Uh oh, WhatsApp users – those endless backups of chats, photos and videos you’ve been storing for free on Google Drive are about to count against your storage limit.
Google recently announced that starting in early 2024, WhatsApp data from Android phones will no longer get unlimited space. It’ll be subject to the standard 15GB cap like other files.
This change was already rolled out to some WhatsApp beta testers in December 2023. Now the rest of us plebs will see the free ride end in a few months.
Previously, backing up your WhatsApp info to Google Drive gave you unlimited storage, which was pretty sweet. But Google says it’s making this change “to be consistent with other apps.”
Once you hit that 15GB limit, you’ll need to pony up for a Google One subscription to keep backing up your data. Otherwise, you risk losing those cherished chats and meme-filled group convos.
But there are still options to manage your WhatsApp storage without paying up, for now at least. Like if you get a new Android phone, use the built-in chat transfer to move your WhatsApp info over instead of restoring from Google Drive.
You can also manage your storage by cleaning out old cringey chats, photos and videos you don’t need backed up anymore. Take control of your WhatsApp digital hoarding!
It’s also worth mentioning this only applies to Android, since iOS users already get limited storage. Just 5GB in fact, so Apple folks have had to pay for iCloud storage for a while now.
In summary – enjoy those gratis WhatsApp backups while you can, Android peeps. When 2024 hits, you may need to shell out for more cloud storage or get selective about what precious memes and convos you preserve for posterity.
