WhatsApp Spotted Testing Option to Manage Chats Backup Size, Community Feature for Group Conversations

WhatsApp for Android beta 2.21.21.7 appears to have some references about the Manage backup size section.

By Jagmeet Singh | Updated: 12 October 2021 15:03 IST

WhatsApp Spotted Testing Option to Manage Chats Backup Size, Community Feature for Group Conversations

Photo Credit: WhatsApp

WhatsApp may let you reduce chats backup size by excluding specific content

Highlights

WhatsApp has been spotted working on a ‘Manage backup size’ section
Android users may get the section to cut down their backup size
WhatsApp is also spotted working a feature called Community

WhatsApp is spotted working on a new section to let users manage their chat backup size and exclude specific content such as documents and photos from their cloud backup, according to a report. The change could initially be limited to Android devices and may work with the backups being stored on Google Drive. WhatsApp is also separately seen working on a feature called Community that could help provide a better group conversation experience. Both new backup size management and the Community feature are yet to be introduced for beta testing.

In a report, WhatsApp beta tracker WABetaInfo has said that the instant messaging app is working on the dedicated ‘Manage backup size' section to let users manage their backup size before uploading it to the cloud.

WhatsApp for Android beta 2.21.21.7 appears to have some references about the update. A screenshot has also been shared by WABetaInfo to suggest how the new section would allow users to manage their backup size by excluding photos, audio, or documents from their backups. However, beta testers are yet to see the changes at their end as the change is said to be under development at this moment.

Samsung Wins Patent for a Tri-Fold Smartphone With Specialised Barrier Layer for Improved Durability

WhatsApp for Android has been spotted bringing a section for managing backup size
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

At present, WhatsApp doesn't provide any backup size-related details to users from its app. Users, though, have the option in place to exclude videos from their cloud backups.

WhatsApp Spotted Beta Testing End-to-End Encrypted Cloud Backups

Although WhatsApp has not yet provided any official details about allowing users to manage their backup size, the change is believed to be in place to help limit backup packages before uploading them to the cloud. It could be due to a change supposedly coming to Google Drive storage for WhatsApp backups.

Google Drive currently provides unlimited storage for WhatsApp backups, though it stopped giving unlimited space for photos earlier this year. A similar move could come into place for WhatsApp backups as well in the future.

WhatsApp is also implementing end-to-end encryption on cloud backups. Last week, it started beta testing the security-focussed update on both Android and iOS devices.

WhatsApp Spotted Making Profile Photos Hidden From Specific Contacts

Alongside the new backup section, WhatsApp has been spotted working on a Community feature. XDA Developers found some new code strings referring to the feature in WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.21.21.6. The strings suggest that the Community feature works similar to the existing Groups offering on the app.

One of the strings found within the beta app suggests that Community and Groups may coexist on the messaging app.

WABetaInfo says the Community feature would provide users a way to organise their WhatsApp groups better. It may, however, not work have feature standalone space for group conversations — unlike groups on WhatsApp and other community-driven features available on Facebook and Twitter.

GoPro-like gimbal gimmicks, and OIS on all four cameras — is Vivo X70 Pro+ worthy of Rs. 80,000? We discussed this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.