Google has begun rolling out a new granular backup feature for Android devices, giving users the ability to manage cloud backups on an app by app basis rather than relying on a single global setting. The update replaces Android’s long standing all or nothing approach to app data backups, under which enabling cloud backup meant every installed app was included, with no way to exclude specific apps that might be needlessly consuming storage space.
The new controls are being delivered through Google Play Services version 26.24 and can be found within a device’s settings under Google Services, Backup, and Backup Details. Once there, users see a list of suggested apps sorted by storage usage, with the option to view the full list of installed apps through an advanced view. Each app appears alongside a simple toggle switch, allowing users to disable cloud backup for any application they no longer consider worth keeping, whether that is an old game installed briefly or a rarely used utility app quietly consuming backup space.
Turning off backup for a specific app does not simply pause future uploads. Once disabled, any data already backed up for that app is permanently deleted from Google’s cloud storage rather than being archived, meaning users should be certain before switching off a toggle for an app they may want to restore later. Notably, the update does not extend to device level data such as call history, text messages, and phone settings, which continue to be managed as a single combined block rather than through individual toggles, at least for now.
Since most users without a Google One subscription have access to limited free cloud storage, the ability to selectively back up only the most important apps could help many people avoid needing to pay for additional storage capacity. Users can also choose whether backups are transmitted over Wi-Fi only or through mobile data as well, giving an added layer of control for those managing limited data plans.
The feature is currently rolling out gradually to devices already running Android 16 or Android 17, with Google Pixel smartphones receiving it first. Other manufacturers, including Samsung, have not yet received the update, though Google is expected to extend availability to additional devices in the coming weeks. Most users will receive the update automatically as part of a routine Google Play Services update, without requiring a full operating system upgrade, and can check their current version by navigating to Settings, Apps, All Apps, and Google Play Services. The move follows years of user requests for more granular control over what gets included in Android backups, addressing a gap that has persisted since Android’s Auto Backup system began automatically enrolling apps starting with Android 6.0.
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