Your phone is your digital guardian. Your phone has the video of your child's first words, the touching message from your partner that never fails you, and the most recent save from your favorite mobile gaming app. It is worth the time you spent to get it exactly how you want. There are also irreplaceable memories. It is worth spending a few minutes backing up to make sure you don't lose everything.
We'll show you how to backup your Android phone in several ways. Choose the one that interests you. There are two guides that will show you how to backup your iPhone.
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Google Backup
Google's cloud service is the simplest and most convenient backup option. It is integrated into Android.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Select Backup from Settings. The top of the page will show you how much storage is available to the Google account that you have signed into. You will see a button next to Backup to Google Drive. It might also say Backup to Google One if you have Google One installed. It should be toggled on. Below, you will see a Back up button. Click it. Backups can take up to an hour if you don't have backups. You should leave your phone connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in to a charger overnight. You will find details about your backup in the section at bottom. Tap on Photos & videos and ensure that Back up & Sync is turned on. This can be done in the menu of the Google Photos app. You can tap on Google Account data at the bottom of the Backup Details section (also accessible via Settings and Accounts [Your Google Account], Account synchronization). Here you can select what to sync with Google Account. This list will vary depending on which apps or services you use.
How to manage backups and extra storage
Photograph: Simon Hill
By tapping the menu at top left, you can search for backups using Google Drive.
It can be difficult to keep your Google Drives 15 GB free storage limit. You might consider signing up with Google One. You can get 100GB for $2/month or $20 annually, 200GB for $3/month or $30 annually, 2TB for $10/month or $100 annually and 2TB for $10/month. This storage can be shared with up to six members of your family.
Google One offers greater control and insight into your backups. It can be found under the Storage tab, Device Backup.
