WhatsApp show double storage usage on iPhone

This issue is a common "phantom storage" glitch where your iPhone reports exactly double the actual data usage because it is holding onto two copies of your information simultaneously. This usually happens when WhatsApp creates a temporary local backup file to prepare for an iCloud upload, but the system fails to delete that temporary file once the process is interrupted or completed. Essentially, your phone is storing your live data (the 3.99 GB) plus a "stuck" backup packet of the same size, resulting in the 7.98 GB total you are seeing in your iPhone settings.

The easiest way to clear this stuck data without risking your chat history is to force the iPhone to dump the temporary files via your iCloud settings. Go to your iPhone Settings, tap your name, select iCloud, and then iCloud Drive. Look for the list of apps syncing to iCloud Drive, find WhatsApp, and toggle it off. Restart your iPhone, check if the storage usage has dropped to the correct amount, and then turn the toggle back on. If that doesn't work, you can try "Offloading" the app in your iPhone Storage settings. This action deletes the app's code and cache to force a storage recalculation but keeps your documents and data safe. Once you tap "Reinstall," the glitch often disappears.

If the storage usage remains double after trying the steps above, you will need to perform a full reinstall to remove the corrupt backup file. Crucial: Before deleting anything, open WhatsApp and perform a manual Chat Backup to ensure you do not lose your messages. Once the backup is complete, delete the WhatsApp app entirely from your home screen, restart your iPhone to clear the memory, and then download it again from the App Store. When you open the fresh app, you can restore your chat history, and the storage reading should return to normal. This glitch is often caused by daily auto-backups getting interrupted by poor connection, so switching your backup frequency to weekly or monthly can help prevent it from returning.