Starting in approximately 45 days, these backups will no longer be stored separately, potentially impacting users who are already near their storage capacity, according to official notifications sent to Android users.
How the New Backup Policy Affects Storage Limits
For years, Android backups were largely exempt from the storage caps that applied to Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. That changes with the upcoming policy shift. Google has confirmed that once the transition is complete, all device backup data will count toward your total Google Account storage limit.
According to Google, this update includes:
- SMS and MMS messages
- Call history
- Device settings
- App data and preferences
The company notes that if a user’s account exceeds its storage limit after the change, automatic Android backups will pause. Backups will only resume once the user either deletes files to free up space or upgrades to a higher-tier Google One storage plan.
Did you know?
Google estimates that for most users, the impact of this change will be minimal. Internal estimates suggest the average increase in backup size will be approximately 40MB, which is negligible for those with standard storage quotas.
Managing Your Data with Granular Controls
To help users mitigate the impact of this policy, Google is introducing more granular backup controls for devices running Android 9 or later. These tools allow users to selectively back up specific apps or data types, rather than relying on a “one-size-fits-all” backup strategy.
By using the Google One storage manager, users can now:
- Review which apps are consuming the most backup space.
- Toggle off backups for specific, high-data applications.
- Disable Android backups entirely if they prefer to use alternative storage solutions.
Future Trends in Mobile Data Management
Before the 45-day deadline hits, check your current usage in the Google One app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my current backups if I’m over my storage limit?
Can I opt out of this change?
While the policy change is mandatory for Android users, you can disable Android backups entirely through your device settings if you do not wish to use Google’s cloud storage for this data.
How do I check how much space my backup takes?
You can monitor your backup consumption by visiting the Google One storage manager, which breaks down exactly how much data your phone is contributing to your total account usage.
Have you checked your Google storage usage lately? Let us know in the comments if this change will force you to upgrade your plan or if you plan on trimming your backup settings. For more tech news and tips, subscribe to our newsletter.