Google Will Start Counting WhatsApp Chat Backups Against Cloud Storage Limit

Per a community post, WhatsApp chat backups on Android will soon start counting toward users’ Google account cloud storage limit. The change will roll out to WhatsApp Beta users starting next month, i.e., December 2023. The messaging platform will gradually make this a standard for all Android users. Users will start seeing the notification for this change in Settings > Chat > Chat Backup. In the past, users haven’t been troubled by storage issues related to chat backups, mainly because it didn’t count against their accounts.

Users Must Check Their WhatsApp Backup Size

Going forward, when non-paying Android users enable WhatsApp chat backups, they will have to double-check whether they have enough storage. If the backup size exceeds the available space (15GB for most users who aren’t subscribed to Google’s cloud storage plans), users won’t be able to create a chat backup. Announcing this change, Google mentioned that most mobile platforms (hinting at iOS) offer 5GB of free cloud storage, while Google provides three times.

Freeing Up Storage Or Reducing The Backup Size Are The Only Free Options

When users hit their storage limit, they either free up some space by deleting some files from their cloud using Google’s storage management tools or delete large files on their drive. Further, they also have the option to delete items from WhatsApp, such as documents, images, GIFs, videos, etc. However, users can get more storage if nothing else works by upgrading to a Google One storage plan. To help users with the transition, Google will soon “provide eligible users limited, one-time Google One promotions.”

Google Is Already Running A Promotion On One Storage Plans

A quick glance at the Google One plans page reveals that Google is already offering discounts on all storage plans. For instance, the 100GB Google One plan, which regularly costs Rs. 130 per month, is currently available for Rs. 35 a month for three months (regular price after the promotion period). The 200GB Standard plan, usually available for Rs. 210 per month, is currently available for Rs. 50 a month for three months. The 2 TB Google One plan is available at a discounted price of Rs. 160 a month for three months.

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