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Google will Automatically Delete Android Backups if your Device Remains Inactive for Two Months

Do you change your smartphone often? Then you might be backing up everything on the cloud in order to make sure that all your important details such as messages, contact details, photos as well as videos remain intact.

But what if you have switched from Android to iPhone & not used the old phone for many months? Or what if you have switched from one android to another android phone with a new account & also forgot to take backup from the old phone?

Google has decided to automatically delete backup for android devices that have remained inactive for around 2 months. And the worst part is that Google may not even notify the user before deleting the backup. Also, users cannot restore the deleted data.

A Reditter who goes by the name of Tanglebrook discovered this practice in a hard way. He revealed that he switched from his Nexus 6P to a new iPhone. After a few months, he had to go back to Nexus 6P due to some reason, and he found that the Android backup for his Nexus 6P was not there in the Google Drive. Also, he claimed that Android settings, WiFi passwords as well as the data for around 50 apps were also gone.

“There was no warning from Google. They just deleted my data. There’s apparently an expiration date that shows up under the backup if I had checked the Backup folder sooner, but there was no notification, no email, no proactive notice at all, and most importantly, no option to use the 100gb of my Drive storage…,” said the frustrated Redittor.

The Reditter also pointed out the disclaimer of Google on its support page. “Your backup will remain as long as you use your device. If you don’t use your device for 2 weeks, you may see an expiration date below your backup,” the warning reads.

However, it seems that Apple might not be the answer either as even iCloud often does the same thing if files are not used for more than 180 days.

Google is yet to reveal that if there is a way to recover lost data, or to extend the countdown period.