WhatsApp is constantly testing new features to make it easier for users to back up their messages. After presenting an end-to-end encryption feature for chat backups, WhatsApp is now testing the feature to set the chat size to be backed up.
This new feature was discovered by WABetaInfo in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.21.21.7. But this feature is still under development and not yet available for beta testers, as quoted from 9to5Google, Thursday (14/10/2021).
The screenshot uploaded by WABetaInfo shows a new page where users can set the size of the chats to be backed up. Users can choose the categories of content to be backed up such as photos, audio, videos, documents, and other media.
This feature is certainly very helpful for users who have been using WhatsApp for a long time and hoard a lot of media on their cellphones. Currently WhatsApp users can only back up all the content on their phone, but they can choose not to back up video content.
Features set chat backup size on WhatsApp Photos: WABetaInfo
Apparently there is a special reason why WhatsApp developed this feature. As is known, currently backups of WhatsApp chats stored on Google Drive do not take up the user's storage quota, because WhatsApp and Google already have an agreement.
However, there is a possibility that this agreement will be canceled and the backup of WhatsApp chats on Google Drive will take up part of the user's storage quota, and WhatsApp offers this new feature to help users set the size of the chats to be backed up due to limited storage space.
If this news is true, Google may stop offering unlimited storage for WhatsApp chat backups. Instead, Google will offer a limited storage quota of 2 GB per user.
WABetaInfo said this news is only a rumor because there has been no official announcement from WhatsApp. But considering that Google recently stopped offering unlimited storage for Photos, it's not impossible that they will do the same for Drive storage on WhatsApp.
The feature to set the chat backup size is still in the development stage and it is not yet known when it will be released. Meanwhile, WhatsApp beta users on Android and iOS can now try out the backup feature that is protected by end-to-end encryption.
