Overview
- WhatsApp is developing an in‑app backup‑management section for Android that is still under development and not available to beta testers.
- Google added a system‑level WhatsApp backup entry in Play Services v26.23 on June 15, 2026, so Android users can now view and manage WhatsApp backups from device settings.
- The reported in‑app UI would let users view stored backups and delete old or duplicate copies to free Google Drive or account storage used by WhatsApp backups.
- Coverage says the app will include shortcuts into Google Drive and hooks to Android backup controls and that backup options would emphasize encryption, but WhatsApp has not confirmed these features or a release date.
- Earlier reports from April say WhatsApp is testing a first‑party cloud backup with limited free space and paid tiers and default end‑to‑end encryption, which if launched could offer an alternative to Google Drive.