WhatsApp Beta Rolls Out Auto-Download Quality Feature for Media: Standard vs HD Option Now Available

WhatsApp is enhancing user control over media downloads with a new auto-download quality feature, currently rolling out to select Android beta users. This update, which has been in testing since April, allows users to set their preferred media quality for automatic downloads.

According to WABetaInfo, the feature is available to users running WhatsApp beta version 2.25.18.11 for Android. A broader rollout is expected in the coming weeks as more users gain access.

If you are part of the beta program and have received this update, you can find the new setting by navigating to:

WhatsApp Settings > Storage and Data > Auto-download quality (just below "Media upload quality").

Auto-Download Quality Options:

Standard Quality: Downloads a compressed version of media files to save data and storage.

HD Quality: Downloads high-resolution versions for better clarity.

Importantly, even if you choose Standard quality, you will still have the ability to manually view the HD version of a photo or video in the chat — as long as the HD file remains available on WhatsApp's servers.

How It Works: Dual Upload System

To support this feature, WhatsApp now uses a dual-upload system for high-quality media. When users send media in HD, their device uploads both a compressed (standard) and HD version of the file. This is necessary because end-to-end encryption prevents WhatsApp from compressing files server-side.

As a result:

Senders upload both versions.

Receivers will download the version that aligns with their auto-download setting.

Manual HD viewing remains available within the chat if needed.

This feature is another step toward giving users more control over their WhatsApp experience, especially for those who balance data usage with media quality.