Android backup is becoming less of a single black box. According to 9to5Google, Google is rolling out new controls that let users decide whether SMS, MMS and RCS are included in cloud backup, alongside separate toggles for call history and device settings. At the same time, Google is also testing a local Documents backup option that can save downloaded files from the phone to Google Drive.
The practical point is not that Android gets another switch. It is that Android backup is turning into something you need to administer, especially before switching phones, factory-resetting a device or cleaning up Google storage. “Backup is on” is useful only if you know what is actually being backed up. Otherwise it becomes a very calm way to discover missing data after the old phone has already been wiped.
On Pixel phones, 9to5Google reports the path as Settings > Accounts and backup > Google Backup > Other device data. The wording may differ on Samsung Galaxy and other Android devices because manufacturers reshape the settings app, but the checks are the same: what is included, when the last backup ran, and whether your Google Account still has enough storage.
For a broader AndroidLab guide on the same backup cluster, see our related coverage: Android per-app backup controls: what to check before switching phones.
Requirements and compatibility
This is not simply a Google Messages app update. 9to5Google says the SMS/MMS/RCS controls are starting to roll out with Google Play services 26.25, while the Documents backup option is appearing through the latest Google Play services beta. In practice, that means your phone needs updated Google services, availability can be staged, and not every account will see Documents backup immediately.
Before treating the missing toggle as a broken setting, update Google Play services, check the Google Play system update page and reboot the phone after updating. On managed phones or work profiles, an administrator may restrict backups, Drive access or synced data. That is policy territory, not necessarily a bug.
Checklist before a reset or phone switch
- Open Android Settings and search for “backup”.
- Open Google Backup or Google One, then inspect the current device backup.
- Check the date of the last backup; if it is old, run a manual backup first.
- Open “Other device data” and review toggles for call history, settings, SMS/MMS and RCS.
- If Documents appears, open it and check which Google Drive folder is created.
- Open Drive on the web or in the app and verify that the expected files are really there.
- Check available Google storage, because Android device backups count toward account storage.
SMS, MMS and RCS: the label matters
9to5Google reports that Google confirmed an important detail: the “SMS and MMS” backup label also includes RCS, even if the name does not make that obvious. That is exactly the kind of UI simplification that can cause practical trouble. If you disable the toggle thinking it only covers old carrier messages, you may also exclude RCS conversations handled by Google Messages.
The right choice depends on your risk profile. If you are resetting a phone and want conversations restored, keep the backup enabled. If you share the Google Account, have limited Drive storage or do not want messages uploaded to the cloud, turn it off deliberately and consider whatever manual exports are available. Google’s own Messages documentation describes RCS as a data/Wi-Fi messaging layer with read receipts, typing indicators and richer file sharing, so it is not just “SMS with a nicer coat of paint”.
Documents backup: useful, but treat it like sync
Documents backup matters because it covers a real gap: downloaded PDFs, receipts, attachments saved in a hurry and files that do not naturally live in Photos or inside app data. The feature preview cited by 9to5Google says local file backup will save downloaded documents to Google Drive in a folder associated with the device.
The AndroidLab rule is simple: when the feature appears, do not enable it blind. First inspect your Downloads folder, remove duplicate or sensitive files you do not need, then enable backup. After a manual backup or a few hours, open Drive and check the device folder. If the files are there, good. If the folder is missing, do not assume the backup is complete just because the settings page looks reassuring.
What actually changes
Android backup is becoming more granular, and that is good for users who want fewer unnecessary uploads and better control over Google One storage. The trade-off is that more controls also create more chances to disable something without understanding the consequence. Before every reset, resale or phone migration, open the Backup page and verify it manually. Trusting the cloud without reading the details is convenient right up to the point where it becomes digital archaeology.
Common problems
- You do not see the SMS/RCS toggles: update Google Play services and wait for the staged rollout.
- Documents is missing: the feature may still be in beta or not enabled for your account.
- Drive does not show a device folder: run a manual backup and check again later.
- Google storage is almost full: clean Drive, Gmail and Photos before relying on backup.
- Managed phone: check work profile or administrator restrictions.
In brief
- Google is rolling out separate backup controls for SMS/MMS/RCS, calls and Android settings.
- Documents backup should save local downloads and files to Google Drive.
- Availability depends on Google Play services and may not appear on every device immediately.
- Before resetting or switching phones, verify the backup date, storage and actual files in Drive.