If you use WhatsApp on an Android smartphone and get a lot of photos and videos on the messaging account, it’s better not to save them in the backup data anymore.
This is because now WhatsApp backup data will use up your Google storage space.
The Android Police report stated that until now there was no Google Drive storage limit for WhatsApp backup data.
According to the report, until now WhatsApp data was not counted in the 15 GB storage of the Google account, but in November 2023, Meta announced that from the beginning of 2024, the WhatsApp backup will be counted in the Google storage. .
Now it’s time and WhatsApp backup data of users is using Google storage. To know about this, go to the Google account storage and click on the Other section, where a new addition called WhatsApp will appear.
Clicking on the arrow next to WhatsApp data there will open WhatsApp’s Manage Storage page, where you can see which chats and files are taking up space in Google Storage.
You can reduce your WhatsApp chat backup storage space by deleting large media files. According to the report, this change has been made for a few people and gradually all users’ backup data will become part of Google Storage.
Interestingly, WhatsApp had said in November that users would be notified about the change 30 days in advance, but the accounts that got the change did not receive any notification.
It should be noted that Google accounts come with 15 GB of free cloud storage which is used for Gmail, Drive and Photos etc. Backup of WhatsApp data is helpful when you change your phone and is easy to access through Google Drive.
Given the popularity of WhatsApp, it can be assumed that most users will have several GB of backup data, which can be a problem for those who are already running out of Google storage.
When Google’s free storage capacity for WhatsApp data is exhausted, then users will be directed to opt for Google One (1) subscription plan.
Google has also made a similar change for its popular app Photos, which previously offered free unlimited storage to users, but later limited it to 15 GB of storage.
#WhatsApp #users #missing #great #convenience
How will WhatsApp Backup changes affect my Google Drive storage?
## WhatsApp Backups: A New Storage Squeeze?
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re talking about a change that might affect how many of you manage your WhatsApp data. Joining us is tech expert, [Guest Name], to break it down. [Guest Name], thanks for being here.
**Guest:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** So, the news is that WhatsApp backups are going to start counting towards your Google Drive storage. How big of a deal is this for the average user?
**Guest:** It could be a big deal, especially for people who use WhatsApp heavily and share a lot of photos and videos. As we learned from a recent announcement by Meta [[1](https://www.makeuseof.com/google-ends-unlimited-whatsapp-backups/)], until now, WhatsApp backups on Android weren’t limited by the 15 GB of free Google Drive storage. That meant users could back up practically everything without worrying about hitting a wall.
**Host:** So, no more unlimited backups?
**Guest:** Correct. Starting this year, those backups will start eating into your Google Drive space. For users who aren’t aware of this change and have large backups, they might suddenly find themselves running out of storage.
**Host:** That’s definitely something people should be aware of. What are some suggestions for managing this change?
**Guest:** Well, the first step is to check how much space your WhatsApp backup is currently using. If it’s taking up a significant chunk of your storage, you might want to consider deleting old backups or media you no longer need. You can also explore setting selective backups, backing up only essential chats and media instead of everything.
**Host:** Any other tips?
**Guest:** Absolutely. Consider using third-party cloud storage solutions or even external hard drives for storing your WhatsApp media. This way, you can free up your Google Drive space while still keeping your valuable data safe.
**Host:** Great advice, [Guest Name]. Thanks for shedding light on this important change.
**Guest:** My pleasure.
