Highlights
- WhatsApp backups on Google Drive face a shift from unlimited to storage-dependent backups.
- Google Drive storage quotas now consider chat and multimedia backups, impacting the 15 GB free limit for users.
- iOS users confront stricter limits with only 5 GB of cloud storage compared to Google’s 15 GB.
- Android users in WhatsApp’s beta program experience the change, with Meta planning a wider implementation in 2024.
- Users will receive a 30-day advance notification before the transition through a banner in the app’s chat backup settings.
- Alternative strategies include local backups or backing up text messages only, minimizing multimedia data to save storage space.
- The alteration emphasizes the need for users to reconsider backup preferences and explore WhatsApp’s alternative backup options.
Changes to WhatsApp Backups on Google Drive
In the coming months, WhatsApp backups on Google Drive will face a significant alteration. What was once an unlimited storage option is now transitioning into a storage space-dependent feature, impacting users across both Android and iOS platforms.
WhatsApp Beta: Google Drive Storage Limits for Backups
This change, initially proposed in mid-November, is currently being tested within the WhatsApp beta program. Users enrolled in the beta have reported that Google Drive storage quotas will now account for their chat and multimedia backups. Consequently, the storage space utilized by these backups will contribute to the overall limit imposed by Google accounts for free users, capped at 15 GB.
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Google Drive Storage Quotas: iOS Users’ Limitations
This 15 GB quota includes all data stored in Google Drive, encompassing Google Photos and Gmail. However, for iOS users, the situation is more restrictive, with only 5 GB of cloud storage compared to the 15 GB offered by Google.
WhatsApp’s Planned Transition: Android Users’ Notification
The alteration in backup handling won’t be immediate for all Android users; Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, plans to implement this change in the first half of 2024. To ease this transition, users will receive a 30-day advance notification via a banner appearing in the chat backup settings of the app.
Option-1
For users concerned about consuming Google Drive storage with WhatsApp data, alternative strategies exist. One approach is to opt for local backups on the mobile device and leverage WhatsApp’s Chat Transfer tool to seamlessly migrate data to a new device.
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Option-2
Another option involves backing up only text messages, excluding multimedia files. Text messages typically occupy minimal space compared to images, videos, and audios, which can rapidly consume storage capacity. This shift underscores the need for users to reconsider their backup preferences and explore alternative backup methods provided by WhatsApp.
