Android backup data now counts toward Google storage – impact is minimal

Starting July 7, Google is updating its policy on Android backup data, expanding what counts against your Google Account storage limit. Previously, only images and videos uploaded to Google Photos, along with MMS media, were included in the 15 GB of free storage (or more with a Google One subscription). Now, all data types visible in Android backup settings will count toward that cap.

The newly included items are SMS messages (the text content itself), call history, and device settings. According to Google, the average impact on your backup size will be minimal, adding roughly 40 MB per user. That’s a small increase for most people, but it marks a notable shift in how Android handles storage allocation.

Alongside this change, Google is rolling out new controls to give users more say over what gets backed up. While per-app toggles already existed, fresh on/off switches will appear for SMS & MMS messages, Call history, and Device settings. These options will become available over the next few weeks.

To find these settings on a Pixel device, navigate to Settings > Accounts and backup > Google Backup > Other device data. You can also simply search for “backup” in your Settings app to locate the page.

The new policy takes effect tomorrow for anyone setting up Android backup for the first time. For existing users, the transition will happen gradually over the coming months. A Google spokesperson explained the rationale: “Android backup lets you save the data on your phone to your Google Account so you can easily restore it or set up a new device. We’ve updated our policy so that all Android backup data now counts toward Google Account storage. We expect this to only add 40MB on average. We’re also giving you more transparency and new controls that let you select which data and apps you want to back up.”