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.
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What advice is given to WhatsApp users concerned about the change in backup storage?
## WhatsApp Backup Changes: What You Need to Know
**Host:** Joining us today is tech expert Alex Reed to discuss recently announced changes affecting WhatsApp backups. Welcome to the show!
**Alex Reed:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** For Android users, a significant shift is coming to how WhatsApp backups are handled. Can you explain what’s changing?
**Alex Reed:** Sure. For years, WhatsApp backups on Android weren’t counted against the limited 15GB of free storage offered by Google Drive. Essentially, you had unlimited space for your WhatsApp data. [[1](https://www.makeuseof.com/google-ends-unlimited-whatsapp-backups/)]But, Meta announced in November 2023 that this perk is ending.
Starting January 2024, your WhatsApp backups will eat into your precious Google Drive storage, alongside your emails, photos, and other files.
**Host:** So, what does this mean for users, specifically those who rely on WhatsApp for sharing lots of photos and videos?
**Alex Reed:** The impact will be most noticeable for users who heavily rely on WhatsApp for multimedia sharing. Those large photo and video files will quickly consume your Google Drive storage.
**Host:** Any advice for users concerned about this change?
**Alex Reed:** My advice would be to be selective about what you back up. If you primarily use WhatsApp for text-based communication, you might not need to worry. But, if you frequently share photos and videos, consider manually backing up those important files to a separate location, or using other cloud storage options.
**Host:** That’s great advice. Thank you for shedding light on these changes. Hopefully, users will be prepared and avoid any surprises when the change comes into effect.
**Alex Reed:** My pleasure.
