WhatsApp’s long-awaited auto-download quality feature is finally live for some Android beta users. First spotted in testing back in April, the feature lets users choose whether downloaded photos and videos are saved in Standard or HD quality. The rollout begins with beta version 2.25.18.11, and more testers are expected to receive it in the coming weeks.
Once active, users can head to Settings > Storage and data to find the new Auto-download quality option, sitting just below Media upload quality. The setting gives users control over storage management and data consumption, especially for those receiving frequent media in chats and groups.
Interestingly, WhatsApp has also implemented a dual-upload system for high-resolution media. When users send a photo or video in HD, both standard and HD versions are uploaded from the sender’s device. Thanks to WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, compression can’t be handled server-side, so this ensures both quality versions are ready for different download preferences.
