Google to count android backup data toward account storage

California (Web Desk): Google has introduced a significant change to its account storage policy by including Android backup data in users' total Google storage quota. The rollout of the new system began on July 7 and will be implemented in phases.

According to the company, the policy is being applied first to new Android users, while existing users will be migrated to the updated storage system over the coming months.

Previously, a Google account's storage was calculated based only on content stored in Google Photos, Google Drive, and Gmail. Under the revised policy, Android device backups—including apps, settings, and other saved information—will also count toward the overall storage limit.

Google said Android backups are designed to safeguard essential phone data, allowing users to restore their information easily when switching devices, resetting a phone, or setting up a new handset.

A company spokesperson said Android backups will now be treated like other Google services for storage purposes. On average, each user's backup is expected to require around 40MB of space. Users will also have the option to choose which apps and data they want to include in their backups, helping them manage their available storage more efficiently.

The latest update is another notable change to Google's storage policy. Earlier, in May 2026, the company launched a trial under which the free storage allowance for new Google accounts was reduced from 15GB to 5GB.