WhatsApp launches Android beta storage‑cleanup tool for channel media
Meta's WhatsApp is testing a new storage‑cleanup feature for channel media in the Android beta version 2.26.30.4, rolled out to a limited group of beta testers via the Google Play Store. The tool adds two entry points – the channel information screen and the Updates tab – letting users view and delete photos, videos, stickers and voice notes stored from each channel, with the ability to filter by type and to select multiple channels for batch removal. Media marked with a star is automatically excluded from deletion unless the user explicitly chooses to remove it. The feature is currently only available on Android; a release for iOS has not been announced and the rollout remains gradual, so not all users have access yet.
Entities: Android · Android (operating system) · Google Play Store · Meta Platforms · Meta Platforms, Inc. · Starred messages · WABetaInfo · WhatsApp
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The tool lets users view and delete photos, videos, stickers and voice notes per channel. (WhatsApp)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Media marked with a star is excluded from deletion unless the user selects it explicitly. (All articles)
- [● 8 SOURCES] WhatsApp introduced a tool to clean storage of channel media on Android. (WhatsApp)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The feature is currently being rolled out to a limited set of Android beta testers. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Users can access the tool via the channel info screen or the Updates tab with multi‑select. (All articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Availability of the tool on iOS has not been confirmed. (Article 63781cf8)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The tool is available in beta version 2.26.30.4 on the Google Play Store. (WhatsApp)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The media view update is currently in Android beta and only available to selected testers. (WhatsApp)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The new media view includes a bottom bar with quick‑access emojis and the full emoji picker. (WhatsApp)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The tool can operate on multiple WhatsApp channels simultaneously. (WhatsApp)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] WhatsApp is testing a new media view with a bottom chat bar that lets users send messages, files, photos, videos or voice messages directly from the media view. (WhatsApp)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The feature lets users select and delete videos, images, GIFs, stickers and voice messages via a three‑dot menu. (Meta)