Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- The July Google Play System Update brings improved backup features for SMS, MMS, and RCS messages, plus new local document backups to Google Drive.
- Tech Advisor notes that these changes are especially important as Google shifts its free backup policy, giving users more control over data management.
- Major improvements include encrypted file transfers, better in-app purchases, Wear OS improvements, and an improved Google One shopping experience.
Google is currently rolling out a new Google Play system update. This provides Android users with new features every month that have a direct impact on their smartphones (regardless of the manufacturer).
According to a report by 9to5Google, Android users will get the option to manage the backup of SMS, MMS and RCS messages directly. This is similar to the separate backup setting for select apps that we reported on last week.
Once you have received the update, you will find below Settings > Accounts & backup > Google Backup > Additional device information. This gives you significantly more control over what data you want to store via the Google Cloud.
This is especially important because Google recently stopped offering free backups for Android devices. Every backup of your smartphone therefore immediately counts towards your available storage quota, which is only 15 GB in the free version.
John Brandon / Foundry
Moreover, Android has now introduced local document backups. This allows you to automatically save your downloaded documents to Google Drive, making them safe and accessible from all your devices. On the ‘Backup’ page, a new menu called ‘Documents’ will appear next to ‘Photos and videos’ and ‘Other device data’.
Google explains that supported file formats are .DOC, .PPT, .XLS, .PDF “and any other documents stored on this device.” Documents are encrypted during transmission between your device and Google services. Changes to documents in one location are not synced to other locations.
More updates
The release notes for Google System Services include more minor updates that are now rolling out to Android users.
These include a revamp of in-app purchases using an “enhanced, native storefront for Google One,” the porting of work profiles to Wear OS smartwatches, a new Google location sharing feature for Chromebooks, and “new features for Google developers and third-party apps to support processes within their apps related to Google Maps.”
All these new features have been rolling out for Android users since July 6. You can check the currently installed version of the Google Play system updates and, if necessary, update to a new version via Institutions > Security and privacy > Updates > System update for Google Play.
This article originally appeared in our sister publication PC WELT and was translated and adapted from German.
