WhatsApp ends free ride for Android users on Google drive storage

WEB DESK: WhatsApp users on Android will no longer enjoy free storage for backups, marking a change after five years where Android backups did not contribute to Google Drive storage limits.

According to media reports, the change, which never applied to iOS users, was jointly announced by Google and WhatsApp.

Starting December, WhatsApp beta users on Android will experience a shift as chat history, including images and videos, will now consume Google Drive storage, impacting both free 15GB plans and paid storage options.

OpenAI unveils root cause of ChatGPT’s November 8th outage

Meanwhile, WhatsApp assured that thd change will reach all Android users in the first half of 2024, with a 30-day advance notification through a banner in Settings > Chat > Chat backup.

For users opting out of Google account backups, WhatsApp provides an alternative with the Chat Transfer feature, facilitating a wireless transfer between Android devices with Wi-Fi enabled.

On the other hand, Google clarified that the functionality of WhatsApp backups remains unchanged, emphasising the potential impact on storage limits for cloud-saving data.

Deleted items in WhatsApp will reflect in the cloud backup, aiding in space management on Google Drive. The tech giant suggests Google One subscriptions for users seeking additional storage, with promises of “limited, one-time Google One promotions” for eligible users.

This adjustment aligns with WhatsApp’s functioning on iOS, although Apple’s offering of 5GB cloud storage for nonpaying users remains notably less generous.