Have you ever lost precious photos and contacts because you lost your phone? If yes, then that’s a shame because it could have been preventable.
You’re not alone, though – 35.7% of the respondents of a global survey said they or a family member lost data this year.
That’s not surprising given how your personal data is always at risk. What’s surprising is 31.4% of the respondents don’t perform backups.
This puts them at a bigger risk of losing important files and memories. That’s why you should learn how to back up an Android phone, which contains your settings and other data. Read on to see the different ways to do so.
Check Your Phone’s Settings First
Do you remember the Google account you used to sign into your phone for the first time? Make sure you still remember it and your password. It’s where you can save your backup to.
If you’re unsure which email account you used, check your Settings and find the
If you want to change the account, you only have to click the email. This will take you to another page listing all the accounts associated with your backups. Choose one from there if you want to replace the current account.
We recommend choosing an email you use every day to make it easier to remember. To be extra sure you’ll remember it later on, make a note of it somewhere. You’ll have to use this email to restore your backups.
With that out of the way, let’s now learn how you can back up your Android phone.
Learn How to Back Up an Android Phone
There are many reasons why you should back up your phone, which you can learn more about via this link. The good news is there are different ways to perform a backup. You only have to choose which one is more convenient for you.
Google Backup
You can now save your photos, videos, apps, app data, settings, and other files using Google’s own applications.
You can save your photos and videos in Google Photos, which acts as a Cloud service. When you back up your media files in this app, you’ll be able to access them anywhere by signing in to your account.
It can also perform automatic backups, but make sure to turn on this option via the app first. There’s a storage limit, of course, which you can increase by buying more space.
But, it allows you to store an unlimited amount of photos and videos if you set the maximum quality to 1080p. It won’t look as good as the copies on your phone’s storage, especially if it has a superior camera. Still, it should be good enough for most people.
For your files, you’ll have to do a manual backup to Google Drive. It has an app where you can upload the files you want to save.
You can also upload your backup file to Drive, containing your phone’s settings and apps. Your phone will use this file to restore your preferences and even your apps, or if you get a new phone, you only need to sign into your account to transfer the data from your old phone.
Computer Backup
Performing an Android back up to PC can give you the confidence that your data is safe. Whatever happens to your phone, you’ll be able to restore most of the photos and files from your own computer. Should you lose access to your account, you can be sure your memories and the important files are safe.
First, you have to connect your phone to your PC via a USB cable. Then, on your computer, open your phone’s storage and select the files you want to save. Cut or copy these files and then transfer them to a folder in your PC or to a connected external hard disk.
This isn’t a perfect solution. You won’t be able to save your app settings, contacts, calendar, and preferences. Those things, however, should be safe as long as you can access your Google account for backups.
Mobile Backup Apps
There are also apps that can do the job for you, whether on PC or on your mobile phone.
On Android, the most popular apps are Super Backup, Titanium Backup, and Helium with many people touting the last one as the best. Unlike the other 2, its features are all available on rooted and unrooted phones. Titanium is only for rooted devices, while Super Backup has some features which are unavailable on unrooted phones.
With any of these apps, you can back up your settings, apps, and files as well as do a total restore to your current or a new phone. Each one also allows you to schedule backups, making sure your backup files are always recent.
You can also download them for free, but some of these have extra features you can only use on the premium versions. If you want automatic backups and other features like integration with cloud services, you may consider upgrading to the paid version.
Another noteworthy application is the SMS Backup & Restore. As the name suggests, it saves your messages and even your call logs, allowing you to restore them even to a new device.
Cloud Services
Cloud storage services, such as Dropbox and the likes, are also great for backups. Google Drive is an example, which should give you an idea of how they work. But, you won’t be able to save your messages, contacts, apps, and settings on such apps.
You can only upload photos, videos, and documents. Unlike computer backups, though, you’ll be able to access these files anywhere by signing into your account. It also offers automatic backups to save you the hassle of manual backups.
The caveat is there’s limited storage; you’ll have to pay to increase the limit. Google Photos is one of a kind in that it has a free unlimited option. Other cloud services don’t have this feature.
Learn More About Your Android Phone
You now know how to back up an Android phone. Make it a regular habit to ensure you don’t lose precious photos, documents, or videos forever. It’ll also help you clear up space for new content.
If you have any more concerns, visit our blog today to learn more tips for your smartphone and even on other things tech, such as this year’s Android mobile app development trends.
