Google has announced a major change to how WhatsApp backups on Android phones are handled: they will soon start counting against users’ Google Account storage quota. This is a complete reversal from 2018, when WhatsApp backups were exempted from storage limits.
The change could impact millions of Android users who rely on chat and media backups.
WhatsApp Backup Policy Change Details
- The new backup counting rules will first roll out to a small percentage of WhatsApp beta users starting in December 2023. This initial phase will allow Google and WhatsApp to test the changes with a limited audience.
- Throughout the first half of 2024, the backup limitations will gradually extend to all WhatsApp users on Android. This staged approach gives people time to adapt and manage their storage as needed.
- Approximately 30 days before the adjustments take effect for a user, WhatsApp will display an in-app banner alerting them to the imminent change. The notice will appear in the Chat Backup section of WhatsApp’s Settings menu.
- Once the new system is active, any newly backed-up chats or media will be counted against the 15GB of free Google Account cloud storage. If the 15GB limit is exceeded, users will be blocked from performing backups until they delete files and create space.
- Paid Google One subscription plans offer expanded storage starting at 100GB for $2 per month. This provides an option for users who backup a lot of high-resolution photos and videos.
- Personal Google accounts hosted on [email protected] domains will face the new restrictions. However, Google Workspace accounts paid for by businesses, schools, or other organizations will be exempt. Their WhatsApp backups will remain unlimited.
Why Google and WhatsApp Enacted the Storage Limit
In their public announcements, Google and WhatsApp cited increased WhatsApp usage over the years as a key reason for introducing storage caps. As the userbase has grown, people are sharing more photos, videos, and other multimedia content through WhatsApp chats and backups. This exponential growth in high-resolution files ultimately strained Google’s storage resources.
Specifically, WhatsApp noted that usage has changed significantly since 2018 when backups were made unlimited. The recent addition of HD photo and video sharing capabilities in mid-2022 likely contributed further to oversized backups. The sheer quantity of large files being backed up forced Google to rethink its unlimited policy.
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By aligning WhatsApp backup storage handling with how other apps utilize Google Drive, the company aims to make its policies more consistent across services. The 15GB free allotment still exceeds what some other platforms offer.
How Users Can Adapt to the WhatsApp Backup Limits
To ensure valuable WhatsApp chat history and media aren’t lost when the new limits take effect, users have a few options:
- Proactively delete old chats and files from WhatsApp and Google Drive storage before limits are reached.Cleaning up unused content now makes space for future backups.
- Leverage WhatsApp’s built-in Chat Transfer tool if switching Android phones. This migrates chats to a new device without needing to restore from a cloud backup.
- Consider uploading photos and videos to dedicated cloud storage platforms like Google Photos, Dropbox, or iCloud. This provides redundancy beyond just WhatsApp backups.
- Purchase a paid Google One membership for more backup capacity, if needed. The starting 100GB plan runs just $2 per month and may suffice for many users.
- Use the coming 30-day notice period before rollout to export chat logs, copy media to other storage services, and free up capacity.
Adjusting to the new WhatsApp backup restrictions may require some one-time maintenance and adopting new habits around storage. But with prudent planning, users can adapt while still protecting their chat histories.
