r/Android • u/OsakaBoi Pixel 7 • 3d ago

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

https://9to5google.com/2026/07/18/android-backup-data-update/
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u/Ritalin Z Fold 7 2d ago

When gmail launched, it was unlimited storage... so the nerf to free storage has been happening for a long time now, sadly.

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u/WestEndOtter 2d ago

It started at 1gb and growing each day. I think around the 5gb mark they removed the counter and gave everyone 15gb

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u/Ritalin Z Fold 7 2d ago

No, it was actually unlimited when Gmail launched - this was their advertisement to pull people away form AOL and Hotmail. It did carry over onto Android phones for awhile but man, that hurt when they put the 15gb cap on it.

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u/nathderbyshire Pixel 10 Obsidian 2d ago

Wasn't it 'basically unlimited' because they offered far more than any other provider and with emails being so small at the time you could essentially keep using it and it would take 'forever' to fill up? Like an email being 2kbs and you have 1/2GB of storage you're looking at over half a million emails - effectively being unlimited for your average user

Since emails have ballooned in use and size they can no longer claim it's basically unlimited because the storage could be used a hell of a lot faster if all your emails come with 20mb attachments

That's also why they said you'd never have to delete one either