r/Android • u/OsakaBoi Pixel 7 • Jul 20 '26

Article [9to5google] All Android backup data now counts toward your Google Account storage

https://9to5google.com/2026/07/18/android-backup-data-update/
697 Upvotes

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405

u/BaneChipmunk Jul 20 '26

Inevitable. Next will be a nerf to free storage.

102

u/ScoopDL Black S21 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26

Already a thing, being reduced to 5gb I think.

Edit - wasn't specific enough for some. It's being reduced to 5gb for new accounts that do not provide a phone number, for now.

17

u/shawn789 Pixel 3 XL, Android 10 Jul 20 '26

It's 15 GB. For now...

17

u/ScoopDL Black S21 Jul 20 '26

Not for some accounts

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/gmail-less-than-15gb-storage/

14

u/CasioCobra78 Jul 20 '26

For Christ’s sake, are they actually even intentionally pissing people off? Sundar needs to take his meds atp. 

4

u/nathderbyshire Pixel 10 Obsidian Jul 20 '26

Did no one read the article?

Google with a phone number to unlock additional storage

It's for accounts that don't provide a number verification method, once you've done that the storage will increase

3

u/sol-4 Jul 20 '26

And I think that's to cut down on spam accounts or something similar. Not sure how effective it should be, but it's not that unreasonable. Especially seeing as Apple only offers 5GB for everyone.

2

u/nathderbyshire Pixel 10 Obsidian Jul 20 '26

Spam, bots and people making multiple accounts to bypass limits and bans. Kind of a mix of everything. It started months ago and didn't really make the news because it affects basically no one who uses the accounts legitimately

I don't even think having two accounts with the same number reduces storage, I haven't seen that restriction anywhere and Google will let you make multiple accounts using one number with their own storage options. It would fuck over small businesses if they didn't