Your phone is the guardian of your digital life. It has that video of your child’s first words, the heart warming message from your significant other that never fails to cheer you up, and the latest save from your favorite mobile game. You have invested time in getting it just the way you want, and there are irreplaceable memories onboard. Spending a couple of minutes backing up is a small price to pay to ensure you don’t lose it all.
Here, I'll show you how to back up your Android phone in a few ways, so pick the one that appeals. We have separate guides on how to back up your iPhone and how to back up your computer.
Updated March 2026: I've updated the steps for backing up with Google and information on Google’s subscriptions, added new sections on 2FA codes and passkeys, local backup options, and backing up within apps, and verified the existing steps outlined.
Table of Contents
Backing Up to Google
The simplest and easiest backup option is Google’s cloud service, which is built into Android. These screenshots are from the process on a Pixel 10 Pro XL. Your precise route may differ slightly, depending on your phone model.
Google via Simon Hill
- Go to Settings, Back up or copy data. You can also get there via Settings, Security and Privacy, System and updates, Backup on most Android phones, or Settings, Accounts and backup for Samsung phones.
- Turn backup on, tick the options you want (Photos & videos, Other device data), then Confirm.
- You should see a Back up now button. 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.
Managing Backups and Extra Storage
You can find your backups in the Google One app by tapping the Backup section.
Google via Simon Hill
It can be a challenge to stay under Google Drive’s free 15 GB of storage, so consider signing up for a plan with Google One. You can get 100 GB for $2 per month or $20 annually, 200 GB for $3 per month or $30 annually, or 2 TB for $10 per month or $100 annually. Once you subscribe, you will see options for even more storage, from 5 TB for $25 per month or $250 annually, all the way up to 30 TB for $150 per month. Storage is also included with all of Google's AI plans. You can share this storage with up to five family members. The Google One app offers more insight and control for your backups on the Storage tab.
You might not want to pay for extra space, so let’s look at how to back up files directly to your computer before I dip into alternative backup services.
Backing Up to Your Windows PC
Google via Simon Hill
It is easy to back up files from your Android phone on a Windows PC. Here’s how:
- Plug your phone into a USB port on your desktop or laptop.
- Drag down the notification shade on your phone and look for a notification from Android System that says something like Charging this device via USB, Tap for more options, and press it.
- Look for an option that says File transfer and select it.
- A window should now pop up on your PC, or you can open Windows File Explorer and click your phone listed in the left pane under This PC.
- You can dig into folders and copy and paste any files you want to back up. This isn’t the most user-friendly layout, though. For example, your photos will probably be in a folder labeled DCIM, Camera.
If you want something like iTunes to manage this process or an app to manage a wireless backup from phone to PC, then you can find various premium options online, though I don’t recommend any of them. If you're trying to send files from your Android phone to a PC, try using Microsoft’s free Link to Windows app.
Backing Up to Your Mac
Backing 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.
There are some premium apps for MacOS that offer more of an iTunes-like experience, but nothing that I vouch for.
Backing Up to Your Chromebook
Here is how to back up files from your Android phone on a 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.
Backing Up to Another Cloud Service
Maybe you have run out of Google storage, or you prefer another cloud service. There are Android apps for Dropbox, Microsoft’s OneDrive, MEGA, Box, and others. Most of them offer some cloud storage for free, but what you can back up and how you do it differs from app to app.
We looked at how to back up mobile photos on a few of these before, and you can usually set up the process to be automatic, though other files often have to be backed up manually. If you want to automatically sync photos and other files across devices using one of these services, then check out the Autosync app. There are specific versions for Dropbox, OneDrive, MEGA, and Box.
Whatever service you choose, make sure to keep your cloud storage safe and secure.
Backing Up Locally
Maybe you’d prefer not to use the cloud or Google’s services for your backup. You can always use the methods listed above for Windows or Mac to download files, then manually move them onto a portable hard drive or USB flash drive, but that’s quite a lot of work.
If you have network-attached storage (NAS), there’s likely an app that can automatically back up some of your files when you are connected to home Wi-Fi. You might also consider Syncthing (though it’s best for syncing rather than backing up) or something like Swift Backup, though you may need to pay and/or root your phone to get the best from them.
Backing Up Within Apps
Messaging apps, and a handful of other apps, have their own backup systems built in. I’ll give you a couple of examples here, but check up on your favorites.
WhatsApp via Simon Hill
- WhatsApp has a built-in backup. Go to Settings, Chats, Chat backup, and choose the frequency you want. I also recommend toggling on End-to-end encrypted backup, so that only you can access the information.
- Signal doesn’t back up to the cloud, so you have to create a local backup file and then move it off your phone. You can get started in Settings, Backups, On-device backups, Turn on.
Backing Up a Samsung Phone
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Samsung via Simon Hill
If you have a Samsung phone, then you have additional backup options. We recommend sticking with Google, because Samsung backups can be restored only to Samsung phones, but if you want a second backup or you plan to stick with Samsung, here’s how to use Samsung’s cloud service:
- Go to Settings, Accounts and backup.
- Under Samsung Cloud, tap Back up data (the option to back up through your Google account is listed here too). You will have to create and sign in to your Samsung account if you haven’t already done so.
- Tick everything you want to back up and tap Back up at the bottom.
Samsung also offers an option called Temporary Cloud Backup. Available on Galaxy S and Z series phones running One UI 6 or later, this free service stores your backup in the cloud for up to 30 days, so you can potentially back up and then sell or trade in your old phone and restore the backup as part of the setup of your new Samsung phone. There is no total storage limit, though file sizes max out at 100 GB. Here’s how to use it:
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Samsung via Simon Hill
- Go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Temporary Cloud Backup or Settings > Battery and Device Care > Maintenance Mode > Temporary Cloud Backup.
- Select Back up data, and decide what you want to include. You can back up third-party apps, photos, videos, audio, documents, calls and contacts, messages, and files.
- Once you have ticked the boxes next to everything you want, simply tap Back up and wait.
Samsung also offers Smart Switch, an app that lets you back up your smartphone to a Windows or Mac computer. It makes it easy for anyone switching to a Samsung phone to copy over all their data. Sadly, although Smart Switch backups can be made from most smartphones, they can only be restored to Samsung phones.
Don’t Forget 2FA Codes and Passkeys
What happens if you lose your phone or it is stolen and you have two-factor authentication (2FA) set up on your Google account? There’s a danger you could be locked out. That’s why Google allows you to generate backup codes. Just be careful that you store them safely. It’s also a good idea to have more than one trusted device.
Google Authenticator now has an encrypted cloud sync feature. You’ll be prompted to set it up if you update the app and open it, but you can check by tapping your profile picture at the top right. You’ll see a cloud icon with a tick when you’re backed up.
For passkeys, which are often stored locally on the device, you might consider backing up in more than one place. They are automatically backed up in your Google account, but you could also use one of the best cross-platform password managers, like Bitwarden, or a physical device, like YubiKey ($58).
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