- WhatsApp is preparing its own cloud on Meta's servers to store chat backups as an alternative to Google Drive and iCloud.
- The system would offer around 2 GB for free and a paid plan of up to 50 GB for about $0,99, still in testing.
- End-to-end encryption will be mandatory in the WhatsApp cloud, with protection using passkeys, passwords or 64-digit keys.
- The change may alleviate the storage limit on Google and iCloud, especially for users in Spain and Europe with their 15 GB almost full.
For years we have taken it for granted that WhatsApp backups go directly to Google Drive or iCloudDepending on whether you use Android or iPhone. Now Meta is making moves to change this system so that your conversations can also be saved in a WhatsApp's own cloud hosted on its serverswith more control over space and security.
The idea is not to force you to abandon Google or Apple services, but to add one Third option to save your WhatsApp chats to the Meta cloudThis move directly addresses a very real problem in Spain and the rest of Europe: Google's 15 GB of free storage is becoming increasingly full, partly due to backups of WhatsApp messages, photos, videos, and documents.
A third option: save your chats to the Meta cloud
According to WABetaInfo, the well-known website that tracks new features of the app, WhatsApp is testing a system internally called something similar to a “WhatsApp Chat Backup Provider”In practice, this is a new cloud storage provider controlled by Meta, which appears alongside Google Drive (and, in the case of iOS, iCloud) as a possible destination for backups.
In the screenshots seen from the Android beta version, the user can choose between continuing to send their backups to Google Drive or save them directly to the WhatsApp cloudBy choosing the Meta option, the backups are hosted on the company's own servers, maintaining the link with your WhatsApp account and without depending entirely on external services.
This change is especially interesting in a context where backups have become a headache: WhatsApp accumulates years of conversations, photos, videos, audios and documents which can take up several gigabytes. Until recently, Android had an agreement whereby these backups did not count towards Google Drive storage, but that advantage has been ending and, since 2024, they once again occupy part of the 15 GB of free storage.
The result is easy to recognize: constant warnings about storage being almost full, the need to delete emails, photos, files, or even WhatsApp backups. With its own cloud, Meta wants distribute that storage load and offer another option before the user is forced to pay for more storage from Google or Apple. For those seeking more detailed options on how manage storage via chat On WhatsApp, this change can be especially useful.
The tests detected in the WhatsApp beta for Android point to a combination of Limited free storage and a paid planSome references mention a 2GB limit for the free storage space included on Meta's servers, intended exclusively for WhatsApp backups.
These 2 GB might not be enough for those who use the app very intensively, but they would serve as cushion to back up essential chats and some files without needing to use up your 15GB of Google or iCloud storage. It's a similar approach to other services: a free basic tier and additional options for those who need more.
Alongside that free slot, WABetaInfo has detected signs of a possible Plan with up to 50 GB for about $0,99 per monthThis subscription is still in its preliminary phase. It would be designed for users with numerous conversations, very active groups, and a significant volume of images, videos, and voice notes that increase the copy size.
It is not yet clear whether this payment storage will be integrated into a hypothetical WhatsApp Plus-type subscription with more exclusive benefits or if it will be offered as a standalone add-on. Final prices have also not been confirmed, but in Europe they will likely be adjusted to euros and local regulations before the official launch.
In any case, the philosophy seems clear: 2 GB as a free starting point There's a plan for those who only want to secure a portion of their chats, and a more affordable option for those who accumulate years' worth of multimedia content. All of this will coexist with the option to continue using Google Drive or iCloud, so each user can tailor the mix of services to their needs and available storage space.
Less reliance on Google Drive and iCloud
Until now, the destination of backups was heavily determined by the operating system. On Android, the usual practice was to opt for Google Drive as the only cloud backupOn iPhone, this was done via iCloud. This meant sharing the same storage space with Google Photos, email files, personal documents, and many other applications.
In Spain and in most European countries, where many people Make the most of the free plans This situation, created by Google and Apple, has ultimately led to a bottleneck. Deleting a copy of WhatsApp meant losing years of conversations; keeping it meant sacrificing photos, emails, or documents in favor of the messaging app.
With the arrival of the Meta cloud, the equation changes: it will be possible to choose between continuing to save everything in Google Drive or Move part or all of the backup to WhatsApp serversThis frees up space in the Google or Apple cloud, which can then be used for other content without losing chat history, or you can opt for alternatives such as create your own private cloud to manage photos and files.
In addition, Meta gains room to offer a more seamless experience between Android and iOSBy having its own infrastructure, the company can work on a backup and restore management system that is less dependent on the particularities of each system, something that fits with other recent moves, such as facilitating the switching of chats between platforms or the use of multiple accounts on the same phone.
