Google is going to change one of those features that almost everyone has activated on their phones and that we barely pay attention to until something goes wrong. We're referring to the Android backupsThis backup feature allows us to recover our data when we get a new smartphone. Until now, this backup was mostly invisible to our storage limit, but the company has decided it's time every bit counts in our account's overall storage.
This measure means that backup data will begin to deduct from the 15 GB free that Google offers by default to every user. That space, which is already divided between Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos, will now have a new addition that, although it doesn't seem very voracious, could be the final push for many users to consider whether to pay or start deleting files indiscriminately to avoid losing their email account.
What data will actually start taking up space?
Until now, the impact of backups was quite limited because larger files, such as photos and videos, were already managed automatically. However, with this new policy, elements such as SMS messages, call history and the device's configuration settings (such as wallpaper or saved Wi-Fi networks) will add to the total storage of our Google account.
The company assures that there's no need to panic, as the increase in space will be minimal. It is estimated that the The average impact will be around 40 MB per user, a figure that, on paper, seems like pocket change compared to the gigabytes we typically handle these days. However, for those already struggling to keep up with demand and barely having any free megabytes, any small increase can mean that backups stop happening automatically.
The rollout of this measure has already begun for users creating a Google account for the first time. For the rest of us mortals who have had our accounts set up for years, the change will be applied gradually. in a phased manner over the next few monthsIt is a movement that follows in the footsteps of what already happened with the Backups of the downloads folder on Androidwhich also began to occupy space on Drive not too long ago.
New controls to decide what to save in the cloud
To compensate for this policy adjustment, Google has introduced new transparency switches and controls in the Android menu. This will allow users in Spain and around the world to have the final say on what's worth backing up and what isn't. If you don't consider your call history from three years ago vital, you can disable it to free up those extra megabytes you so desperately need.
To review these options, you just need to follow a few simple steps on your mobile phone:
- Enter the menu Device settings.
- Find the section of Google or Backup.
- Access to Other device data to see the new selectors.
From this menu you can individually manage the copy of SMS, MMS, system settings and the specific data for each application. It's a way of making visible something that was previously hidden and that now, because it incurs a storage cost, requires more active management on our part to avoid unpleasant surprises when we receive a full storage notification.
Google's strategy to boost its One service
This change is not an isolated event, but rather part of a broader strategy to add value to Google One, the subscription service from the company. In recent months, similar moves have been seen, such as tests to reduce the base free storage under certain conditions or the inclusion of more services under the umbrella of Google ecosystem with its cloud servicesUltimately, what Google wants is for the user to be aware that cloud storage has value and requires maintenance.
In Europe, where we're particularly careful about managing our data and free services, this measure might sting a little. Even so, the integration with the Android ecosystem makes it very convenient. Keep automatic backup enabledThis saves us a lot of headaches when switching devices. Losing contacts or app settings to save 40 MB can be very costly in terms of time and convenience.
It's worth remembering that shared storage is a delicate matter. Besides photos and emails, many users don't realize that... the files in the Drive trash They also take up space until they are permanently deleted. To avoid overloading your account, it's advisable to learn how to manage them. How to manage the Google Drive trash and clean up the space. With Android backups now part of the equation, the digital hygiene of our account becomes more important than ever to make the most of those 15 GB we're given.
The new reality of backups on Android requires us to be a little more vigilant with our account so that our phones don't warn us that they've run out of space to save important data. Although the change may seem small to the average user, it marks a turning point in the era of completely free backup services. The smartest thing to do now is spend a couple of minutes reviewing We need to decide what we're uploading to the cloud, delete what's unnecessary, and decide if we really need to save every text message for posterity, or if we prefer to leave that space for emails and photos that we absolutely want to keep.
