Ever felt like your Google Drive is getting packed with files you don’t need anymore? If you’re backing up WhatsApp chats to Google Drive, those backups might take up space you could actually use for photos, docs, or something else important. Sometimes you just want a fresh start, or maybe you switched phones and that old backup is just sitting there, eating up storage.
I remember the first time I ran out of Google Drive storage and it was only because of some old WhatsApp backups. That’s when I decided to get rid of those files for good. Don’t worry, it’s way easier than you think, and anyone can do it on an Android phone. If you’re ready to clear up a little space and keep only what you need, here’s how to do it.
How to Delete Only WhatsApp Backups from Google Drive
Removing old WhatsApp backups from Google Drive only takes a few seconds if you know where to look. Here’s a quick list to get it done fast on your phone.
1. Open the Google Drive app on your Android.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines sitting at the top left corner.
3. Pick the option that says Backups.
4. Find your WhatsApp backup and tap the three dots next to it.
5. Tap Delete to send that WhatsApp backup away for good.
What Happens When WhatsApp Backup Is Deleted
Once you get rid of your old backup from Google Drive, it’s gone. All your chat messages, media, and files saved in that particular backup aren’t coming back unless you have a local copy or another backup saved elsewhere. If you try moving your WhatsApp to a new phone, you won’t be able to bring back chats from that deleted backup.
Deleting your backup doesn’t affect the WhatsApp app on your phone immediately, but the next time you want to recover your chats or set up your account on a new device, there won’t be anything to recover from Google Drive. This is why people usually do it when they’ve already switched to a new phone or just want to free up space in their Drive.
Making Sure WhatsApp Backups Don’t Return Automatically
Even if you’ve deleted your backup once, WhatsApp might keep making new backups in the background. If you want to stop this, open WhatsApp, go to settings, then chats, and find the chat backup section. There’s an option named Backup to Google Drive, and if you set it to never, Google Drive won’t keep collecting backups moving forward.
This way, you have way more control over what’s saved and what’s not, and your Google Drive won’t fill up with files you don’t plan to use. If deleting backups isn’t something you need regularly, this setting change could save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
Conclusion
It’s always a good feeling to take back some control over your storage. Deleting that backup means more space for stuff that matters to you. If you make a mistake and remove the wrong backup, remember that Google Drive usually keeps things in the trash for a little while, just in case.
Doing this every once in a while keeps your Drive tidy and helps you avoid wasting cloud space. Give your storage some breathing room and enjoy knowing it’s less cluttered!
FAQs
How do I know if my WhatsApp chats are backed up to Google Drive?
If you set up backups once before, head to Google Drive backups and you should see a file named WhatsApp under your backups list.
Can I get my chat history back after deleting the backup?
No, once the backup is deleted from Google Drive, you can’t restore your chats unless you have another backup somewhere else, like a local copy on your device.
Will WhatsApp stop making backups after I delete the file?
Not unless you change the backup settings in WhatsApp itself. Be sure to set Google Drive backups to never, so it doesn’t come back.
Does deleting WhatsApp backup free up Drive storage immediately?
Yes, once it’s deleted, you’ll see more available space in your Google Drive for other things.
Do I need a computer, or can this be done only on Android?
You can do it all from your Android phone using the Google Drive app; no computer needed.
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