How to Backup Your Android Phone (2024)

It’s your phone the guardian of your digital life. It contains that video of your baby’s first words, a heartwarming message from your loved one that never ceases to cheer you up, and the latest save of your favorite mobile game. You put in the time to get it just the way you want it, and there are irreplaceable memories. Spending a few minutes making a backup is a small price to pay to make sure you don’t lose everything.

We will show you how to backup your Android phone in several ways, so choose the one you like. We have separate guides on how to back up your iPhone and how to back up your computer.

Updated March 2024: We’ve checked all steps, updated Samsung’s backup steps, and added screenshots for illustration.

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Backup to Google

The simplest and easiest backup option is Google’s cloud service, which is built into Android.

Android via Simon Hill

To go settings, Googleand select Backup.
At the top, you can see how much storage space is available for the Google account you’re signed in to.
Below that you will probably see an option that says Backup to Google Drive with a switch next to it. (If you have Google One installed, it might say Backup via Google One.) Make sure it is on.
It’s there Now make a backup button below. Touch it. Note that the backup may take several hours if you have not previously backed up. It is best to leave the phone plugged into the charger and connected to Wi-Fi overnight.
The section at the bottom shows the details of your backup. Touch Photos and videos and make sure that Backup is included. You can also do this in the menu in the Google Photos application.
At the bottom Backup details section, you can tap Google Account Information (also available via settings > Accounts > [Your Google Account] > Account synchronization). Here you can choose what to sync with your Google account. The list of switches that appear here varies depending on the apps and services you use.

Manage backups and additional storage

Google via Simon Hill

You can find your backups in the Google Drive app by tapping the menu in the upper left corner and selecting Backups.

It can be a challenge to stay under the free 15GB of Google Drive storage, so consider signing up for a plan with Google One. You can get 100GB for $2 per month or $20 per year, 200GB for $3 per month or $30 per year, or 2TB for $10 per month or $100 per year. Once you subscribe, you’ll see options for even more storage from 5TB for $25 per month or $250 per year all the way up to 30TB for $150 per month. You can share this storage with up to six family members.

The Google One app offers more insight and control over your backups, and is located at Storage card listed below Backup your device.

You may not want to pay for extra space, so let’s look at how to back up files directly to your computer before we dive into alternative backup services.