Android backups now count towards Google storage. You can now choose what gets saved

Background backup has been something people didn’t worry about for years – it ran automatically and cost you nothing. Now, however, several changes are happening that are good to know about. From July 7, Android backups will count towards the same storage that your Google account shares with Gmail, Photos, and Drive – and with that comes new controls for messages and documents.

What exactly is changing?

Until now, a simple rule applied: mainly photos and videos in Google Photos and data from MMS messages counted towards the storage limit. The Android system backup – meaning app data, call history, contacts, phone settings, and text messages – did not count towards the quota. This is now changing, and all types of data found in the backup will now count towards the account storage.

According to 9to5Google, the change will roll out on July 7, starting with new backups, and will be reflected in existing accounts in the following months. So, it’s not an overnight change – most people will see the difference over time as their backup is re-calculated.

How much space do Android backups actually take up?

Google tries to allay concerns with a number: an average backup is expected to be around 40 MB. However, this is a value Google itself states as an average, so take it with a grain of salt – for someone who has carried thousands of messages and dozens of apps on their phone for years, the backup could be significantly larger.

More importantly, where do those few tens of megabytes go? They go into the shared storage pool that Gmail, Photos, and Drive share for a Google account (for a free account, this is 15 GB). If you are near the limit, even a small backup can push you over the edge – and then there are only two solutions: clean up, or pay for Google One.

Backup thus ceases to be a silent, free background service and becomes something that is good to keep an eye on. It’s no coincidence that Google is also adding two new settings that give you more control.

Messages are backed up only with your permission

The second new feature is more pleasant. With Google Play Services version 26.25, a “SMS and MMS messages” toggle has been added to backups, which allows you to enable or disable text message backup. RCS conversations fall under the MMS category. Previously, messages were backed up automatically without asking you.

You can find the toggle in Settings under Accounts and backup → Google Backup → Additional device data, right next to the options for call history and device settings. Anyone who doesn’t want sensitive conversations in the cloud can now easily exclude them from the backup. Google is also preparing more detailed backup controls for individual applications.

Documents will now go directly to Google Drive

The last piece of the puzzle targets files. The phone can now automatically back up documents stored in memory – formats like .DOC, .PPT, .XLS, or .PDF. Backed-up files will appear in Google Drive in a folder named after your device.

Saving follows the regular backup schedule, so you don’t have to worry about anything – but if you want to secure a file immediately, you can also start a backup manually. One thing is important, however: backup is not the same as synchronization. A backed-up document is a separate copy independent of where you originally downloaded the file. And because these files also count towards storage, for larger documents, it’s good to keep an eye on how much space you have left in your account.

Do you back up your Android to Google, or do you rely on your own solution?

Sources: 9to5Google, Android Police