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 can I stop my WhatsApp backups from taking up space on Google Drive?
## WhatsApp Backups: Eating Up Your Google Storage?
**Host:** Welcome back to Tech Talk. Today, we’re discussing a change that’s raising eyebrows for many Android users: WhatsApp backups are now eating into your Google Drive storage. Joining us to shed light on this is tech expert, Emily Chen. Emily, thanks for being here.
**Emily:** Thanks for having me!
**Host:** So, Emily, what’s the big deal about this change?
**Emily:** Well, for years, WhatsApp backups were stored on Google Drive without counting towards your 15 gb of free storage. It was a nice perk. But as of January 2024, this changed. Now, those backups are counted, meaning your photos, videos, and chats are taking up valuable space. [[1](https://www.live2tech.com/how-to-backup-whatsapp-to-google-drive-on-iphone-step-by-step-guide/)]
**Host:** So, what’s the impact for users?
**Emily:** It could be significant, especially for heavy WhatsApp users. Imagine you have thousands of photos and videos in your chats, that’s going to take up a lot of storage! People might find themselves hitting their data limit faster, having to pay for extra storage, or needing to be more selective about what they back up.
**Host:** Any advice for our listeners on how to manage this?
**Emily:** Absolutely.
* **Review your backup settings:** See what’s included in your backups. Consider excluding photos and videos if you primarily use WhatsApp for text-based communication.
* **Manually back up:** You can choose to manually back up your data instead of automatic backups. This allows you more control over when and what gets backed up.
* **Consider alternative storage:** Look into other cloud storage options if you need more space. Many services offer free tiers with specific limitations.
**Host:** Great advice, Emily. Thanks for clarifying this important change for our listeners.
**Emily:** You’re welcome!
Are you concerned about WhatsApp backups taking up Google Drive space? Let us know in the comments below!
