WhatsApp Chat Backups to Impact Google Storage: New Change Announced
Pune, 15th November 2023 – Google and WhatsApp jointly announced a significant update, revealing a change in how WhatsApp chat backups will be managed. Under the new policy, WhatsApp chats and media backups will now contribute to the user’s Google account storage. This adjustment may soon introduce charges for WhatsApp chat backups.
Primarily affecting Android users, this mutual decision by Google and WhatsApp will impact those relying on Google accounts with a free cloud storage limit of up to 15GB. Once this limit is reached, users are required to pay for additional storage.
With WhatsApp data now factored into the 15GB storage limit, users may face pressure to clear space or opt for a paid plan through Google One, which currently charges around Rs 165 per month for 100GB of storage.
The implementation date for this change has been set for December of this year. Initially, beta users of WhatsApp will experience the effects, with the company gradually extending the change to all Android users. It is anticipated that this modification will be applied to all Android users by the first half of 2024.
WhatsApp intends to notify users about the impending change by displaying a banner in the chat backup section (WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup) 30 days before the new policy takes effect.
