Giving WhatsApp storage permission allows the app to save media and files on your device. This is required for WhatsApp to function properly. Without storage permission, you may face issues sending or receiving photos, videos, documents, voice messages and other files through WhatsApp.
Why does WhatsApp need storage permission?
WhatsApp needs access to your phone’s storage so it can:
- Save your chat history, media and files exchanged on WhatsApp.
- Create backups of your chats to Google Drive or iCloud.
- Download and save media like photos, videos sent to you on WhatsApp.
- Save voice messages received on WhatsApp.
Without storage access, WhatsApp will not be able to perform these functions properly. Your chat history and media could be lost if you deny storage permission.
How to give WhatsApp storage permission on Android
Follow these steps to give WhatsApp storage permission on Android:
- Open WhatsApp on your Android phone.
- Tap the 3-dot menu in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat History.
- Tap ‘Continue’ to give WhatsApp permission to access photos, media and files on your device.
Alternatively, you can give the permission from your Android device’s settings outside WhatsApp:
- Go to Settings app on your Android phone.
- Tap Apps or Application Manager.
- Select WhatsApp from the list.
- Tap Permissions.
- Enable the ‘Storage’ permission.
How to give WhatsApp storage permission on iPhone
Follow these steps to give WhatsApp access to your photos and media on iPhone:
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap ‘Continue’ to give WhatsApp access to your photos and media.
Alternatively, you can give the permission from your iPhone’s settings:
- Go to Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap WhatsApp.
- Tap Photos.
- Toggle on the switch for WhatsApp access to Photos.
What happens if you deny WhatsApp storage permission?
Here are some issues you may face if you deny WhatsApp access to storage:
- You cannot send or receive photos, videos and other media on WhatsApp.
- Voice messages cannot be saved or played back.
- You cannot back up your WhatsApp chats.
- Your chat history will not be saved if you uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Any media received on WhatsApp will not be saved on your phone storage.
- You cannot share documents or PDF files on WhatsApp.
Essentially, most WhatsApp features will be broken without the storage permission. It is highly recommended to allow WhatsApp access to phone storage for seamless messaging.
How to revoke WhatsApp storage permission
If you wish to revoke WhatsApp’s access to storage, follow these steps:
On Android
- Go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Permissions.
- Turn off the Storage permission.
On iPhone
- Go to Settings > WhatsApp > Photos.
- Toggle off WhatsApp access to Photos.
Revoking storage permission will lead to the issues mentioned above. You won’t be able to send, receive or back up any media or chats on WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is WhatsApp asking for storage permission on iPhone?
WhatsApp requires access to your phone’s storage to save your chat history, media files exchanged on WhatsApp, and to create local backups. Without storage permission, WhatsApp cannot function properly on your iPhone.
Can I use WhatsApp without giving storage permission?
No, you cannot use most WhatsApp features without granting storage access on Android and iOS. To send, receive and back up your WhatsApp data, allowing storage permission is mandatory.
What happens if I keep denying WhatsApp storage permission?
Constantly denying storage access to WhatsApp will make the app unusable. You will face issues with sending, receiving, backing up chats and media. Critical features like chat history backup will not work.
Is it safe to allow WhatsApp storage permission?
Yes, it is safe to allow WhatsApp storage access. WhatsApp only uses the permission to save your chats, media files for operational purposes. Your files are still private and not accessible to anyone else.
Can I selectively give WhatsApp access to storage?
No, on Android and iOS, the storage permission has to be allowed completely for WhatsApp to work properly. There is no option to selectively give WhatsApp access to only some storage features.
Conclusion
Giving WhatsApp storage permission is necessary for backing up chats, sending and receiving media files, saving chat history and more. Without the permission, most WhatsApp features will be unavailable on your device. Make sure to allow storage access if you want to use WhatsApp without issues.