Where is the WhatsApp trash and how to free up space easily?

Every day, millions of users send photos, memes, videos, and documents via WhatsApp. While this activity seems harmless, the silent accumulation of files can overload your phone's memory , especially if it has 64 GB or less.

Fortunately, WhatsApp has a little-known tool that lets you recover space without deleting important conversations: the hidden trash.

Flor, a user from Guadalajara, noticed her phone was slow and she couldn't install new apps. She considered deleting entire chats, but that meant losing memories. That's when she discovered the "Manage Storage" feature in WhatsApp, and her phone came back to life.

Unlike the recycle bin on computers, WhatsApp doesn't have a visible trash can icon. The option is hidden in the app's settings:

On Android:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the three vertical dots.
2. Select Settings > Storage & data .
3. Tap Manage storage .

On iPhone:

1. Open the app and go to Settings .
2. Then go to Storage & data > Manage storage .

Here you'll see which chats are taking up the most space and can delete large files without touching text messages. This feature is ideal for deleting viral videos, unnecessary audio files, and heavy memes without losing your chat history.

The trick to not overloading your phone again is to disable automatic file downloads . By default, WhatsApp automatically saves everything you receive, both over mobile data and Wi-Fi.

To control it:

• Go to Settings > Storage & data .
• Under Automatic Download , turn off images, audio, videos, and documents.

This way, only the files you choose to download manually will be saved.

Beyond the visible tools, WhatsApp also creates a hidden repository in your phone's memory. If you access the following path with a file manager:

Android > media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media

You'll find folders with images, audio, stickers, statuses, and documents , even if they're no longer in the chats. Deleting these files manually can free up several gigabytes , especially if you use a lot of groups or receive a lot of forwarded files.

Many users are wondering why they no longer see the encrypted message below their contact's name. This doesn't mean your privacy is compromised, but rather that the visual option is disabled .

To reactivate it:

• In Settings > Security , enable the option that shows encryption. You'll then see the message confirming that your chats are protected again.

WhatsApp can take up more space than you think, but with simple tweaks you can recover storage, control downloads, and strengthen your security . Emptying your trash monthly, reviewing hidden files, and disabling automatic downloads are three key steps to make your phone run more smoothly.