WhatsApp chat backups on Google Drive will no longer be free and will contribute to your Google account storage usage.The new policy is already in effect for WhatsApp beta users and will be rolled out to regular users in the near future. WhatsApp backups will count against your Google account storage limit, which includes the free 15 GB of storage provided with every Google account. Users will receive a WhatsApp notification or email from Google approximately one month before their backup situation changes. To continue backing up your GB WhatsApp Download chats, you may need to free up space in your Google account by deleting unnecessary files or consider upgrading your storage through a Google One subscription.
I mean, makes sense to me. You’re storing your data on someone else’s servers, makes sense that it would count towards your storage quota on said servers.
Having said that, it’s really shitty that they’ve removed local backups (and that they don’t allow other third party services beyond Google Drive and Apple iCloud).
Another reason to not use WhatsApp (or to use another backup solution), I guess.
Well, that depends on context. Let’s say it makes less sense if you built your entire userbase on the back of handing off free storage for decades only to reverse course later after you’ve amassed a captive userbase in the literal billions of people.
But hey, I’m not gonna relitigate enshittification now. We all know.
FWIW, my current Whatsapp backup is 4GB, 1.5 without video backup. Google Drive gives out 20 for free, but they already made the same move regarding Gmail storage, so most of that is full. I have a paid account, but it’s a work account and my personal chat logs do not belong there. Not using whatsapp is not an option. Just this week my vet sent me text messages over it. They didn’t ask if I use it, they just assumed it because, again, captive audience in the billions. Whatsapp is just how texting works here.
When did they remove local backups? Or is it removed for someone who has opted for Google Drive backup?
I never chose cloud option, so I have my local backup. Android by the way.
