WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging platform owned by Meta, recently updated its terms and conditions, affecting billions of users globally. One significant change announced last year was that chat backups would begin utilizing a user’s Google Drive storage space, slated to commence in the first half of 2024.
Android users using WhatsApp are already experiencing the impact, with chat backups occupying storage space, regardless of whether they are on the free or paid tier of Google’s cloud storage service
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To prevent chat backups from consuming your entire Google Drive storage space, you have several options available. Firstly, you can opt out of backing up chats to the cloud service and utilize WhatsApp’s built-in Chat Transfer tool when transitioning to a new phone. This method requires both the old and new devices to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, without the need for an active internet connection.
Alternatively, you can expand your storage capacity on Google Drive by subscribing to a Google One plan. Another option is to exclude images and videos from your WhatsApp chat backup, as they can significantly increase the backup size.
These changes are applicable to users on the stable version of the WhatsApp app. Users will receive an in-app notification 30 days prior to the changes taking effect, appearing as a banner in the ‘Chat Backup’ section under the app’s settings.
As WhatsApp continues to evolve, it’s crucial for users to stay informed about updates and changes to ensure a seamless messaging experience while managing storage effectively.
