Android 17 backups still count toward your 15GB Google storage limit: here's how to check and clear space

If you have been ignoring the storage full warnings on your Google account, Android 17's stable rollout on June 16, 2026 is a good reason to finally pay attention, because Android backups still count toward your 15GB free Google storage limit, and with the new app memory limits and richer system data in Android 17, those backups are getting larger. I have been tracking my own storage usage across a Pixel 11 Pro and a Pixel Watch 5, and here is what I found, along with how to check and manage your own settings before you get locked out of receiving emails or backing up new photos. First, to check your current storage: go to one.google.com/storage on any browser, or open the Google One app on your phone. You will see a breakdown of how your 15GB is allocated across Google Drive, Gmail, Google Photos, and, importantly, Android device backups. In my case, backups were consuming nearly 4GB, mostly from app data, system settings, and the full-resolution photos that Google Photos backs up by default on Pixel devices. The problem has gotten worse in 2026 because Android 17's new features, App Bubbles, Screen Reactions, the suspicious activity logging I wrote about, all generate additional system data that gets included in backups. To reduce backup size, start by opening Google Drive, navigating to Backups, and deleting backups for devices you no longer own, I found three old Pixel backups still taking up space. Next, in Google Photos, enable Storage saver mode, which compresses photos to high quality while keeping them visually identical. Finally, review which apps are allowed to back up data by going to Settings, then System, then Backup, then App data, you will likely find apps you have not used in months that are still consuming backup space. The location privacy improvements in Android 17 mean less sensitive location data is being backed up, but if you are still hitting the 15GB ceiling, Google One's 100GB plan at $1.99 per month remains the most cost-effective upgrade in 2026. The key is checking before you are surprised.