Google's Android Backup Shake-Up: Per-App Controls Arrive as Backup Data Now Counts Against Your 15GB Free Storage

For years, Android users had a simple, if frustrating, relationship with their device backups: you could either back up everything to your Google Account or back up nothing at all. That all changed in late June and early July 2026, when Google enacted two of the most significant changes to its Android backup system in a decade.

Here is exactly what changed, when it took effect, and what you need to do to keep your free storage from filling up.

The Big Storage Policy Change (Effective July 7, 2026)

Starting July 7, 2026, all Android backup data now counts against your Google Account storage limit . This includes app data, device settings, SMS messages, call logs, and WhatsApp backups on Android . Previously, most of this data was excluded from the standard 15 GB free tier and any paid Google One plans.

What the policy change means for your Google Account

• The 15 GB free storage cap now applies to everything you back up from your Android device .
• This also applies to users on paid Google One plans, though they have higher limits .
• A Google spokesperson confirmed the change will add about 40 MB on average per user's storage consumption .
• The policy applies immediately to new Android backup users from July 7, while existing users will see the update roll out over the coming months .

WhatsApp backups are explicitly included

Google's updated storage help page now lists "WhatsApp backups on Android" as data that counts toward your storage . This ends the previous exemption for WhatsApp backups on Android devices.

The New Per-App Backup Controls (Rolling Out Late June–July 2026)

In tandem with the storage policy change, Google is rolling out a feature Android users have requested for years: per-app backup toggles . Instead of a single global switch that backs up all app data or nothing, you can now see exactly how much storage each app is using in your backup and disable individual apps.

How to find the new controls

Access the feature via:

• Pixel devices: Settings > Accounts and backup > Google Backup > Other device data > App data
• Samsung Galaxy phones: Settings > Accounts and backup > Back up data (Google Drive) > App data

The interface shows your top three apps by backup size, with a "Show more" button to see every app on your device . You can toggle backups on or off for each app individually. Disabling an app's backup also deletes its existing backup copy .

Which devices get it first?

The feature first appeared on Pixel devices running Android 16 or 17 with Google Play Services version 26.24 . Samsung Galaxy users are also beginning to see the controls, as reported by SamMobile . Google plans to expand the rollout to more devices in the coming weeks .

What changed from the old system

Prior to this update, Android's Auto Backup system (in place since Android 6.0) backed up app data automatically with no way for users to see what was stored or opt out individual apps . The backup settings showed only a combined "Apps & app data" count and total storage size . Now each app is listed individually with its own toggle .

Why These Changes Are Linked

The storage policy change makes backup data count toward your quota — but the new per-app controls are the escape hatch. Without granular controls, users would have been stuck watching their free 15 GB fill up with backup data they couldn't manage. Google itself said it is "giving you more transparency and new controls" alongside the policy .

What You Should Do Now

1. Check your backup settings to see which apps are consuming the most space.
2. Toggle off backups for apps that store non-essential data — games, streaming apps, or apps that sync data via their own servers.
3. Monitor your Google Account storage at drive.google.com or via the Google One app to see how the new policy affects your quota.
4. Consider a Google One plan if you need more than the free 15 GB, especially if you also rely on Google Photos backups.

The Bottom Line

Change	Effective Date	Key Detail
Backup data counts toward storage limit	July 7, 2026	~40 MB average increase per user; applies to all Android backup data including WhatsApp
Per-app backup controls	Rolling out from late June 2026	Pixel first (Android 16/17, Play Services 26.24), expanding to Samsung

These two changes represent a major shift in Android backup strategy. The storage policy makes your backups finally "real" in terms of storage accounting, but the per-app controls give you better tools to manage that quota than ever before.