This tool is aimed to help users to easily identify, review and bulk delete content that are forwarded or shared multiple times using the instant messaging app and free up storage on their smartphones. “We now offer easy cleanup suggestions by bucketing both large files and media that has been forwarded many times, sorting files by size in descending order, and providing a way to preview files before deleting them,” WhatsApp said on Tuesday.
— WhatsApp Inc. (@WhatsApp) November 3, 2020 Currently, WhatsApp “Storage Usage” tool simply sorts all available chats by the amount of space consumed, listing the number of messages, photos, GIFs, voice notes, and videos in each chat, and letting the user delete each category with a few taps. Contrary, the new redesigned storage management tool will show a bar at the top that shows the total used storage, space consumed by chats and media shared on WhatsApp, the storage occupied by apps and other items, and the amount of free storage. The new tool will group together files in two categories: one that are “larger than 5 MB” and the other for media that has been forwarded many times. WhatsApp users can see a preview of these media files by sorting them by size in descending order before selecting one or multiple files to delete. The new redesigned storage interface is rolling out to users worldwide this week. Once available, users will be able to access the new tool by going to Settings -> Data and Storage Usage -> Manage Storage. However, to access this section, the user will first need to update to the latest version of the app.
In a related development, the Facebook-owned messaging app is also working on a “disappearing message” feature will make new messages sent in individual or group chats disappear after seven days.
