For Android smartphone homeowners, it’s about to develop into a little bit of a headache to save backups of your WhatsApp messages. Users have loved free backups of WhatsApp messages on Android for the final 5 years, however quickly these customers will want to begin paying to protect their collections of heartfelt messages from members of the family and peculiar memes from associates.
This change comes as Google Drive makes some changes to its knowledge storage coverage in 2024. Google at present gives 15 GB of free storage for all customers, and clients who need extra room for their knowledge will pay for a Google One subscription. Previously, Meta and Google had a deal the place WhatsApp backups on Android didn’t depend towards this 15 GB restrict, and now that association is ending.
The limitless, free backups are already gone for some beta customers, and common customers might obtain a WhatsApp notification or e-mail from Google a month earlier than their backup state of affairs adjustments. While a bigger rollout is anticipated to occur early this yr, the precise timeline stays unclear, so it is best to put together now.
What is Google’s reasoning behind this alteration? An organization spokesperson identified WhatsApp’s rising consumer base and the proliferation of extra data-intensive messages, like high-resolution photos, as one purpose. Over 1.5 billion individuals used the messaging app month-to-month in 2018 when Google first stopped counting WhatsApp knowledge as a part of a consumer’s storage restrict. Although Meta declined to provide an up to date depend of month-to-month energetic WhatsApp customers, it’s potential that the messaging app’s consumer base has continued to develop steadily within the 4 years since Meta celebrated WhatsApp’s 2 billion consumer milestone.
One technique for decreasing the quantity of backup knowledge you want for WhatsApp is to experiment with disappearing messages for much less essential texts that you simply don’t actually care about saving. Also, think about scaling again the storage in your Gmail or Google Photos to unlock extra space and hold your Google account beneath the 15 GB restrict. Have so many messages to backup that weaning it down feels unimaginable? You may have to think about upgrading your storage allotment by paying for a Google One plan.
What’s Included With Google One?
The most cost-effective Google One tier for private accounts begins at $2 a month or $20 a yr for entry to 100 GB of storage. That 100 GB of area will be shared by up to 5 individuals, or you’ll be able to hold all of it to your self. Need much more room? A 200 GB plan for Google One prices $30 a yr, and a big 2 TB plan prices $100 a yr. Keep an eye fixed out for potential offers, as Google may provide trials to new customers because the WhatsApp backup change rolls out.
Along with the elevated space for storing, Google One subscribers get entry to further modifying options for Google Photos, just like the Magic Eraser device. Subscribers to the 200 GB plan additionally obtain 3 p.c retailer credit score again when purchasing the Google Store, and people on the two TB plan get 10 p.c again. Not to be confused with the Google Play Store for smartphone apps, this retailer credit score applies to the net Google Store the place the Pixel 8, Pixel Buds Pro, and different Google {hardware} is obtainable for buy. Check out our breakdown of Google One for all the pieces that’s included with the totally different tiers.
Consider the WhatsApp Chat Transfer
While it’s not the identical as having your WhatApp messages backed up for free, the app does now embody a function that makes it simpler to switch your chat historical past from one Android telephone to one other, or from one iPhone to one other. Visit the FAQ part of WhatApp’s web site for a full walkthrough of the method, which may come in useful the subsequent time you improve your handset. Switching from Android to iPhone, or vice versa? It’s nonetheless potential to switch chats, though some additional steps are concerned. You’ll want to have the identical telephone quantity on each units for chat transfers to work.
Another caveat value mentioning is that your telephones should be related to the Internet. The WhatsApp information recommends connecting each telephones to an influence supply as effectively in the course of the switch, though no cords had been plugged into the Android telephones in a video demonstrating the function posted by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on social media.