Google will start counting all Android device backups as part of users’ Google Account storage in about 45 days, meaning some users may run out of free cloud space faster.
The change means data such as SMS messages, call history, device settings and app settings will now use part of the free 15GB storage that comes with every Google Account.
Photos, videos stored in Google Photos and MMS messages already count toward the limit.
Google said users who go over their storage limit will no longer have automatic Android backups until they delete some files or buy more cloud storage.
At the same time, the company is introducing new backup controls for devices running Android 9 or newer.
The feature will let users choose which apps and types of data they want to back up, helping them save storage space.
Users can check how much space their Android backups use through Google One Storage Manager.
They can also free up space by deleting files, turning off backups or upgrading to a paid storage plan.
The update changes how Android backups are stored and gives users more control over what is saved in the cloud.
It could also encourage more people to upgrade to Google’s paid storage plans if they need more than the free 15GB.
