The update is part of Meta’s efforts to simplify data management and free up phone storage without affecting users’ existing conversations. The feature is currently available in the latest WhatsApp beta version for Android, 2.26.19.4.

Improved media management options

The new tool allows users to manually or automatically delete channel media, helping reduce excessive storage use. It includes options to filter content by type while keeping starred messages protected.

The feature is designed to improve device performance by managing accumulated photos and videos more effectively.

New channel notification alert

WhatsApp has also introduced a new alert that appears when users follow a new channel, encouraging them to enable notifications so they do not miss important updates.

The change addresses the previous default mute setting applied to new channels, which could reduce user engagement and limit interaction with channel content.