WhatsApp status is a feature that allows users to share photos, videos, and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. When you post a status, it does get saved on your device and WhatsApp servers temporarily.
Status gets saved in internal storage
When you take a photo or video directly within the WhatsApp camera, it gets saved in your phone’s internal storage first before you can post it as a status update. The file path is usually something like:
Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Media > .Statuses
This folder contains all your status photos and videos, as well as those you may have downloaded from other people’s statuses. The files are saved with random alphanumeric filenames like “abc12345.jpg”.
Media from gallery also gets stored
If you upload a photo, video or GIF from your phone’s gallery to post as a status, a copy of it also gets saved in the .Statuses folder. So even if you delete the original file from the gallery after uploading, it remains in the WhatsApp storage.
Location of status files
To view your WhatsApp status files, go to File Manager > Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Media > .Statuses. You’ll find all your status updates arranged by date and time. This folder may also contain status files you downloaded.
How long are status files stored?
WhatsApp does not store your status files permanently. They are meant to disappear just like status updates. However, for practical purposes, the files stay saved for:
- 30 days – If posted as your story
- 90 days – If someone else replies privately to your status
This allows WhatsApp to link back to your original status if needed. But after these time periods, the files are automatically deleted.
Where are viewed and downloaded statuses saved?
When you view someone else’s status or download it, the files get stored in your device’s internal storage under:
Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Media > Statuses
This folder will contain only files of statuses you viewed or explicitly downloaded. Your own status files will be in the separate .Statuses folder mentioned earlier.
Do deleted status files go to trash?
No, if you delete a status file from WhatsApp’s storage, it does not go to your phone’s trash or recycle bin. WhatsApp completely wipes status media after the 30 or 90 day storage period.
How to save status permanently?
If you want to save a specific status forever, you will need to manually export it before WhatsApp deletes it:
- Go to the .Statuses folder in your internal storage.
- Long press the status file you want to save.
- Tap the share icon.
- Choose an app like Photos to export the file to.
This will allow you to have the photo/video permanently in your device storage or cloud backup. Just remember to export statuses before their short WhatsApp retention period ends.
Do deleted WhatsApp messages also get stored?
No, when you delete a WhatsApp message or chat, it is permanently deleted from your phone’s storage. WhatsApp does not have a native backup or archive for deleted chats.
However, on Android phones, you can use a local backup program like SMS Backup & Restore to take periodic backups. These can keep deleted chats archived locally or in your Google Drive.
On iPhone, you cannot access deleted WhatsApp chats unless you had previously taken an iTunes or iCloud backup.
How WhatsApp handles your data
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for conversations, so no third party can access chat data. However, WhatsApp does store some user data like contacts, profile photos, groups and messages temporarily on its servers to deliver them reliably.
Media like photos and videos are also uploaded to WhatsApp’s servers before being transmitted to the recipient, while keeping end-to-end encryption in place.
According to WhatsApp’s privacy policy, they may retain your data after account deletion to comply with legal obligations. But all stored user data is deleted from their servers after 120 days of inactivity.
How to delete WhatsApp data from phone
If you want to delete all your WhatsApp data like messages, media, and backups from the phone’s storage, here are the steps:
- Delete WhatsApp media – Go to Settings > Data and Storage Usage > Clear Data.
- Delete chat backups – Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Delete All Backups.
- Delete WhatsApp folder – Go to Internal Storage > WhatsApp and delete the folder.
This will erase your local WhatsApp data. You can also request WhatsApp to delete your account data from their servers through Settings > Account > Delete My Account.
Final Words
To summarize, WhatsApp does store your status updates temporarily before auto-deleting them after 24 hours from public view. The status files stay in your phone’s storage for 30 or 90 days depending on certain conditions. If you want to preserve any status permanently, make sure to back it up before WhatsApp removes it.