In this brief tutorial, we show you how to stop WhatsApp on your MacBook from automatically saving photos, videos, and files to the Downloads folder and cluttering it.
If you have WhatsApp installed on your Mac, you may notice that every time you open it, the app automatically saves new media from your individual, business (read spam), and group chats to your Mac’s Downloads folder. You can easily identify them because their file names begin with ‘WhatsApp.’
I find it intrusive when random WhatsApp photos and videos automatically clutter my Downloads folder and interfere with my personal file organization.
Thankfully, it’s very easy to put an end to this.
Stop WhatsApp from automatically saving media to Mac Downloads folder
- Open the WhatsApp app on your Mac.
- Click your profile icon in the lower-left corner or press the Command + , (comma) keys.
- Select Chats.
- Uncheck the ‘Save to Downloads’ option to stop WhatsApp from saving media to your Mac.
Additionally, you can go to WhatsApp Settings > Storage and data and turn off media auto-download for Photos, Audio, Video, and Documents.
From now on, WhatsApp won’t automatically save media to the Downloads folder.
In case it still does, quit and reopen the app or restart your computer.
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