Tech Desk 
Aug 16, 2025
Perhaps the most important move to secure yourself from losing data is backing up your smartphone data, but Android's process currently doesn't automatically back up each and every file on your phone.
While Google's built-in backup features already cover snaps, clips, app data, and device settings, there has been one exclusion: downloaded files.
According to several rumours surfacing about Google Play Services 25.32.31 beta, Google has now begun working on a new feature that would especially back up downloaded files.
Android backups are now split between two categories: photos and videos, managed by Google Photos, and all the rest of the device's information, such as messages, Wi-Fi passwords, and app data. Downloads—like files downloaded through Chrome or other apps—aren't included, however.
The first look at the new system reveals that Google will utilise Google Drive as the repository for downloads, giving users better transparency and control of their files.
What's unclear is whether the feature will apply to all forms of files in the downloads folder or just certain forms like documents.
If implemented, this update would be a significant improvement for Android users, who find themselves reliant on their phones to store important documents.
