Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai.Android users who rely on Google accounts to back up their smartphones may soon find their free 15GB cloud storage filling up faster as the company rolls out a major change to its backup policy. Under the revised system, not only photos and videos but also SMS, call history, app data and device settings will count towards the same free storage quota. The change will first apply to new Android users, while existing users will receive it gradually over the coming months.
Backup Policy Expands Beyond Photos
Until now, Google's free cloud storage mainly counted content uploaded through Google Photos along with photos and videos shared through MMS. Under the updated policy, nearly all Android backup data stored on a Google account will be included within the 15GB limit. As a result, users who regularly back up their devices may notice their available storage shrinking sooner than before, even without uploading additional photos or videos.
Key changes for Android users include:
- SMS backup will now consume Google storage.
- Call history will also count towards the limit.
- App data and device settings will be included.
- Existing users will receive the update in phases.
Paid Storage Plans Start From ₹59
The latest move comes as Google continues to revise its cloud storage strategy. Earlier this year, the company had also tested reducing free storage from 15GB to 5GB for some newly created accounts that were not linked with a phone number. Users who need more space can subscribe to Google One plans, which begin at ₹59 per month in India and offer 30GB of cloud storage. Higher-capacity Google One plans and Google AI subscription plans also provide additional storage benefits.
Users Get More Backup Controls
Alongside the policy change, Google is introducing new controls that allow users to decide exactly what should be backed up. Besides existing per-app backup settings, users will now see dedicated on-off toggles for SMS, MMS, call history and device settings. This gives users greater flexibility in managing storage usage and deciding which information should remain on the cloud.
To manage backups, users can:
- Open the Google Backup page in device settings.
- Turn individual backup categories on or off.
- Exclude unnecessary data to save cloud storage.
- Review backup preferences regularly.
Google Says Impact Will Be Minimal
Google has sought to reassure users that the policy change will have only a limited effect on storage usage. According to the company, the average increase in backup size is expected to be around 40MB. A company spokesperson said the update is aimed at bringing greater transparency by ensuring that all Android backup data is counted consistently while also giving users more control over what gets stored in their Google accounts.
What Cloud Storage and Backup Mean
Cloud storage is an online digital space where files, photos and other data are securely stored on remote servers and can be accessed from any device after signing in with the same account. Backup data, on the other hand, preserves important information such as call history, SMS, app data and device settings so that it can be restored easily when users switch to a new phone or recover from a lost or damaged device. The latest policy specifically changes how this backup data is counted within Google's free storage allowance.
