WhatsApp is ending its longtime policy of offering unlimited Google Drive backup for Android users. This change will start with WhatsApp Beta users in December 2023 and will roll out to all Android users in early 2024.

After this change, WhatsApp backups will count towards the 15GB storage limit that is provided with all Google accounts. This limit is shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Once users reach this limit, they will need to purchase additional storage or delete data to continue backing up their WhatsApp chats.

Google Workspace accounts are exempt from this change and will continue to enjoy unlimited Google Drive backup for WhatsApp.

Why the Change?

Google has not given a specific reason for ending unlimited Google Drive backup for WhatsApp. However, it is likely due to the fact that WhatsApp backups can be very large, especially for users who have been using the app for a long time. This can put a strain on Google's storage resources.

What This Means for Android Users

Android users will need to be more mindful of how much storage they are using for their WhatsApp backups. If they are close to reaching the 15GB limit, they may need to start deleting old chats or photos to free up space.

Users can also choose to purchase additional Google Drive storage. Google offers a variety of storage plans, ranging from 100GB to 30TB.

How to Manage WhatsApp Backups

To manage your WhatsApp backups, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Here, you can see how much storage your backups are using and you can also change your backup settings.

You can choose to back up your chats daily, weekly, monthly, or never. You can also choose to include or exclude videos in your backups.

What to Do if You Run Out of Storage

If you run out of storage, you will still be able to use WhatsApp, but you will not be able to back up your chats. This means that if you lose your phone or switch to a new phone, you will lose all of your chat history.

To prevent this, you can either purchase additional Google Drive storage or you can export your chat history to a local file.