In a significant shift, WhatsApp users on Android are waking up to changes in their Google Drive storage as the popular messaging app’s backups now count against their account storage quota. Since 2018, WhatsApp backups to Google Drive have been exempt from the storage quota, offering users a convenient and free solution. However, Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, announced in November 2023 that starting in early 2024, these backups would indeed start impacting users’ Drive storage. The transition has now begun.
For users on WhatsApp’s stable channel, a quick check of their Google account storage might reveal a new entry under the “Other” section specifically for WhatsApp backups. Tapping on this entry leads to the app’s “Manage Storage” page, where users can see the space occupied by various conversations and files. This provides users with an opportunity to review and delete large media and documents to reduce the space consumed by WhatsApp’s chat backups.
The change seems to be gradually rolling out on WhatsApp’s stable channel, and currently, it is visible for some users. WhatsApp’s support page mentioned that a banner would appear in chat backup settings at least 30 days before the change to notify users, but this doesn’t seem to be consistent across all devices at this point.
According to the support page, the transition “will roll out slowly to all WhatsApp Android users across the first half of 2024,” indicating that the process is in its early stages and may take some time to reach all users. Google might also offer promotional deals on Google One subscription plans, providing additional storage space to ease the transition for users impacted by the change.
For users on WhatsApp’s beta channel, this adjustment started in December 2023, with chat backups to Drive already counting against their storage quota. Given WhatsApp’s popularity, users on the beta channel may find that the app’s Drive backup occupies a significant portion of their Google account space. This could pose challenges, especially for those who are nearing the 15GB limit due to Google Photos backup and Drive files.
However, Google Workspace users who obtained their accounts through work or school are currently unaffected by this change.
It’s worth noting that before 2018, WhatsApp backups did count against Google Drive’s storage quota. The exemption in 2018 was welcomed by users, but signs of a potential shift surfaced in early 2022 with a WhatsApp beta release, indicating that both Google and Meta were reconsidering the free space offer.
While the Drive backup remains a convenient option for many users, WhatsApp does provide an alternative for those unwilling to invest in additional Google storage. Users can opt for local transfer of chat backups between devices, allowing them to turn off Drive backups while keeping their chats stored locally on their devices. As the transition unfolds, WhatsApp users will need to navigate the evolving landscape of storage management to ensure a seamless messaging experience.