WhatsApp is in the process of rolling out a new feature aimed at iPhone users, which will allow them to back up their chats, photos, videos, and documents to WhatsApp’s own cloud storage. This development comes as an alternative to Apple’s iCloud, which is currently the default backup service for iPhone users. With this new feature, WhatsApp plans to offer 2GB of free storage space for chat backups, ensuring users have a secure place to store their data.
For those requiring more storage space, there are indications that WhatsApp will introduce paid plans. An entry-level plan is expected to provide 50GB of storage, with higher-tier options also reportedly in the works. This move could potentially cater to users with extensive data storage needs, offering more flexibility and capacity than the current iCloud options.
Importantly, this new cloud storage option is expected to be optional. Users will have the choice to either continue using iCloud or switch to WhatsApp’s cloud storage, with the flexibility to revert to iCloud at any time. Additionally, WhatsApp’s cloud backups will reportedly include end-to-end encryption by default, offering a layer of security to ensure that all backup data remains protected from unauthorized access.
The testing phase for this feature is currently underway through Apple’s TestFlight platform. However, there is no official timeline for when the feature will be available to the general public. Alongside the development for iPhone users, WhatsApp is also reportedly working on a similar cloud backup solution for Android users, suggesting a broader rollout of this capability across different platforms in the future.