howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-stop-telegram-auto-downloading-photos-and-videos-on-android/ · Checked October 2026 · Google Pixel 10a, Android 17, Telegram 13.1.1

In this guide

Tap Data and Storage
Tap When using mobile data
Look at what downloads now
Switch off Auto-Download Media
If you do not see this option
If this does not work
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

Open Telegram Settings, Data and Storage, tap When using mobile data, and switch off Auto-Download Media. Repeat for When connected to Wi-Fi and When roaming if you want.

4 of 4 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device: Android
Shown on: Google Pixel 10a, Android 17, Telegram 13.1.1
App: Settings
Path: Settings › Data and Storage › When using mobile data
Real screenshots: 4 of 4 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

Step by step

Tap Data and Storage
Open Settings in Telegram. Data and Storage is below Notifications.
Done
Tap When using mobile data
It is under Automatic media download. Ours said Photos, Videos (10 MB), Files (1 MB).
Done
Look at what downloads now
Ours: Auto-Download Media on, Data usage Medium, Photos on in all chats, Videos up to 10.0 MB, Files up to 1.0 MB, Stories on.
Done
Switch off Auto-Download Media
All the media switches go away. Telegram says: Turn this ON if you want media to be automatically downloaded on mobile data.
Done

If you do not see this option

Only want to stop videos? Leave Auto-Download Media on and switch off Videos, or lower its size limit. Voice messages are always downloaded, Telegram says on the page.
Photos filling the Gallery? That is Save to Gallery, lower on Data and Storage: Private Chats, Groups and Channels. Ours were all Off.

If this does not work

Still using a lot of storage? Clear the cache from Storage Usage: see clear the Telegram cache. Telegram says media stays in its cloud. Source: How is Telegram different from WhatsApp?
Want it back on? Switch Auto-Download Media on again: the earlier choices came back on ours.

About this guide

Each network has its own page with switches for Photos, Videos, Files and Stories, and a Low, Medium, High data usage slider.

The screenshots are from Telegram 13.1.1 on our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17, in Dark mode, taken on 25 October 2026. We switched Auto-Download Media off for the screenshots, then on again.