Google changes Android backup rules; your 15GB storage will fill up faster..

Google is changing how it stores Android backups. Under the new policy effective today, July 7, the company will count your backup data against your Google account storage. This means that all data backed up from your Android device—such as call history and SMS messages—will now be included in the 15GB of free storage provided with your Google account. Consequently, this 15GB storage limit may fill up faster than before.

Previously, Google only counted images and videos uploaded to Google Photos against your account's storage limit. Google offers up to 15GB of free cloud storage for all accounts, though users can opt for higher storage limits through paid Google One or Google AI plans.

Under the updated policy, all Android backup data—including SMS, call history, device settings, app data, and other backup information—will be factored into storage calculations. This implies that you will effectively be consuming more of your Google account's storage by default.

Alongside this rollout, the company is introducing more granular backup controls. Users will have access to on/off toggles for SMS and MMS messages, call history, and device settings, allowing them to choose exactly what gets backed up. These new preferences can be accessed via the Google Backup page in your device settings.

What does the Google spokesperson say?
While it might appear that this change will cause the free Google account storage limit to fill up quickly, the company maintains that the impact will be minimal. A Google spokesperson stated, "We have updated our policy so that all Android backup data counts towards Google account storage. We anticipate that this will add an average of only 40MB to usage."

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