In a significant policy shift, Meta-owned WhatsApp is slated to discontinue the complimentary Google Drive storage previously allotted for chat history, images, and videos on Android devices. This change means that WhatsApp data backed up on Google Drive will soon be subject to the 15GB storage cap, necessitating users to either subscribe to Google One or actively manage their storage.
Google’s notification in November informed users of this impending alteration, emphasizing that WhatsApp backups on Android will be integrated into the Google Account cloud storage allocation. This mirrors the approach already in place for other mobile operating systems. The rollout of this change is set to commence among WhatsApp Beta participants from December 2023, with a broader implementation for the Android user base expected in early 2024.
To ease the transition, WhatsApp has committed to proactively informing users through a notification within the app interface. Users can find this notification under Settings > Chats > Chat backup, providing a 30-day lead time before enforcement.
The updated WhatsApp Beta application now displays a prompt stating, “Backups will commence utilizing your Google storage in upcoming months.”
While this adjustment exclusively impacts Android users, WhatsApp has ensured that alternatives to Google One’s subscription exist. The app allows for the seamless transfer of data between Android devices, offering users an option to circumvent reliance on Google’s storage ecosystem.
Notably, this update does not affect iOS users, as WhatsApp has never provided complimentary storage on Apple’s platform. Additionally, Apple offers a more modest 5GB of complimentary storage to its non-paying users, diverging from Google’s more generous 15GB offering.
