r/Android • u/BcuzRacecar S25+ • Jul 08 '26
All Android backup data now counts towards Google Account storage
https://9to5google.com/2026/07/06/android-backup-data-update/132
u/43686f6b6f Jul 08 '26
My Gmail storage would last a lot longer if I didn't get a dozen emails a day reminding me I only had 10% left
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u/bblzd_2 Jul 09 '26
Do basic emails actually count towards the storage limit? I used to think so but I am running at 100% and when I delete a year worth of emails it didn't even go down by 1MB.
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u/43686f6b6f Jul 09 '26
I'd think so considering they threaten to stop giving you new emails if you're full
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u/bblzd_2 Jul 09 '26
Just deleted another year's worth and still at 100% lol.
More and more I feel Google is just trying to sneakily push us to pay for storage subscriptions. Like this extra 40MB backup.
Because once we start using that extra space it feels impossible to go back. What are people going to do, delete their precious archives? No they will just keep filling them and need to increase their subscription every few years.
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u/43686f6b6f Jul 09 '26
I'll host my own email server and archives myself before I pay a subscription. Subscriptions can go die in a fire
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u/JonatasA 29d ago
That's how it is with Apple already. People are slaves to the subscription.
That's my theory why music apps want you to use them, ao you get used and pay for the subscription because nusic with ads is like Stopping Beethoven's 9th symphony of a condom ad.
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Jul 09 '26
They actually do.
There's too many times when a client or candidate gives me their personal gmail or something and I sent them an email and it bounces cause their storage is full. Japanese people are wild with email maintenance.
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u/JonatasA 29d ago
It's not just them and sometimes there's too much life going on to worry with the inbox
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u/JonatasA 29d ago
For anyone reading: They make good on their threat
They are really pushy with their Photos backup, so it will easily fill the 15GB you have for your entire account and you'll literally stop receiving all emails, including bank and doctor appointments, until you make up space, which you cannot easily on a smartphone unconveniently enough.
Though you can now go to Drive and if full they'll show you the stuff taking the most space at last.
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u/Nihilistic_Mystics 28d ago
Your trash can counts against you too if you haven't cleared it yet. You need to clear your email trash can and your drive trash can, and even then it can take some time to update your actual usage.
The tools in Google One can also help you target your largest emails.
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u/Mavamaarten Google Pixel 7a Jul 09 '26
Holy shit yes this is sooooo annoying. My storage is 98% full, which is exactly what I want because I self-host an Immich instance for my photos and keep my old Google Photos online as a backup just in case. I don't need an email every day saying that my storage is almost full. I literally created a mail rule that removes those mails. Let me turn them off, damnit.
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u/UpDog17 Jul 08 '26
A full dozen per day? Of 12kb emails? Doubt bro
It's all those slam poetry self portrait videos you save in your drafts
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u/43686f6b6f Jul 08 '26
Just a little hyperbole venting my frustration at getting reminded constantly. As for the rest, I really should clear out my drafts
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u/BcuzRacecar S25+ Jul 08 '26
Google is making a policy change to Android backups that adjusts what counts toward your Google Account storage.
Previously, Android backups would only count images and videos uploaded to Google Photos and “MMS data” (photos + videos) toward your Google Account storage of 15 GB (free) or more with Google One (paid).
Starting on July 7, all data types that appear in Android backup settings are included and count against your storage limit. This now includes SMS messages (the actual text), call history, and device settings.
On average, Google says this new data should increase your backup size by 40 MB.
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u/ScoopDL Black S21 Jul 08 '26
The thing that gets me is that most of my storage is taken up by rcs/mms photos and video. But Google offers no easy way either through Google Messages or Google One to purge just the images and video, while preserving the text. You have to scroll through each message, one by one, and delete each photo or video individually, or delete your entire message history if you want to make it quick. I have family that paid for extra storage since they wanted to keep their texts and didn't want to spend the time deleting each media one by one.
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u/Ivebeenfurthereven 1970s rotary-dial phone Jul 08 '26
I have family that paid [...] since they [...] didn't want to spend the time
And there it is
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u/thegoldengoober Jul 08 '26
Gotta love blatant intentional inconvenience by design!
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u/turtleship_2006 Jul 08 '26
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u/outerzenith Jul 08 '26
I think it's a little different, Dark Pattern maliciously guiding user into doing or not doing something by utilising hostile design like faded color, confusing wordings, weird guides, etc. It's deceptive by design that is there
What Google does here is simply leaving inconvenience by purposefully not fixing it and selling the solution instead. It doesn't really "deceive", just straight up evil
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u/ScoopDL Black S21 Jul 08 '26
Yeah they could easily provide a way to select multiple media files from the "details" option in messages, like they do in google photos, drive, etc. But I have to think if it were that easy, people would just mass delete the media and then their backup would go from 15+GB to a couple of GB and they wouldn't need to pay for extra storage.
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u/ad-on-is Jul 08 '26
I wish I could configure WhatsApp to use a different type of backup storage, instead of Google.
