WhatsApp, a messaging platform owned by Meta, is set to implement a significant update in collaboration with Google, signaling the end of unlimited storage for chat backups.
The impending change, currently in development and available for testing on the Google Play Beta Program, will be integrated into WhatsApp’s latest 2.23.24.21 version.
Under this update, Android users will experience a shift toward a limited storage quota system, mirroring the conditions already present for their iOS counterparts.
Following the update, users will have a 15GB free storage quota on Google, after which additional space will require payment.
WhatsApp, in a statement on its Help Centre page, outlines the forthcoming adjustment: “In the coming months, if you choose to back up your WhatsApp chats on an Android device, your backup will start counting toward your Google Account storage limit. If you go over the storage limit, you’ll need to free up space in your Google Account to resume backups.”
Google shared an article on Tuesday, revealing that the update is scheduled to roll out for beta testers starting in December, followed by a broader release to all users in the first half of the coming year.
To ensure users are informed well in advance, WhatsApp plans to notify them 30 days before the change takes effect.
This notification will be prominently displayed in the Settings menu under Chats > Chat backup, alerting users to the impending adjustments to their chat backup storage options.
