Google Announces Major Change to Android Backup Storage Policy Google has announced a significant update to its cloud storage policies for Android smartphones and tablets, effective September 2026. The change will require all data included in Android device backups to count toward users’ Google Account storage limits. This includes previously excluded data types such as SMS messages, call history, device settings, and app settings. The update was communicated to users via an email notification sent to Android device owners earlier this week. The email explained that the policy change aims to provide users with greater control over their backups. It warned that the adjustment may increase data consumption on Google accounts, with automatic backups pausing if a user’s storage limit is exceeded. To manage storage, users are advised to clean up their Google Drive space, upgrade their storage plan, or disable Android backups. Google provided an example of how the change would affect storage usage. One user’s estimated backup size would increase by 0.11 GB, bringing their total usage to 578.69 GB out of a 2,048 GB limit. The company also introduced granular app backup toggles for Android 9 and higher devices, allowing users to select specific data types and apps for backup. This feature enables users to prioritize storage for critical data. Users can monitor their available backup storage through the Google One storage manager. It’s worth noting that WhatsApp chat and media backups have already counted toward Google Drive storage since early 2024. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms is developing its own cloud storage solution for WhatsApp backups, offering a 2GB free plan and paid options starting at 50GB. Google’s new storage plans, detailed in a table, include options ranging from 30GB to 30,000GB (20TB) with varying features.#google #android #google_account #google_drive #google_one
