Starting July 7, Google will count all Android backup data toward your Google Account storage cap, ending a previous exemption that excluded everything except Google Photos uploads and MMS media. The change applies immediately to new Android users, while existing accounts will see it roll out over the coming months. A company spokesperson told Engadget the shift adds roughly 40MB on average per user.

Google is also introducing granular controls in the device's backup settings menu, letting you toggle off device settings, call history, SMS and MMS messages, and individual app data. This gives users a way to manage the new storage consumption without disabling backups entirely.

The move follows Google's May test that cut default free storage for new accounts from 15GB to 5GB unless a phone number is linked. Together, these changes signal a tighter approach to free-tier economics, pushing heavy users toward paid Google One plans.

For most consumers, 40MB is negligible, but power users with multiple device backups or large app datasets may hit limits faster. The new selectivity controls help, yet the broader trend is clear: Google is monetizing storage more aggressively, and the free 15GB baseline is eroding for new sign-ups.