Google announced in November 2023 that the unlimited Google Drive backup for WhatsApp chats would no longer be available for Android smartphone users. This means that WhatsApp chat backups will now count towards the 15GB free storage plan provided by Google Drive for Android users. The exact date for these changes to take effect has not been confirmed by either Google or WhatsApp. However, some beta version users of WhatsApp have reported that these changes have already started rolling out. It is expected that all users will experience these changes by the first half of 2024.

WhatsApp backup, which includes chats, images, and videos, will now use up the available storage in Google Drive for Android beta users. Users will be notified 30 days in advance before this change is implemented. Those who have used up their free storage space on Google Drive will need to purchase additional storage.

Alternative Method to Backup and Restore Chats

WhatsApp has introduced an alternative method for backing up and restoring chats to new smartphones without relying on Google Drive. This new feature allows users to transfer chats to a new device using a Wi-Fi connection. Both the old and new smartphones need to be connected to the same network for the transfer to take place. An active internet connection is not required for this transfer to occur, as confirmed by Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp.