If you’re an Android user who backs up your WhatsApp conversations to Drive, it’s time to check your Google account storage. Back in 2018, WhatsApp and Google introduced the option to save chat history to Drive without it impacting your storage quota. However, come December 2023, backing up the app will start counting towards your Google account’s cloud storage if you’re a WhatsApp beta user. Non-beta users will experience this change gradually next year.
Personal Google accounts provide 15GB of free cloud storage shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos, which Google mentioned is three times more than most mobile platforms. Despite that, it’s still easy to hit or exceed the 15GB limit depending on the number of files and photos you’re backing up.
Google has shared storage management tools to help you remove large files and photos you no longer need. WhatsApp also allows you to delete items from within the app to prevent them from being included in your next backup. Additionally, you can purchase extra storage with Google One, starting at $2 a month for 100GB. Eligible users may receive limited-time promotions for Google One soon, so it’s worth considering before subscribing. It’s important to note that this change only affects personal account backups. Workspace accounts are not impacted by WhatsApp backups.
