WhatsApp backups will no longer take up Google cloud storage

WhatsApp is a popular messaging app for Android, iOS and desktops. Unlike other similar services, however, it includes options to store backups of the messages and content sent to its users on mobile devices. These files can be located on a phone's own on-board storage. Alternatively, these backups can live on clouds such as Apple iCloud or Google Drive. 

Those who wish to keep their backups may face the issue of reduced storage space over time. This may be particularly pressing for heavy or consistent WhatsApp users, especially those not inclined to pay for increased cloud-space from their OS provider. On the other hand, Apple and Google only offer 5GB and 15GB of free cloud space respectively. 

However, there is good news - albeit only for users who back up using Google cloud storage. WhatsApp and Google have agreed to negate the file-sizes of the messaging service's backups on Drive. Therefore, they may still be present on this cloud without taking up any of its space. According to reports, this agreement will take effect in November 2018. However, it is important to note that back-ups older than one year will be erased from Drive at this point. This can be addressed through manual back-ups using applicable Android clients by October 31, 2018.

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