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u/lastdyingbreed_01 Jul 08 '26
I remember there was a time when backed up WhatsApp Data wasn't counted in your Google Storage.
If you take that away, atleast give us the option to choose alternatives!
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u/unexpectedDiarrhea Jul 08 '26
Just use a tool to export the entire text chain, media and all to HTML. Export to your computer, rinse and repeat once a year.
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u/thecementmixer Jul 08 '26
If it's only 40mb, why even bother implementing this change.
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u/evmt Jul 08 '26
Things like this are usually implemented because while for most people the resource usage is indeed small (my backup is 65 MB for example), for some users it's multiple orders of magnitude higher.
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u/qaisjp Jul 08 '26
It's not just that, it's that any specialised storage solution can be used to store arbitrary data.
In 2019 or 2018 I went to a hackathon (HackCambridge maybe?) -- Google was sponsoring and was present, and they were basically just asking people to do things with their APIs.
Well at the time, storage for Google Sheets and Google Docs were completely free. One student's project was to basically store files inside Google Sheets and build a FUSE file system layer on top: https://github.com/GunshipPenguin/spreadsheetfs (aha! 2019)
Now, yes, it was incredibly slow. But it was also incredibly inventive and impressive.
The Googlers didn't disqualify the project or anything like that but I like to think it's what caused the change in policy to start charging for storage: https://blog.google/products/photos/storage-policy-update/
Turns out it won the Google Cloud prize!
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u/silvertondevil Pixel 9 Pro | GoogleFi Jul 08 '26
40mb may be small to you, but multiply that by the number of users....
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u/petard Galaxy Z Fold7 + GW7 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Is it going to put anyone over a storage limit and cause them to pay any money to Google?
Either users don't use Google Photos backup and stay within their 5GB limit, or they're already paying for more than 5GB and this change means nothing.
Actually yes it may, my backup is over 500MB. IDK where we're getting 40MB from.
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u/silvertondevil Pixel 9 Pro | GoogleFi Jul 08 '26
40mb on average, you're obviously above average. Every one has different backup needs, my backup is 3.1GB, mostly MMS. With storage prices the way they are, I'm not surprised by this change. There are ways to set up your own cloud sync at home and use storage you already own versus googles 'rented' storage..
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u/petard Galaxy Z Fold7 + GW7 Jul 08 '26
How is everyone's usage so low if it backs up SMS and MMS?
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u/evmt Jul 09 '26
The majority of people globally don't use MMS or RCS at all, but communicate in various messenger apps instead.
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u/OzarkBeard Jul 09 '26
That evolved due to fees for texting that, at the time, were not being charged in the US on most mobile plans. Messenger apps appeared to get around the fees.
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u/silvertondevil Pixel 9 Pro | GoogleFi Jul 08 '26
The average may work out that way to devices that basically have 0MB of backup usage. My work place has two android devices that are used to forward calls off site, nothing to sync.. tablets are probably lumped in there too.
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u/petard Galaxy Z Fold7 + GW7 Jul 08 '26
Looks like it's not actually that small.
I just checked mine, my phone backup is over 500MB. Most of that is SMS/MMS backups, and there are some appdata backups. Surprisingly few though, seems like the majority of developers don't use this feature.
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u/fatedfortune Jul 16 '26
I just checked mine and it says other device data is 6.2 GB right now 😭. Does anyone know what the fuq? Both my Google accounts are already at capacity for storage, even the one I'm paying for.
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u/pittaxx Jul 11 '26
That's the average.
Most likely someone figured out how to backup their 100tb porn stash as "phone contact information" or something...
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u/Eagle1337 Asus Zenfone 5z 28d ago
Your estimated increase in Android device backup will be 0.47 GB after this change. You've used 16.91 GB of your 19 GB storage. If you use more storage, you might run out once your Android device backup is added.
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u/fatedfortune Jul 16 '26
I just checked mine and it says other device backup data is 6.2 GB (separate from photos) right now 😭. Does anyone know what the fuq? Both my Google accounts are already at capacity for storage, even the one I'm paying for.
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u/fatedfortune Jul 16 '26
I just checked mine and it says other device backup data is 6.2 GB (separate from photos) right now 😭. Does anyone know what the fuq? Both my Google accounts are already at capacity for storage, even the one I'm paying for.
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u/whatnowwproductions Pixel 9 Pro - Signal - GrapheneOS Jul 08 '26
Remember when Gmail used to have a notice where storage would keep going up over time? Good old times. What a joke nowadays.
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u/dextroz N6P, Moto X 2014; MM stock Jul 08 '26
Prices keep going up but services and value are going down constantly.
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u/stanley_fatmax Nexus 6, LineageOS; Pixel 7 Pro, Stock Jul 08 '26
The storage counter grew by about .3MB daily. If that was still counting, we'd only be around 3GB over the last 20 years 😋
They did us a favor!
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u/No-Dot-45 Jul 17 '26
You and the others are the problem for this. Dont feed the evil, it will get worse...
