iPhone users running out of iCloud storage space may soon have a reason to cheer. Meta owned messaging platform WhatsApp is reportedly working on a dedicated cloud backup feature that will allow users to store their chat archives on the platform’s own servers, reducing their reliance on Apple’s iCloud.
At present, iPhone owners depend on iCloud to back up their WhatsApp conversations. Apple provides 5 GB of free storage that is shared across photos, documents, device backups, and applications. For users with years of chats and heavy media files, this space runs out fast, leaving them with little option but to delete existing data or upgrade to a paid iCloud plan. The upcoming feature is designed to ease this burden by offering an independent storage route within the WhatsApp ecosystem.
According to WABetaInfo, a publication that tracks WhatsApp development, the new option has been spotted in iOS beta version 26.28.10.16. While configuring chat backups, users are expected to see two choices: iCloud, which will remain the default, and WhatsApp’s own backup service. Those who make the switch can reportedly return to iCloud at any time.
Reports indicate that WhatsApp could offer up to 2 GB of free cloud storage specifically for chat backups. This will allow users to preserve their iCloud quota for other personal data such as photographs, videos, and system backups. For those who need more room, the company is also believed to be testing paid plans. A 50 GB tier priced at roughly 0.99 dollars, approximately INR 95 per month, is under consideration, alongside a 1 TB option for users with larger storage needs.
The new backup system is expected to carry end to end encryption, ensuring that stored chats remain accessible only to the account holder.
The feature is still under development and has not reached the public beta stage yet. Separately, WhatsApp is also said to be preparing a similar independent backup solution for Android users, signalling a broader shift in how the platform manages data preservation across operating systems.
Should the feature be rolled out widely, it is likely to bring tangible relief to millions of Indian iPhone users who habitually struggle to manage limited cloud space.