Google sets September 2026 deadline for Android backup storage change
By Aboki Forex —
Google has announced that from September 2026, all data in Android device backups will count toward a user's Google Account cloud storage limit. This is a major shift from the current policy, where only Google Photos, videos and MMS messages consume storage. The change could leave millions of users hitting their storage limits faster than expected.
New policy details
Google disclosed the update in an email sent to Android users, giving advance notice of the new rules and additional backup management tools. The company said: 'We are getting in touch to notify you of an upcoming update to our storage policies, along with new controls designed to give you more control over your Android backups.'
Effective 45 days after the notification, every category of data included in Android backups will start counting toward each user's Google Account storage limit. Under the new policy, SMS messages, call history, device settings and app settings will also consume storage space. Currently, only some data types count against available space.
Free Google accounts come with 15GB of shared cloud storage across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. Users with large email archives, photo libraries or Drive files will be affected more quickly. Google warned that once a user exceeds their storage allocation, automatic Android backups will stop until enough space is freed.
What this means for users
To continue backing up devices, users will need to delete unnecessary files from Google storage, purchase additional cloud storage, or disable Android backups altogether. Google also included personalised storage estimates in its email notifications. One user was told their Android backup size would increase by 0.11GB, with 578.69GB already used out of a 2TB plan.
The change follows an earlier storage policy affecting WhatsApp. Since early 2024, WhatsApp chat histories and media backups have counted toward Google Drive storage limits. Meanwhile, WhatsApp owner Meta is developing its own cloud backup service, which is expected to include a 2GB free storage plan alongside paid options starting from 50GB.
New tools to manage backups
To help users manage storage, Google is introducing granular backup controls for devices running Android 9 or later. The new settings allow users to decide exactly which apps and data categories to back up, instead of backing up everything automatically. Users can monitor their available backup space through the Google One Storage Manager.
Android 17, the next big update, is expected to roll out this summer. Samsung and Google Pixel phones from the Pixel 6 line are expected among the first to receive it. However, not all Samsung phones will qualify, only those with three to seven years of software support depending on the device category. The Galaxy S26, released in late February 2026, will receive the latest update and the next seven Android OS updates.
For Nigerian Android users, the September 2026 deadline means it is time to review cloud storage usage and backup settings now. Those relying on the free 15GB limit may need to pay for extra space or selectively back up data to avoid interruptions. With many Nigerians using Google services for work and personal files, the change could push more users toward paid Google One plans or alternative backup solutions.