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Open the chat media page for WhatsApp (or WhatsApp Business) and tap Allow WhatsApp folder (or Allow WhatsApp Business folder). Then:

1. Android opens the folder picker right at this folder.
2. Check that the top says "WhatsApp" (or "WhatsApp Business").
3. Tap "Use this folder" at the bottom. On some Android versions this button is worded differently, for example "Allow access to" followed by the folder name.
4. When asked, tap "Allow".

Only files in Media are read. Databases and Backups (chat backups) are never listed or deleted. You can remove the access any time in Settings > Folder access.

VidClean supports WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business. For Telegram, only files saved to shared folders are counted. If none of these chat apps is installed on this phone, the chat media page shows "No chat apps found" and there is nothing to count there.

The app only checks whether these chat apps are installed. It does not read the list of other apps on your device. If a chat app is installed but you still see little or nothing, see "Why is a number 0, or not shown?" and "How do I allow the WhatsApp folder?" below.

Two layouts, for WhatsApp and for WhatsApp Business. VidClean recognises both, whichever Android version you have:

• Older layout (Android 10 and older): the root of internal storage, in WhatsApp/Media/… (WhatsApp Business: WhatsApp Business/Media/…).
• Newer layout (Android 11 and newer): Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/… (WhatsApp Business: Android/media/com.whatsapp.w4b/WhatsApp Business/Media/…).

The folder picker opens at the right place for your Android version. Only the Media folder is read; chat backups are never listed or deleted.

• Android 11 and newer: videos and media you remove from your library go to the Android system trash. You can restore them within 30 days; after that Android deletes them permanently.
• Files reachable only through WhatsApp folder access go to VidClean's own trash, kept for 30 days.
• Android 10 and older: the system has no trash. Items from your media library are deleted directly and cannot be recovered. VidClean tells you this before you confirm.

Items in the trash still take up space. VidClean counts space as released only after you delete them permanently, so the number in Android's storage settings drops only then. To delete now, open the trash and choose "Delete permanently" or "Empty trash".

VidClean shows only numbers it measured itself on your phone, so they may not match the figure in Android's storage settings.

• Photos and videos: to total your videos, group videos and chat media by source and type, and move to the trash or delete the items you confirm. On Android 14 and newer you can allow selected items only; VidClean then counts just those and tells you so.
• Music and audio: to list voice notes and audio files saved by chat apps. Asked only when you open those categories.
• Storage on older Android versions: the same purposes, and deleting items you confirm on Android 10 and older.
• WhatsApp folder: optional, to also show sent, private, status and document files.

This version of VidClean has no internet permission, has no account, does not send notifications, does not run in the background, and does not use your location, contacts, camera or microphone. Declining a permission only limits the related feature. More in the privacy policy.

Open Trash from the home screen (or Settings), select the items and tap "Restore". Each item shows how many days are left. Items moved to the Android system trash (Android 11 and newer) can be restored within 30 days, and files moved to VidClean's own trash are kept for 30 days. Items in VidClean's own trash show "Needs folder access" if you removed the WhatsApp folder access; allow the folder again to restore them.

Items deleted permanently cannot be restored. On Android 10 and older, items from your media library are deleted directly and cannot be restored; files removed from the WhatsApp folder are kept in VidClean's trash for 30 days.

VidClean shows only numbers measured on your phone, and a count of 0 is not shown. Common reasons:

• There is nothing of that kind on the phone, or nothing in that category.
• You allowed selected items only (Android 14 and newer). The app counts just those and says "Videos you allowed". Tap "Allow access to all" to count everything.
• Without folder access, VidClean counts received media and labels it "Received media only".
• A permission was declined. For example, without audio access, voice notes and audio are not counted; without the WhatsApp folder, sent, private, status and document files are not counted.
• A scan is still running; the home screen shows "Counting" until it finishes.