Google starts counting Android backups against your free storage on July 7

Starting July 7, 2026, Android backup data counts toward your shared 15GB Google Account storage — the same pool used by Gmail, Drive, and Photos. Previously, backups sat outside that limit entirely. Google says the average Android backup is around 40MB, so most people won't feel an immediate squeeze, but heavy users and families sharing storage could see the balance tip faster.

What's actually changing

Until now, only media files in Google Photos and MMS attachments ate into the 15GB free tier. From July 7, everything backed up from your Android phone — device settings, SMS and MMS messages, call history, and per-app data — joins that count. New Android users are affected immediately; existing users will see the change roll out gradually over the coming months, per 9to5Google.

On the upside, Google is introducing more granular backup controls. You can now switch off individual categories — device settings, call history, SMS/MMS — rather than toggling all backups on or off at once. Android Police notes this is a rare case of Google actually giving users more visibility and control over what's stored in their account.

The bigger picture

This move fits a broader pattern of Google tightening its free storage tier. In May 2026, the company began testing a reduction from 15GB to 5GB for new accounts that don't attach a phone number — a sign that the era of uncapped free cloud storage is winding down.

For context: Apple's iCloud starts at just 5GB for free (more restrictive than Google's current offering), while Microsoft's OneDrive bundles 1TB with a Microsoft 365 subscription. Google's model still works well for photo-heavy users, but those relying on SMS and call-log backups will want to check their usage — especially if they're already close to the 15GB ceiling.

If you need more headroom, Google One's 100GB plan costs $2.99/month in the US and £2.49/month in the UK. Alternatively, head into your Android backup settings now and switch off any categories you don't actually need to keep.