WhatsApp Working on New Storage Usage Tools to Help Clean Up Large Files, Memes

Aug. 24, 2020

While we are eagerly waiting for WhatsApp to implementmulti-device supportto let us log into multiple devices at once, the messaging giant is also working on a slew of other new useful features. One of these is arevamped storage usage sectionthat will allow users tobetter understand the storage used by WhatsApp chats, memes, and other fileson their smartphones.

Spotted by reliable WhatsApp-centric tipster WABetaInfo, this feature has been in the works for the past couple of months. It was pretty bare-bones back in June but it now seems to be taking shape.

The existing storage usage section (on the left) segregates the texts, media, and other files on the basis of each conversation. This means if you have a myriad of active chats, then you will have to look through each one of them to delete memes/videos and free space.

The redesigned section (on the right) will take a more direct approach anddisplay a storage barat the top. It will give you an idea of how much of your phone storage is being used for WhatsApp files. This can be an eye-opener or manywho like to hoard motivational videos, good morning messages, and memeson their phones.Storage Usage section: Current (left) vs Upcoming (right)

Next, WhatsApp will offer you a new ‘suggested clean up’ feature. It will see you review forwarded and large files to delete them and free up some precious space. You will still have the chat view at the end, butit will now be appended with a search feature. This means you will be able to search and clean up files from select conversations. The one you see at the top obviously takes the most storage on your device.

This feature is currently in development and not available in either the stable or beta WhatsApp build. We also do not have a timeline for its rollout, so stay tuned for more updates on this handy feature. It will bereally useful for users with limited phone storage.