Google seems to take away the biggest advantage android users had of unlimited Whatsapp data back up
After a five-year grace period, Android users on WhatsApp will no longer enjoy the privilege of exempt backups from contributing to Google Drive storage limits. This adjustment marks a departure from the longstanding practice of iOS users, who have consistently been subject to storage constraints for their backups.
At present, WhatsApp backups do not contribute to the overall storage limit on a user’s Google Drive. Nevertheless, a code snippet uncovered in the latest WhatsApp beta version, as accessed by WABetaInfo, hints at an impending shift in this policy.
Google Drive may soon commence issuing notifications when a user approaches their storage limit for WhatsApp backups, although the specific limit remains undisclosed. TechRadar Pro has sought confirmation from Google regarding both the anticipated policy modification and the potential capacity restriction.
Whatsapp account
WhatsApp said, “In the coming months, if you choose to backup your WhatsApp chats on an Android device, your backup will start counting toward your Google Account storage limit. If you go over the storage limit, you’ll need to free up space in your Google Account to resume backups.”
WhatsApp has communicated that the alteration will be rolled out to its entire Android user base within the first half of 2024. Users will be alerted 30 days in advance through a notification banner accessible in Settings > Chat > Chat backup.
Individuals opting against using their Google account for backups can choose the WhatsApp Chat Transfer option when transitioning to a new Android device. This method allows for a wireless transfer, contingent on both phones having Wi-Fi enabled. Notably, a direct transfer is facilitated without the need for an active network connection.
Google account
Google announced, “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.”
According to the company, Android users might have to either decrease file sizes or acquire additional storage if their backup surpasses the 15GB limit provided by Google for all users. This policy adjustment comes after a five-year period, marking a departure from the prior setup where Android users had the privilege of unlimited storage for their backups.
As outlined in the blog post, the transition will be initiated with WhatsApp Beta users in December and will subsequently extend to all Android users of WhatsApp starting in the early months of the upcoming year.
“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,” as mentioned by Google.
Conclusion
By imposing restrictions on the amount of WhatsApp data users can store without charge on Google Drive, the company is aiming to transition users to a premium service plan.
A sceptic might argue that this strategy has been Google’s underlying intention from the outset. Once users are intricately connected to a product or ecosystem, such as WhatsApp backup with Google Drive, they tend to be more hesitant to switch and more inclined to subscribe to a paid plan to uphold their existing level of service.
