WhatsApp is working on an update that will see it and Google stop offering unlimited storage quota for chat backups.
The Meta-owned messaging platform is developing a limited storage quota through a new update on the Google Play Beta Program for testers of WhatsApp’s latest 2.23.24.21 version.
This will make WhatsApp users on Android devices align with their iOS counterparts, with a 15GB free Google storage quota after which one will need to pay.
“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,” WhatsApp says in a post on its Help Centre page.
An article shared by Google on Tuesday says the update will be rolled out for beta testers starting in December, followed by everyone else in the first half of next year.
WhatsApp says they will notify users 30 days before the change takes effect with a banner in Settings > Chats > Chat backup
Source: Citizen Digital