Google is rolling out finer controls for Android backups: instead of a single “save everything” switch, some phones now show an App data section where you can decide which apps are allowed to keep backing up data to your Google Account. It sounds like a small settings change, but it matters when Google One storage is tight or when you are preparing a phone migration.
9to5Google spotted the feature on Pixel phones, while SamMobile reports it on Galaxy devices. The path is not identical across Android skins, but the idea is the same: the Google backup settings can show individual apps, the amount of backed-up data, and a toggle to stop backing up specific items. The practical warning is important: turning off an app does not merely pause future backups. The prompt says the app’s data will be deleted from your Google Account backup and will stop backing up from that device.
That makes this a useful control, but not one to click through lazily. Android app data is uneven territory: some apps sync everything to their own cloud, some rely on Android backup, and some restore less than users expect. Before changing switches, treat the screen as a checklist, especially if the phone contains work apps, messaging history, authenticators or anything that is not easy to recreate.
Where to find the new control
On Pixel, 9to5Google lists the path as Settings > Accounts and backup > Google Backup > Other device data. On Galaxy phones, SamMobile points to Settings > Accounts and backup > Back up data > Google Drive > Other device data. Names can vary depending on language, Android version, One UI version and Google Play services rollout.
If you do not see the new section yet, that does not automatically mean your phone is broken. 9to5Google saw the controls on Pixel devices running Android 16 and 17 with Google Play services 26.24. SamMobile saw them on a Galaxy S26 Ultra running One UI 9 beta based on Android 17, while noting that older Galaxy devices may also get the option later. In other words: update the relevant components, but do not rebuild your phone chasing a server-side rollout.
Recommended checklist
- Open Google backup settings and confirm the active Google Account. This matters if the phone has personal, work and secondary profiles.
- Go into the section for other device data or app data.
- Use “Show more” if available: important apps are not always in the first few visible rows.
- Look for apps marked as having no backed-up data; check those before changing phones.
- Disable backup only for apps that are non-critical, unusually large or already synced elsewhere.
- After changing anything, check Google Drive or Google One storage and run a manual backup if Android offers the option.
What this panel does not fix
The new control is about app data, not every part of Android backup. 9to5Google notes that device data such as SMS/MMS messages, call history and device settings remains in a separate section. Google backup also does not replace each app’s own backup system: WhatsApp, Signal, password managers, banking apps, two-factor authenticators and enterprise tools can all have separate rules.
The AndroidLab rule is simple: before a reset or phone upgrade, do not trust the phrase “backup completed” by itself. Open the apps that hold irreplaceable data and check their own export, sync or backup settings. If you use more than one Google Account, our guide to multiple Google accounts on Android is also worth reading, because many restore problems start with the wrong account selected.
What actually changes
For regular users, the main improvement is visibility: Android can now show which apps are using backup storage and which ones are not saving anything. For people who manage family phones, work devices or frequent migrations, it changes the process: instead of trusting a vague “apps and data” bucket, you can build a small pre-migration runbook. It is not a professional backup manager yet, but it makes Android backup less opaque.
Common problems and quick fixes
- The menu is missing: update Android, Google Play services and Google One, then wait for the rollout.
- Backup uses too much storage: exclude games, test apps and services already synced to their own cloud.
- An important app shows no data: check that app’s internal backup before moving phones.
- You are on a Galaxy or Pixel beta: expect different labels or paths.
- You use a work profile: check admin policies, because managed profiles can restrict backup.
In brief
- Google is rolling out per-app backup controls for Android.
- The option has appeared on Pixel and Galaxy devices, but rollout is not uniform.
- Turning off an app can delete its data from your Google Account backup.
- SMS, call history and device settings remain in a separate backup area.
- Before changing phones, verify Google backup, app-specific backups and the active account.