Instant messaging platform WhatsApp stores back-ups for users in Google Drive as well as on the device's local storage. However, with its planning to add changes to its Android app version, the chat backup system will change for Android users.
As per the changes, the instant messaging platform has stopped backing up the WhatsApp Status updates. WhatsApp recently rolled out a beta update which stopped back-up for status updates. The latest Android beta version 2.21.13.6 does not upload backups of status updates.
According to the report, WhatsApp is planning to introduce the change due to storage restrictions caused by back-ups, mostly on local devices of users. Google Drive provides unlimited storage for WhatsApp back-ups.
Providing the option to stop updating backups will help users save a substantial amount of data. The instant messaging platform has already started excluding status updates from back-ups on Apple iOS devices in order to save space in the iCloud.
Chat backup changes for Android users
WhatsApp will start avoiding backing up Status updates to save storage when a user backs up the app's data.
It is noted that people tend to upload videos as a Status, which can result in an increased backup.
While the backup is created on Google Drive (which has an apt amount of storage), this could change too.
WhatsApp might start backing up data on a user's smartphone, so not saving WhatsApp Status might be a blessing.
Currently, WhatsApp for Android backs up messages, media, and even users' Statuses.
This isn't the case with the app's iOS version which doesn’t include the disappearing media shared by people.
The new feature is presently a part of the WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.21.13.6.