Attention WhatsApp users, this feature will no longer be available for free in 2024

WhatsApp is one of the most widely-used messaging applications across the globe and billions of users connect with each other every day. For years, Google, the powerhouse behind Android, has provided users with the convenience of backing up their WhatsApp conversations on Google Drive without denting their precious 15GB of free data allowance. But all that is about to change this year.

It was earlier announced that in the first half of this year, these WhatsApp chat backups will start contributing to users' Google Drive storage limits, impacting those relying on the free 15GB quota. This alteration means that people who have been relying on Google Drive to safeguard their valuable memories and conversations will now need to consider investing in additional storage through WhatsApp with Google One.

This strategic move aligns Android practices with the storage limitations already present in iPhone's iCloud. Google One, the term for subscription plans associated with Google Drive, offers three main plans on a monthly or annual basis. Monthly costs include Basic (100GB) at £1.59 / $1.99, Standard (200GB) at £2.49 / $2.99, and Premium (2TB) at £7.99 / $9.99. India prices are yet to be announced.

For those opting for an annual commitment, the charges for the Basic (100GB) plan are £15.99 / $19.99, Standard (200GB) plan costs £24.99 / $29.99, and Premium (2TB) plan costs £79.99 / $99.99.

If you aren't keen on getting a Google One subscription, there is a way to utilise your storage smartly. Given that photos consume more space, you can open WhatsApp, navigate to Settings, proceed to Storage and Data, and finally select Manage Storage. Here, WhatsApp will provide various methods to effectively reduce storage usage, ensuring you make the most of their free 15GB allocation without additional costs.

On a related note, WhatsApp is also working on a new feature that will allow users to connect with one another, without having to disclose their phone numbers. This feature is also expected to be announced this year.

A WA beta Info report had said that WhatsApp users on Android as well as the web will be able to create a username to personalise their profiles. This will make it simpler for them to connect with friends, family, and contacts using a unique identifier.

Once the user chooses a username, their phone number remains private. This extra layer of security ensures that users can communicate with others without revealing their personal contact details. Also, users will be able to change their username whenever they want.

And that's not all, WhatsApp is also working on a feature to let people search for other users by using this unique username.

The screenshot shared by WA Beta Info revealed that users can look for other people by entering their username in the search bar. Thus, people will no longer need a person's phone number to be able to find them on WhatsApp and will be able to connect with them by just entering their username. This feature too, will be available in both mobile and web versions of the app.