain retrieving archived SMS on Android, Samsung and iPhone, and enabling WhatsApp disappearing messages with timed deletion to conserve storage. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sms-archive-and-whatsapp-ephemerals-aid-storage-management ### 2026-07-12: WhatsApp storage tools let users clear hidden files and free phone space WhatsApp’s hidden folder can fill a phone with gigabytes of media. Users can free space via Settings → Storage → Manage storage, delete large files, and disable automatic downloads to avoid future bloat. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/whatsapp-adds-storage-manager-to-clear-hidden-files-and-free-phone-space ### 2026-07-06: Android smartphone owners can clear storage without removing apps Android users can free phone storage by clearing app caches, using Google Files to delete junk, and managing WhatsApp media without uninstalling apps. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/android-smartphone-owners-can-clear-storage-without-removing-apps ### 2026-07-02: WhatsApp storage feature lets Chile users clear phone space WhatsApp’s hidden storage manager lets Chile users review and delete large media files, freeing space and boosting phone performance. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/whatsapp-storage-feature-lets-chile-users-clear-phone-space ### 2026-06-21: WhatsApp tips to detect muted chats and free phone storage WhatsApp offers clues to tell if a chat is archived or muted and provides a hidden storage manager to delete large media and recover space. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/whatsapp-tips-to-detect-muted-chats-and-free-phone-storage --- Cite as: WhatsApp storage management and performance optimization. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/whatsapp-storage-management-tips