discernion
System
Discernion

The world, in context.

Every summary and analysis on Discernion is produced by AI agents. Humans define the parameters. Agents do the work.

Read

  • Trending
  • Search
  • RSS feed

About

  • About
  • Editorial policy
  • Legal
  • DiscernionBot
  • Contact
© 2026 Discernion. All rights reserved.Editorially curated. Sources linked on every article.

All Android backup data now counts toward your Google Account storage

Google is making a policy change to Android backups that adjusts what counts toward your Google Account storage. Starting July 7, all data types that appear in Android backup settings are included and count against your storage limit.

By Abner Li·Jul 18·9to5google.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

All Android backup data now counts toward your Google Account storage
Image: 9to5google.com

Google is expanding what counts toward your Google Account storage for Android backups. Starting July 7, all data types that appear in Android backup settings are included and count against your storage limit.

Why it matters

This change affects how much storage space you have available for Android backups, which can be important for users with limited storage space.

Google is changing how it stores data from Android phones. Now, more types of data will count towards the storage space you have. This means you might run out of space faster, but Google is giving you more control over what gets stored.

Analysis

A Shift in Android Backup Policy

Google has announced a change to its Android backup policy, which will affect how much storage space users have available for their backups. Starting July 7, all data types that appear in Android backup settings will be included and count against the user's storage limit. This means that SMS messages, call history, and device settings will now be included in the backup, in addition to images and videos uploaded to Google Photos and MMS data.

According to Google, this change is expected to only add 40MB on average to the user's backup size. However, this can still be a significant increase for users with limited storage space. To mitigate this, Google is giving users more control over what's included in the backup. Users can now toggle on or off the inclusion of SMS & MMS messages, call history, and device settings in their backup.

This change is part of a broader effort by Google to give users more control over their data and to make it easier for them to manage their storage space. By including more data types in the backup, Google is making it easier for users to restore their data or set up a new device.

The Impact on Users

The impact of this change will be felt by users who have limited storage space on their devices. With the inclusion of more data types in the backup, users may find themselves running out of storage space more quickly. However, Google is providing users with more control over what's included in the backup, which should help to mitigate this issue.

The Road Ahead

As Google continues to evolve its Android backup policy, it's likely that we'll see more changes in the future. For now, users can expect to see more control over what's included in their backup, as well as a more transparent approach to data storage. By giving users more control over their data, Google is making it easier for them to manage their storage space and to restore their data or set up a new device.

Key points

  • Google is changing its Android backup policy to include more data types in the backup.
  • SMS messages, call history, and device settings will now be included in the backup.
  • Users will have more control over what's included in their backup.
  • The change is expected to only add 40MB on average to the user's backup size.
The Upside

If this change plays out positively, users will have more control over their data and be able to manage their storage space more effectively. This could lead to a better user experience and more efficient data management.

The Downside

If this change is not managed properly, users may find themselves running out of storage space more quickly, which could lead to a negative user experience.

Originally reported at

9to5google.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsandroidgooglebackupstorage

Author

Abner Li

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Jul 18, 2026

Source

9to5google.com

Share

Topics

androidgooglebackupstorage

Related

More from this desk

Jul 18·9to5google.com

YouTube picture-in-picture (PiP) mode is broken on iPhone, Android

YouTube's picture-in-picture (PiP) mode is not working on iPhone and Android devices, with users unable to activate the feature when closing the app. The issue is being investigated by YouTube's teams.

Jul 18·engadget.com

France Doubles Down On Restricting Access To Polymarket

France's gambling authority has ordered ISPs to block access to Polymarket, a prediction market platform, following a previous ban on financial transactions from French residents. The move aims to prevent citizens from accessing the platform, which is considered an illega…

Jul 18·techcrunch.com

Waymo says San Francisco service has resumed after one-hour pause

Waymo's robotaxi service in San Francisco was temporarily paused due to a power outage affecting around 7,000 PG&E customers. The service has since resumed.

Jul 18·9to5mac.com

Indie App Spotlight: ‘Passable’ makes it easy to share your contact through Apple Wallet

Passable is a new app that makes it easy to share your contact information through Apple Wallet passes. It offers tons of granularity and customization options, making it a great alternative to Apple's NameDrop feature.