In a joint announcement, Google and WhatsApp have unveiled a substantial update that will impact how WhatsApp chat backups are handled. The crux of the change lies in the fact that WhatsApp chats and media backups will now contribute to the user’s Google account storage. This alteration could potentially lead to charges for users relying on Google accounts with a free cloud storage limit of up to 15GB.
Android Users Beware: Changes Afoot
Primarily targeting Android users, this collaborative decision by Google and WhatsApp introduces a paradigm shift where WhatsApp data will now be included in the 15GB storage limit provided by Google. Once this limit is exhausted, users will find themselves at a crossroads, either compelled to make room within the allocated limit or opt for a paid plan through Google One. Currently, Google One charges approximately Rs 165 per month for 100GB of additional storage.
The scheduled implementation date for this transformative change is set for December of this year. Initially, beta users of WhatsApp will be the first to experience the impact, with the company gradually rolling out the change to encompass all Android users. The expectation is that this modification will be universally applied to all Android users by the first half of 2024.
To ensure transparency, WhatsApp plans to notify users about the impending change by displaying a banner in the chat backup section (WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup) 30 days prior to the new policy taking effect.
