WhatsApp introduces new storage management for individual chats

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WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow storage space to be managed directly for each chat. This will make it possible to see exactly how much space a specific conversation is taking up on the device. For anyone struggling with limited storage, this is a useful addition that brings order to the media jungle.

The new feature was discovered in a recent beta version of WhatsApp on TestFlight. It's called "Manage Storage" and appears directly on the chat information page. Previously, storage management in WhatsApp was only available via "Settings > Storage & Data > Manage Storage." This provided only a central overview, but no way to specifically check individual chats. It is not yet known when the new feature will be officially available to all users.

Storage management directly in the chat

In the new version, the chat info page displays a "Manage Storage" option (via WABetaInfo ). There, you can see how much storage space each conversation is using. There's also a gallery view that breaks down exactly how much space images, videos, documents, and other files in that chat are taking up. This lets you see at a glance which files are taking up the most storage.

The interface is similar to the existing tool under "Settings > Storage and Data > Manage Storage." The difference: Instead of a general overview, there's now a detailed view for each individual chat. This makes cleanup more targeted and saves time because you no longer have to go through all the files from all conversations at once.

Differences from the previous view

WhatsApp has long offered the "Media, Links, and Documents" option in every chat. This allows shared files such as photos or videos to be displayed. However, it previously lacked information about how much storage space each file actually requires. The new per-chat storage management system closes this gap by displaying the exact storage size for each medium.

This makes it much easier to identify large files and delete them as needed without affecting other chats or files. This should be particularly helpful in groups where many images and videos are shared.

Why the function is useful

The new storage management is aimed primarily at users with limited device storage. Especially on older smartphones or models with smaller storage, things quickly become tight when receiving large amounts of media files. The new feature allows you to specifically free up space by removing large files from individual chats.

Even in long conversations that last for months or years, a considerable amount of data often accumulates. Instead of having to search through all the chats together, you can now clean up the data directly where storage consumption is highest. This makes media content management more transparent and efficient.

Current state of development

The feature has so far only been discovered in the beta version of WhatsApp for iOS via TestFlight. It is therefore still in the testing phase and not yet available to regular users. WhatsApp, or Meta, has not yet made any official announcements about when the new storage management feature will be rolled out. However, it is expected that the feature will appear in one of the next updates in the coming months, once testing is complete.

WhatsApp makes storage management easier than ever

With the new per-chat storage management, WhatsApp is taking a practical step toward better overview and more efficient storage organization. Instead of managing all data together, each chat can now be reviewed individually. This saves time, makes cleanup easier, and provides more control over storage usage. Although no release date has been set yet, the current beta version indicates that the feature will soon be available to all users. This makes WhatsApp a bit more functional and manageable in everyday life – especially for those who regularly receive and save large amounts of media files. (Image: Shutterstock / Tatiana Diuvbanova)