The topic Google rolling out per-app controls for Android Backups is currently the subject of lively discussion — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
Following last year’s settings redesign of Android Backups, Google is now rolling out per-app backup controls.
On Pixel, going to Settings > Accounts and backup > Google Backup > Other device data reveals the new “App data” section. Previously, Google just displayed “Apps & app data” with a count and storage total.
Your top three apps are shown with how much data is backed up to your Google Account. Tap “Show more” to see everything, with apps at the bottom of the list noting if “No data backed up.”
Everything is enabled by default, but you can now tap on the toggles next to each item to disable. Doing so explains that “This will delete [app] data from your Google Account, and stop backing up [app] data from this device.”
These controls don’t extend to the Device data section above, which has SMS & MMS messages, Call history, and Device settings.
We’re seeing per-app backup controls rolled out to Pixel devices we checked today. This includes the stable Android 16 and 17 releases with version 26.24 of Google Play services. However, it did not appear on our Samsung phones.
In related developments, Google One for Android was finally updated with an edge-to-edge design earlier this month. Despite getting a Material 3 Expressive redesign last year, the app’s status and navigation bars stood out.