Google starts counting Android backup data against storage limits, here is what changes
Follow UsAfter planning to reduce the storage space with Google accounts, the company is now planning to bring a change to how Android backups are stored.
Google has started counting all Android backup data toward a user's Google Account storage quota instead of excluding certain backup categories as it did previously.
As per Google, the impact is said to be minimal for most of the users.
After planning to reduce the storage space with Google accounts, the company is now planning to bring a change to how Android backups are stored. The company may slightly increase the amount of cloud storage used on your Google account. The company has started counting all Android backup data toward a user’s Google Account storage quota instead of excluding certain backup categories as it did previously.
SurveyUntil now, the only media that was stored in Google Photos and multimedia content within MMS backups contributed to user’s storage limit. Under the new policy, additional data such as SMS messages, call history, device settings, app data and other backup information will also be included in storage calculation.
As per Google, the impact is said to be minimal for most of the users. The company estimates that the average Android backup will grow by around 40MB once the new policy takes effect. However, the change is still important because it changes how backup storage is measured across Android devices.
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Multiple reports suggest that the rollout has started for new Android users creating backups and the existing users will see the update arrive gradually over the coming months.
Additionally, the company has also introduced more detailed backup controls. The users will soon be able to decide exactly what information gets saved to their Google account. New toggles will allow users to include or exclude categories such as SMS and MMS messages, call logs and device settings. Existing controls for individual app data will remain available as well.
The company stated that these changes are designed to give users greater transparency into what is being stored in the cloud and how much space those backups consume. The updated settings can be accessed through the Google Backup section on Android devices, where users will be able to review backup data and adjust preferences based on their storage needs.
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Earlier this year, reports suggested that Google had begun testing lower free storage limits for some newly created accounts. The company has also been encouraging users to upgrade to Google One plans as demand for cloud storage continues to grow.