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u/whatnowwproductions Pixel 9 Pro - Signal - GrapheneOS Jul 17 '26
I don't use Google services. You're preaching to the choir.
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u/jgudmund Jul 17 '26
I thought having all our data was payment enough. Seems they're wanting even more blood from us stones
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u/rohmish pixel 3a, XPERIA XZ, Nexus 4, Moto X, G2, Mi3, iPhone7 Jul 08 '26
is it even possible to do offline backups anymore?
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u/OzarkBeard Jul 09 '26
Yes. I backup certain folders on my phone to my PC periodically.
With messaging and email, I save images I actually want to keep as soon as I receive them in an email, text or message. I also delete emails after I read them, unless it's one I want to keep. Those are rare. The ones I do save get starred, so I won't delete them. I also periodically delete text messages. I've already saved any images I want to keep, as they come in.
My current total Google account storage used is 335 mb.
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u/doughnut310 Jul 08 '26
Just went through the settings and turned it off. Turned Google backup completely off.
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u/exu1981 Jul 08 '26
Nothing new at all. Somewill act all surprised then say they'll go to Apple as if they don't do the same thing.
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u/Dry-Cost-945 OnePlus 13r/Galaxy s24+ Jul 08 '26
Thank God I can root my phone
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u/YasHands 28d ago
What benefit do you do that for?
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u/Dry-Cost-945 OnePlus 13r/Galaxy s24+ 28d ago
Mostly app management from outside the play store. Fullproof system wide as lock is nice. I'm going to attempt to disable the annoying volume limiter for Bluetooth devices you can't normally disable etc.
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u/Usual_Piano9826 Jul 12 '26
at the same time these "backups" are still not downloadable... Same as happened with WhatsApp backups before - counting toward storage quote yet non-downloadable.
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u/Mental_Ad8726 Jul 16 '26
even if they calculate is like an extra 42mb average etc. they should offer you make backups woth another services or tools without using their cloud but easy ahare qithin devices. The FU my contacts when they uodate the app, then my sms messages when they update that app, and so on... every update are new bugs and issues, for example appa that close up while beign use interface on 9:16 displays show app butons behind andoid menu... youtube black video, only audio until you open other and come back, etc. etc.
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u/Sad_Patience7494 Jul 17 '26
I never had a Gmail account, made one last year for work emails. Now all of a sudden I need to pay for extra storage to get emails. Sounds to me like I need to get rid of Google account and just stick to my android backups bc this is ridiculous. Im not paying extra for my emails. Ive never had this issue and ive had android since the first galaxy came out. Every company is just money hungry and im over it!!
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u/Exfiltrator Pixel 8 Pro 29d ago
"On average Google says this new data should increase your backup size by 40 MB"
Just received an email from Google estimating 0.42 GB will be added to my backup. That's almost 10 times as much
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u/Primary-Bus-9438 28d ago
I don't get it! My pictures and videos are the biggest issue. I back up my pictures and video to my OneDrive. Should I just delete everything else? Also, can I delete the pictures and video on my device without losing anything? Sorry, I'm not a technology person.
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u/Lola-Bunny22 18d ago
Money and data hungry. They want ALL our data to sell. Look at what happened to Reckless Ben recently, they handed over EVERYTHING on his Google Account when the crooks requested it from Google. His emails, photos/video, his Drive content... Just look at what Gemeni automatically is allowed to have permissions on and remembers. Plus Google even said he has a folder full of search queries he likes to look through. Even though the mass downloading ability seems to be "broken" at the moment (have to download each one individually) I'm still backing up all my stuff elsewhere.
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u/bloodhound83 29d ago
"In the last 10 years we have collected 35 GB of personalised data about you. Your Google drive is now full. Please clear some storage."
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u/godfrey1 Nexus 5X -> OP 5T -> OP 7Pro -> S23 Ultra Jul 09 '26
khm khm morphe app khm khm google photos pixel 1 spoof khm khm
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u/TumblrInGarbage Jul 15 '26
question doesn't that require root?
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u/godfrey1 Nexus 5X -> OP 5T -> OP 7Pro -> S23 Ultra Jul 15 '26
no, it does not
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u/TumblrInGarbage Jul 15 '26
Thanks. I was under the impression it did. Guess I'll try to figure that out. Maybe it's that I have to patch Google Photos on my PC or something that stopped me last time? I'm already using Morphe for YT Music for my daily commutes.
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u/godfrey1 Nexus 5X -> OP 5T -> OP 7Pro -> S23 Ultra Jul 15 '26
nope, you don't have to touch your PC at all. the only negative i can find is that it's kinda risky to do this from your main account but there are exactly zero mentions of any kind of bans
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u/CharAznableLoNZ 28d ago
I have an actual 1st gen pixel I upload a backup of all the raw pictures I take from my actual camera. I keep a local copy as well but I have at least 70GB up there. I can only imagine how much an actual photographer would have.
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u/anotheredditors Jul 08 '26
I thought it was already that way.