Phones get lost, stolen, dropped in water or simply stop working. When that happens, the photos, contacts and chats stored on the phone can disappear forever. A backup takes only a few minutes to set up and can save you from a lot of regret.
What should you back up?
- Photos and videos, which are usually the most precious files.
- Contacts, so you do not lose phone numbers.
- Chat history from apps such as WhatsApp.
- Important documents, such as scanned ID, certificates and receipts.
Back up photos for free
Both Android and iPhone offer cloud backup with a limited amount of free storage. Turn on the photo backup option in your Google Photos or iCloud settings, and choose to back up over Wi-Fi to save mobile data. When the free space is full, you can delete duplicates, compress, or move older files to a computer.
Back up contacts
Make sure your contacts are saved to your Google or Apple account, not only on the SIM card or phone. Open your account sync settings and confirm that contacts sync is on. You can also export a contacts file and save a copy on your computer.
Back up chat history
Most chat apps have a built-in backup in their settings. Choose how often to back up, and which account to store it in. Remember that you need the same phone number and account to restore it later.
Follow the 3-2-1 rule
A simple rule used by professionals is to keep three copies of important data, on two different types of storage, with one copy stored away from the main device. For most people this means the phone, a cloud account and a copy on a computer or an external drive.
Copy files to a computer
- Connect your phone to a computer with a cable.
- Allow file access on the phone when asked.
- Copy the photo, video and document folders to a dated folder on the computer.
- If possible, copy that folder to an external drive too.
Test your backup
A backup that has never been tested may not work. Once in a while, open the backup and check that your latest photos and files are really there. Also keep your account password and recovery details safe, because without them you cannot restore the data. If you also run a website, our guide on backing up a WordPress website covers the same idea.
A 15-minute monthly backup routine
- Check automatic backup. Open your photo and chat backup settings and confirm that the last backup date is recent.
- Free some space. Delete blurry photos, duplicates and old downloads so the backup does not fail because storage is full.
- Copy to a computer. Once a month, copy new photos, videos and documents into a folder named with the month and year.
- Check one file. Open a recent photo from the backup to be sure it really copied.
- Write down the recovery details for your backup account, such as the email address, in a safe place.
Before you sell, repair or reset your phone
Always back up first, then confirm the backup works. After that, sign out of your accounts and remove the screen lock only when the repair centre asks for it. Never hand over a phone with personal data unless you have copied everything important.
Keep your backups safe
- Protect your backup account with a strong password and two-step verification.
- Do not store photos of ID cards or bank documents in a shared folder.
- Keep the external drive in a dry place, and replace old drives, because all storage devices eventually fail.
If your accounts are ever compromised, read what to do in our guide on a hacked Facebook or Gmail account.
Frequently asked questions
Is cloud storage safe?
It is generally safe when you use a strong password and two-step verification. Do not share your login with anyone.
How often should I back up?
Turn on automatic backup so it happens by itself. For manual copies to a computer, once a month is a good habit.
