Tech Desk 
Jun 21, 2025
WhatsApp is working on a new feature which will allow users to customise how media files are automatically downloaded depending on their preferences.
With this new feature, WhatsApp introduces a setting where users can select between standard quality and HD quality for photos and videos that are automatically downloaded.
WABetaInfo revealed that standard quality reduces the file size by compressing the media, which is ideal for saving data and storage space, while HD quality preserves important details about the resolution, providing clearer and more detailed images and videos, but it uses more bandwidth and device storage.
In this system, WhatsApp automatically uploads two versions of the same image or video: one in standard quality and one in HD.
Due to end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp cannot modify or compress media files on the servers, so both versions must be uploaded by the sender.
This feature is particularly helpful in situations where users receive large volumes of images and videos, such as in group chats or from archived conversations.
When the user taps to view the media, WhatsApp can retrieve the HD version from the server if it's still accessible. This ensures users maintain the flexibility to access higher-quality media when desired, without wasting data on files they may never open.
With this feature, WhatsApp aims to reduce unnecessary data usage, particularly in group chats where images and videos are frequently shared but not always viewed.