Some users, however, will view this change with some caution: saving backups to the Meta cloud means that More data passes through the company's own infrastructure.Hence, one of the pillars of the new system is to reinforce security and make it clear that neither Meta nor external providers can read the content of those backups.
Mandatory encryption and new ways to protect your backups
One of the points that WhatsApp is placing the most emphasis on is the Security of Meta cloud backupsThe company has long offered end-to-end encryption for backups, but until now the user had to activate it manually and choose how to protect the key: with a password or with a 64-digit string.
In the new system, copies stored in WhatsApp's own cloud would have end-to-end encryption requiredIn other words, it won't be optional: everything uploaded to the Meta cloud will be protected so that only the user has the necessary key to decrypt it, preventing the company itself, Google, Apple, or other intermediaries from reading the content.
To protect that encryption key, WhatsApp is opting to integrate passkeys as the primary access methodThese modern credentials replace classic passwords with more secure systems linked to the device, such as fingerprint, facial recognition, or unlocking the mobile phone itself.
In practice, this means you will be able to restore your backup using the same way you already unlock your phonewithout having to remember a long phrase or an endless string of numbers. The key will be stored in the system's or associated account's password manager and will sync across trusted devices, making it easy to switch phones. If you want to enhance your security, there are helpful guides available. Configure WhatsApp optimally.
Those who prefer a more traditional control will still have options such as Protect the copy with a custom password or a 64-digit keyHowever, WhatsApp reminds users that losing that password or key can make it impossible to recover saved chats, because neither the company nor the storage provider has a copy of that data to restore it.
What does this mean for users in Spain and Europe?
For those who use WhatsApp daily in Spain, the impact of this new feature goes beyond the technical aspects. In recent months, with the end of the special agreement between Google and Meta, many users have encountered the following issues: Backups are once again taking up space in Google Drive, forcing a review of what is kept and what is deleted.
The possibility of Save your WhatsApp chats to the Meta cloud It offers a middle ground: keeping years of conversations, photos, and documents without having to purchase more data from Google or Apple. For those who are living on the edge of their 15 GB of free storage, being able to free up some of that space by moving their WhatsApp backup can make all the difference.
Furthermore, a dedicated cloud managed by the app can simplify the typical process when you switch phones. The idea is that, when setting up the new device, you can Log in to WhatsApp, verify your identity with your fingerprint, face, or passkey. and restore the backup directly from Meta's servers, without so much dependence on Google Drive or iCloud and with a more homogeneous system.
This approach fits well with European demands regarding privacy and protection of personal dataThe fact that the encryption is end-to-end, that the user directly manages the key, and that robust methods like passkeys are offered helps reinforce the feeling of control over the stored information, although the debate about the role of tech giants like Meta will continue. To understand what these technical logs reveal, you can read more about the WhatsApp metadata.
However, there is one point that should not be overlooked: WhatsApp itself insists that if the user loses the method of accessing the encrypted copy (whether it's the password, the 64-digit key, or the passkey), there may be no way to recover that data. Security increases, but so does the responsibility to keep those credentials safe.
A feature in development that will be rolled out gradually
For now, everything related to this new form of Save your WhatsApp chats to the Meta cloud It is currently in the development and testing phase. References to the feature have appeared in various beta versions of the Android app, such as version 2.25.24.15, but it has not yet been activated for all users.
Meta will most likely follow its usual strategy: first a limited rollout among beta usersThis involves gathering feedback and ironing out bugs, followed by a gradual rollout by country and user group. Key details may change during this process, such as the exact amount of free storage, the price of the 50GB plan, or integration with premium subscriptions like WhatsApp Plus.
There's no firm date yet for its arrival in Spain or the rest of Europe. It does seem reasonable to think that, once the company considers the feature stable, it will gradually roll it out. in stages across different marketsStarting perhaps with those with the largest active user base or the greatest Android presence, where testing is more advanced.
The leaked screenshots already show what the new option might look like within the settings: a menu where choose the storage provider for the backupsWith Google Drive and WhatsApp's cloud as alternatives on Android, and where integration with other services could also be added in the future if the company decides to expand the range.
Meanwhile, the underlying message is clear: WhatsApp wants to build a dedicated backup infrastructure that reduces its dependence on third parties, offers more control over space, and strengthens security without requiring the average user to be an expert in encryption or password management.
If Meta maintains this approach and the tests go well, the coming months could bring a significant change in how conversation history is managed. Going from relying almost entirely on Google Drive and iCloud to having the option of also using WhatsApp's cloud service It opens up extra space to organize storage, better protect data, and breathe a little easier when it's time to change phones or restore chats.
