Android will now automatically save files to Google Drive.

New File Backup Features via Google Drive

Google Play announced an upcoming update of services for Android devices. The description of the new release mentions a feature that automatically saves files from the “Downloads” folder on your phone to the cloud storage Google Drive.

What it means
* Automatic copying – files you upload to your phone (e.g., photos, documents, videos) will be automatically written to your Google Drive account.
* Background mode – the backup process runs without your involvement and does not require manual confirmation.
* Availability – copied files can be opened from any device where you are logged into your Google account.

How it differs from the existing solution
Android already has a “Backup” feature that saves app data, call history, contacts, settings, and messages (SMS/MMS) to Google Drive.
The new capability will work only with user files from the “Downloads” folder, not with system application data.

Possible implementation
* Simple version – each file from the “Downloads” folder is copied into a separate subfolder of your Google Drive.
* Advanced version – you can synchronize one shared “Downloads” folder across multiple devices so that all files are available on all your phones.

Current status
The feature is mentioned in the “Utilities” section of the Google Play services description (version 26.06). Details about the exact release date have not yet been disclosed, and it may take some time before it becomes widely available.