June 20, 2024, 9:30 am | Read time: 4 minutes

WhatsApp users get a lot of features–some useful, some less so. The messenger also regularly works on new features and improving existing options. For instance, on WhatsApp, you can write in bold and italics, extensively search chats for specific information or sent links, or use a special “vacation mode.” For years, WhatsApp users had the problem that images sent via the messenger arrived in significantly lower quality for the recipient. The service has finally fixed this. WhatsApp users can now determine the quality of the photos they send. The messenger is now enhancing photo sending with support for high-resolution formats. TECHBOOK explains how it works and what you should definitely keep in mind.

Also interesting: JPG vs. JPEG – is there a difference?

Send WhatsApp Photos in HD Quality Once

Since early June 2023, it has been known that WhatsApp plans an HD option for photos. The feature was then rolled out widely in the fall. To send photos in HD quality on WhatsApp once, follow these steps:

• Select the photo you want to send via the appropriate WhatsApp chat (next to the input window, click the plus symbol and then “Photo and Video Library”).
• The “HD” symbol appears in the editing bar above the image; tap on it.
• The menu that opens offers the options “Standard Quality” and “HD Quality.” Click on the latter option.

Recipients of a photo in HD quality on WhatsApp will also be notified by a corresponding symbol, which appears at the bottom left of the image. It’s important to note that this is a one-time send. The standard quality of sent photos remains the same.

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Always Send WhatsApp Photos in HD Quality

This led to criticism from users who generally want to send their images in HD on WhatsApp. Therefore, WhatsApp made improvements in June 2024. Now, users can generally increase the image quality in the messenger settings. Here’s how it works:

• Go to “Settings” via the menu bar.
• Select “Storage and Data.”
• In the “Media Quality” section, you’ll find the “Media Upload Quality” tab. In slightly lighter text, you can already see which quality is set. Normally, it’s “Standard.” This makes sending faster, but the photo quality is lower.
• Click on the tab and select “HD Quality.” However, this will make sending take longer, and the file can be up to six times larger than with the standard setting.

Determine Quality When Sending WhatsApp Photos

Those who send and especially receive images in high resolution should note that more storage space is required. The same applies to data volume when receiving and downloading photos on the go. Therefore, you should set in the settings that photos on WhatsApp are only automatically downloaded over Wi-Fi. To do this, go to WhatsApp settings and select “Storage and Data,” then “Media Auto-Download,” and choose the “Wi-Fi” option. If a picture particularly interests you while on the go, you can still easily download it manually with a click.

By the way, you can also already set the photo upload quality on WhatsApp. This setting affects both resolution and image compression.

• Open WhatsApp settings and select “Storage and Data.”
• At the very bottom of the list, you’ll find “Media Upload Quality.” There, you can choose between the options “Auto (recommended),” “Best Quality,” and “Data Saver.”

With the new update to HD quality, the actual resolution of photos sent via WhatsApp improves significantly.