Google is rolling out two separate changes to how Android handles backups — and they move in opposite directions. One gives users more power to stop certain data from being uploaded automatically. The other adds an entirely new category of backup, letting local files on the phone get a second home in Google Drive.

New Opt-Out Switches for Messages, Call History, and Settings

Android backup has traditionally handled certain data types automatically, with little user input. That's changing. Google is introducing individual toggles that let people turn off backup for three specific categories:

  • Messages
  • Call history
  • Device settings

Each of these can now be disabled on its own, rather than being bundled into an all-or-nothing backup decision. That matters because these categories were previously backed up by default, without a simple way to exclude just one of them.

What the Messaging Toggle Actually Covers

The messaging control is labeled in a way that only references two message types, but it actually governs three: SMS, MMS, and RCS. Anyone relying on the label alone could assume RCS messages are excluded from the toggle's effect when they aren't.

Call History and Settings Get Independent Controls

Call history and device settings each have their own dedicated switch, separate from messaging. This lets someone, for example, stop call logs from syncing to the cloud while still allowing settings or messages to back up normally — a level of granularity that wasn't previously available.

These new switches join per-app backup controls that have already started appearing through Google Play services, suggesting Google is moving toward more modular, user-controlled backup across the board. Importantly, none of this requires disabling Android backup entirely — users can now fine-tune what leaves the device instead of choosing between "everything" or "nothing."

A New Documents Backup Feature for Google Drive

While those toggles limit what gets backed up, a separate feature expands it. Documents backup lets Android save supported local files directly into Google Drive, giving files stored only on the device a cloud-based counterpart.

This feature was first flagged in Google Play services release notes back in February, though the functioning controls only recently became visible in the latest rollout.

How the Backup Schedule Works

Once turned on, Documents backup uploads eligible files automatically on Android's regular daily backup cycle. Users aren't limited to waiting for that cycle, though — a manual backup option lets someone trigger an upload immediately if they want the most current version saved right away.

Where Files End Up and What's Supported

Backed-up files land in Google Drive inside a folder named after the specific device they came from. Supported file types include PDFs and common Office document formats, along with other locally stored documents.

This Isn't Live Sync

It's worth being clear about what Documents backup is not: it isn't real-time syncing. Editing a file in Drive won't update the version on the phone, and editing the local file won't automatically push changes back up to Drive. Each backup is effectively a snapshot, not a continuously mirrored copy.

Storage and Privacy Considerations

Because all of this backup data — old and new — counts against a user's Google Account storage, the changes have direct implications for people already close to their limit.

Expected Storage Impact

Google anticipates the broader set of changes will add roughly 40MB of storage use for the average user. Documents backup specifically could use more than that, depending on how many and how large the locally stored files are.

Encryption and Deletion Behavior

Files are encrypted while in transit between the device and Google's servers. One detail users should note: turning off Documents backup does not delete anything already uploaded to Drive. Anyone wanting those files removed will need to delete them manually rather than assuming the toggle handles it.

Rollout Timeline

The update is rolling out through Google Play services version 26.25. Because of how staged rollouts typically work, it may take time before it reaches every compatible device — so not seeing the new controls immediately doesn't necessarily mean a phone is excluded.