For years, Android users enjoyed the luxury of backing up their WhatsApp chats – including precious memories, hilarious memes, and essential documents – for free on Google Drive. Well, buckle up, folks, because that free ride is coming to an end in 2024. Here's what you need to know and how to keep your digital footprint under control before you hit that dreaded storage limit.
What's Changing in WhatsApp Backup?
Starting in early 2024 (the exact date is still up in the air), all WhatsApp backups on Android devices will start counting towards your Google Drive storage quota. That means your chat history, photos, videos, and voice notes will chip away at your personal storage. If you exceed the free storage limit, then you will have to buy a Google One subscription.
Why Is WhatsApp Making the Change?
Growing data: WhatsApp boasts over 2 billion users, and that chat history adds up fast. Google needs to manage its own storage costs, and this shift helps regulate the load.
Monetisation: Let's be honest, free doesn't last forever. This move could be a subtle nudge towards paid Google One subscriptions, offering more storage for heavier WhatsApp users.
In a blog published in November 2023, Google mentioned: “As an important heads up, WhatsApp backups on Android will soon start counting toward your Google Account cloud storage limit, similar to how WhatsApp backups are handled on other mobile platforms. This
change will first start rolling out to WhatsApp Beta users starting in December 2023, then gradually to all WhatsApp users on Android starting early next year.”
How to Manage WhatsApp Backup Without Google One Subscription?
With the end of free Google Drive storage for WhatsApp backups looming, Android users may be feeling the pressure to subscribe to Google One. But hold on! Before you reach for your wallet, there are clever ways to keep your WhatsApp data safe and sound without shelling out a single rupee.
- Local is Lovely: Instead of relying on the cloud, back up your WhatsApp data directly to your phone's internal storage. It's not cloud-protected, but it frees up Google Drive space and works well for casual users.
- Clean Sweep: Declutter your chats! Identify and delete old conversations, unnecessary media files, and group chat behemoths. Use WhatsApp's "Manage Storage" feature to find space-hogging culprits.
- Auto-Download? Not Today: Stop WhatsApp from automatically downloading photos and videos from every chat. Customise settings to save space by downloading only what you need, when you need it.
- Hideaway Media: For specific groups or individuals, choose to hide media from automatically saving to your phone's gallery. This keeps media files confined to the chat, reducing local storage consumption.
- Share the Load: Got another Android device lying around? Use WhatsApp's chat transfer feature to migrate your data when upgrading. It's a great way to avoid Google Drive altogether.
Further, Google encourages users to use their personal Google accounts as they come with 15 GB of free storage. Google mentioned: “If you choose to enable WhatsApp backups on Android, personal Google Accounts come with 15GB of storage at no charge – 3X more than most mobile platforms – that’s shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.”
“WhatsApp backups on Android will continue to work, as long as you have available space within your Google Account storage. If you hit your storage limit, you’ll need to free up space to resume backups by removing items you do not need,” it added.
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