Google warns Android users: Backup changes coming in 45 days

We wrote about Android backups now counting towards shared Google account storage earlier this month. Now, a specific deadline has arrived: an email the company is sending to users’ inboxes gives existing accounts 45 days before the change takes effect.

What will now count towards storage?

Previously, only photos and videos in Google Photos and MMS data counted towards the quota. After the change, SMS messages, call history, device settings, and individual app settings will be added, essentially everything you see in the backup settings. A complete list of what consumes storage is described in the Google Help Center. For emails sent in mid-July, the deadline will expire approximately at the beginning of September.

What if you run out of space?

This is the part of the notification that makes it worthwhile not to overlook the email. Once your account exceeds the storage limit, automatic backup will be paused until you free up space or purchase a higher plan. Your phone will continue to function, but no new backup will be created. The absence of a backup is usually only noticed when you truly need it.

The free quota remains at 15 GB and is shared by Gmail, Drive, and Photos. The cheapest paid expansion in the Czech Republic costs 59.99 CZK per month for 100 GB within Google One.

How much space do backups actually take up?

Google estimates in the notification that the average user’s backup will grow by approximately 40 MB. However, this is their own estimate, and the reality differs from account to account. In the email that also arrived in our editorial inbox, the estimate was 0.18 GB, roughly four and a half times the advertised average. You can find the specific number for your account directly in that notification.

How to customize your Android backup settings?

Along with the change, new toggles are coming to backup settings. On phones with Android 9 and newer, you can choose which data types and which apps will be backed up, so you can, for example, disable SMS or call history backup. The quickest way to access them is by searching in Settings, where you just need to type “backup”.

Google warns Android users: Backup changes coming in 45 days Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

The storage manager in the Google One app will show how much space backups from individual devices occupy. Space can also be freed up by deleting backups of phones you no longer use.

Will you trim down your Android backups, or would you rather pay for more storage?