The focus keyword WhatsApp manage storage for each chat individually refers to the new feature that WhatsApp is testing, which allows users to view and clear the storage used by each individual chat and group conversation.
What’s changing
- WhatsApp is testing a function in its Android beta (version 2.25.31.13) that places a storage-management shortcut directly inside a chat, so you don’t have to navigate deep into settings.
- The feature lets users see the size of each chat (both individual and group) and lets you delete media or messages in that chat to free up space.
- On the iOS side, WhatsApp has already rolled out a ‘Manage Chat Storage’ option in the chat info screen for beta testers, which shows all files shared in that chat and lets you sort/delete among them.
Why it matters
- Many users struggle with WhatsApp consuming large chunks of their phone storage due to media-heavy chats or large group chats with lots of photos/videos. The new feature gives granular control over which chats hog space.
- Instead of deleting entire chats or clearing everything globally, you can now target a specific chat (say a group that sends many memes, videos) and clean up just there.
- Makes device maintenance easier and helps prolong usable storage, especially for users with limited storage capacity on their phones.
How to access (when available)
Once the update rolls out to your region and your version:
- Open WhatsApp → go to the chat (individual or group) you want to manage.
- In chat info (tap the contact/group name) there should be a Manage Storage option (or similar) showing how much space the chat uses.
- Tap through to view the items (images, videos, etc) shared in that chat. You should have options to select and delete specific items or all media from that chat.
- Alternatively, one can go via Settings → Storage & Data → Manage Storage, and see list of chats sorted by size, select one to clear.
Availability & rollout
- The feature is currently in beta testing for Android (reported version 2.25.31.13) in select countries.
- For iOS beta users, the chat-specific storage management is being rolled out through TestFlight.
- A full global rollout for all users is not yet confirmed; users may need to wait for the stable version.
Things to keep in mind
- Even with the feature, you’ll need to manually delete media/items; it doesn’t automatically purge by chat.
- Media you delete from a chat will free space on your device; it doesn’t remove from the sender’s or other participants’ devices.
- If you rely heavily on group chats or large media sharing, you should still review settings like auto-download of media, and backup settings to avoid storage bloat.
- This feature addresses device storage, not cloud backup size. Backups (e.g., to Google Drive) are handled separately. India Today
Conclusion
With the introduction of WhatsApp manage storage for each chat individually, WhatsApp is giving users a useful tool to reclaim space by controlling media and message bloat at the chat-level. If you’ve ever looked at your phone and wondered “why is WhatsApp using so much storage?”, this feature might be the remedy. Keep an eye out for the update in your app store, update WhatsApp when available, and then take advantage of the new storage-management option in each chat.
