WhatsApp will no longer have unlimited backup on Google Drive on Android phones

Your unlimited WhatsApp backup to Google Drive will expire. Within a trial version of the Messenger website WABetaInfo A warning sign has been found alerting you that soon, Message history will start consuming cloud storage.

The new feature is found in version 2.23.24.21 of WhatsApp Business Beta for Android. “Backups will start consuming your Google account storage space in the coming months,” WhatsApp explains in the “Chat Backup” section.

Your WhatsApp backup will now occupy your Google account storage space.source: WABetaInfo/reproduction

This warning is a confirmation of a rumor that has been circulating since January 2022. With this change, WhatsApp is unifying Android users’ experience with iOS, which has not offered unlimited iCloud backups for some time.

What are the alternatives to moving conversations?

In recent months, WhatsApp has been working to reduce the space occupied by backups in cloud storage. This improvement is necessary, since the free 15GB of Google Drive space will now be dedicated to your chat history.

If you choose not to use backup, the only alternative to transferring conversations from one cell phone to another is through wireless relaying. The option has been available in the Chats menu since August 2021.

It should affect all users

Although it’s in WhatsApp Business beta, the cloud storage change should apply to all messaging users. However, there is currently no prediction when this will happen.

Since this is a big change, WhatsApp should announce the new feature and include support pages to guide the user.