Where Is the WhatsApp Media Folder on Android?
WhatsApp files photos, videos, and documents in per type Media folders, modern path first with a legacy fallback.
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WhatsApp media sorts itself by type into dedicated folders: images, video, audio, voice notes, documents, GIFs, and stickers each get one, with Sent duplicates nested inside. Deleting media never deletes messages.
Scoped storage moved the tree under Android media with the app ID in the path, while older installs keep the storage root folder. File managers need broad access permission to browse the new location. Business accounts mirror the layout under their own ID.
Where WhatsApp stores this, by platform
Internal storage/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/
Per type folders with Sent duplicates inside. Legacy installs use a WhatsApp folder at storage root instead. Business uses com.whatsapp.w4b.
Frequently asked questions
What eats the most space and can go?
Clear the Sent subfolders inside each media type. Every photo and video you send duplicates there, often doubling the footprint. Chats keep working; sent items re download from the sender side when needed.
The folder is not where you said. Why?
Old installs used a WhatsApp folder at storage root before scoped storage moved it under Android media. Check both roots when hunting. Business accounts use a com.whatsapp.w4b sibling path.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.