WhatsApp is one of the world’s most popular chat messaging programmes, and for good reason. It’s simple to use, compatible with most cellphones, and safe – but best of all, it’s free. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, due to a Google announcement, this is going to change for some WhatsApp users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Android phones, WhatsApp backups will count towards your personal Google account’s cloud storage limit beginning early next year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Backups are copies of your chat history, including all messages, photos, and videos, that you may recover if you lose your phone or replace it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Android, you have to backup your WhatsApp chats in the app by linking your personal Gmail account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The backups live in Google cloud storage, but do not count towards your personal account\u2019s limit, which is at least 15GB for all Google account holders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the change, backups will count towards your storage – so if this tips you over the 15GB free cloud storage limit, you\u2019ll have to pay Google for more storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Google stated in a blog post that the upgrade will first be available to those on the WhatsApp beta in December 2023, with the rest of the world receiving it in early 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhatsApp backups on Android will continue to work, as long as you have available space within your Google Account storage,\u201d a Google community manager said. \u201cIf you hit your storage limit, you\u2019ll need to free up space to resume backups by removing items you do not need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can\u00a0view all the pricing for extra Google cloud storage here<\/a>. WhatsApp users on iPhone have long had to have their backup count against their iCloud storage, of which Apple only gives everyone 5GB for free. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Google is reversing a decision it made in 2018 to offer backups for free, reverting to the original situation that Android WhatsAppers will again find themselves back in come 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ranging from notes to loved ones to family photos, addresses, and others, backing up your files from your phone is a must. If you lose your phone and do not back up your chats to your Google account, you will be unable to recover them, and those priceless moments would be lost forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re looking for a more reliable solution for back ups, you may also use PhotoSafe<\/a><\/strong> as an all-in-one alternative.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WhatsApp is one of the world’s most popular chat messaging programmes, and for good reason. It’s simple to use, compatible with most cellphones, and safe – but best of all, … <\/p>\n