California (Web Desk): Google has announced a major change to its free cloud storage policy, stating that backup data from Android phones will now count toward users' free Google account storage, a move that could affect millions of Android users worldwide.
According to the company, free Google account storage currently includes photos and videos in Google Photos, files stored in Google Drive, and emails in Gmail. However, under the new policy, backups of Android devices will also be included in the same storage allocation.
Google informed users of this change via email and provided a 45-day advance notice so they can review their available storage and take any necessary steps before the new policy comes into effect.
Under the new policy, Android phone system settings, app data, SMS messages, call history, and other backup information will also use free cloud storage, meaning the available space may fill up more quickly.
Google said users can delete unnecessary backups, change their backup settings, or choose to purchase additional cloud storage if needed.
The company clarified that if a user's backup exceeds the free storage limit, they will need to delete unnecessary data or subscribe to a paid Google One storage plan.
According to a Google spokesperson, an average Android user's backup will require approximately 40 megabytes of additional storage. Users will also have the option to choose which apps and what types of data they want to back up.