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Your smartphone serves as the custodian of your digital existence, safeguarding precious moments like your child’s inaugural words, heartwarming messages from your loved ones that unfailingly uplift your spirits, and the latest achievements in your cherished mobile game. With invested time in customizing it to perfection, it harbors irreplaceable memories. Devoting a few minutes to back up is a nominal cost to ensure the preservation of this digital trove.
With Google’s cloud service being the most straightforward and convenient.
Go to Settings, Google, and choose Backup.
You can see how much storage is available for the Google account you are signed into listed at the top.
Below that, you will likely see an option that says Backup to Google Drive with a toggle next to it. (If you have Google One installed, it might say Backup by Google One.) Make sure it is toggled on.
There is a Back up now button beneath. Tap it. Remember that backups can take several hours to complete if you haven’t backed up before. It’s best to leave your phone plugged into a charger and connected to Wi-Fi overnight.
The section at the bottom shows details of your backup. Tap on Photos & Videos and make sure that Backup is toggled on. You can also do this in the menu in the Google Photos app.
At the bottom of the Backup details section, you can tap Google Account data (also accessible via Settings > Accounts > [Your Google Account] > Account sync). This is where you can choose what to sync with your Google Account. The list of toggles that appears here differs based on the apps and services you use.
For managing backups and additional storage, locate them in the Google Drive app under Backups. Google Drive provides 15 GB of free storage, but for more extensive needs, consider Google One plans starting from $2 per month.
Windows PC
Explore alternative backup methods, such as transferring files directly to your computer. On Windows, connect your phone via USB, select File transfer, and access your files through Windows File Explorer. On a Mac, use the Android File Transfer app to copy files after connecting your phone via USB.
Should you prefer another cloud service, such as Dropbox or OneDrive, various Android apps cater to these options. Specific apps like Autosync streamline the process of automatically syncing photos and files across devices.
Mac
To back up files from your Android phone on a Mac is also pretty straightforward. Here’s how:
- Install the official Android File Transfer app on your Mac.
- Plug your phone into a USB port on your Mac.
- An Android File Transfer window should open on your Mac, and you will see a list of folders and files on your phone.
- Dig in and copy and paste any files you want to back up. You may have to search to find the files you want. For example, your photos will be in a folder labeled DCIM, Camera.
Chromebook
- Plug your phone into a USB port on your Chromebook.
- Drag down the notification shade and look for a notification from Android System that says something like Charging this device via USB, Tap for more options and tap it.
- Look for an option that says File transfer and select it.
- The Files app will open on your Chromebook, and you can drag any files you want to copy over.
Samsung
If you own a Samsung phone, Google is recommended for primary backups. However, Samsung offers additional options like their cloud service and Smart Switch for specific needs. Temporary Cloud Backup, a feature available on certain Samsung phones, allows free storage in the cloud for up to 30 days, ideal for transitioning to a new Samsung device. Smart Switch facilitates backing up to a computer, but note that restorations are limited to Samsung phones.
