Google started counting all Android backup data against its 15GB free storage tier on July 7, ending a long-standing loophole where device backups sat entirely outside the cap.
Until this week, only images and videos uploaded to Google Photos and media inside MMS messages consumed storage space. SMS text messages, call history, and device settings were free to back up regardless of how much data they generated. That changed overnight.
Google says the average backup will increase by roughly 40MB, so most users on the free plan won't notice a difference. The company confirmed the change via a support page update, stating that "all Android backup data now counts toward Google Account storage."
New Android users are affected immediately. Existing accounts will see the policy applied gradually over the coming months. The timing is telling.
In May, Google began testing a reduced 5GB free tier for new accounts that don't link a phone number, per Engadget. The backup change is the second storage-tightening move in two months, pushing users who rely on Google's free tier closer to the 15GB ceiling shared by Gmail, Drive, and Photos.
Google is pairing the squeeze with better controls. Users can now toggle individual backup categories, device settings, call history, SMS and MMS messages, on or off rather than choosing between a full backup or nothing at all.
Per-app data toggles are also available. The options live under Settings > Accounts and backup > Google Backup > Other device data on Pixel devices. A Google spokesperson told Engadget the company expects the new data to "only add 40MB on average" and is "giving you more transparency and new controls that let you select which data and apps you want to back up."
For users already hovering near the 15GB limit, the 40MB average won't be the problem, it's the accumulation across multiple devices or family group accounts that could tip the balance. Google One's 100GB plan runs $1.99 per month in the US for those who need the headroom.
