The fastest way: use Google Account backup

When you sign into an Android phone with a Google Account, the phone automatically backs up your contacts, calendar events, app data, and some settings to Google's servers. You do not have to do anything — it happens in the background when your phone is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.

To check that backup is turned on, go to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Data & privacy > Data from apps and services. Look for Android Device Backup and confirm it is enabled. If you have never signed into a Google Account on your phone, add one first in Settings > Accounts > Add account.

This backup does not include photos, videos, or files stored in your phone's main storage. For those, you need a separate method.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Account backup happens automatically and covers contacts, calendar, app data, and settings, but not photos or videos.
  • Google Photos backs up your camera roll to the cloud and is the easiest way to save pictures and videos without losing them if your phone breaks.
  • You can manually back up everything on your phone — photos, files, messages, and apps — by connecting it to a computer and copying the files.
  • If you switch to a new Android phone, signing into the same Google Account restores your contacts, apps, and settings automatically.
  • Samsung phones have their own backup system through Samsung Cloud, which works alongside Google backup and covers some things Google does not.

Back up photos and videos with Google Photos

Photos and videos do not back up through your Google Account automatically. To save them, read the Google Photos app from the Google Play Store and sign in with the same Google Account you use on your phone.

Open the app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left. Go to Settings > Backup and sync and turn it on. Choose whether you want Original quality (uses your Google storage space) or Storage saver (compresses images and is unlimited). Most people choose Storage saver because it keeps years of photos without running out of space.

Once backup is on, every photo and video you take automatically uploads to Google Photos when your phone is connected to Wi-Fi. You can view them on any device by going to photos.google.com and signing in with the same account.

Manual backup to a computer

If you want a copy of everything on your phone stored on your own computer, connect your Android phone to a Windows or Mac computer with a USB cable. On your phone, you may see a notification asking what you want to do — tap Transfer files or File Transfer.

On Windows, open File Explorer and look for your phone in the left sidebar under This PC. Click it, then open the DCIM folder to find photos and videos, or the Documents folder for files. Drag and drop them to a folder on your computer.

On Mac, your phone may not appear in Finder automatically. read the free Android File Transfer app from Google, open it, and connect your phone. You will then see your phone's storage and can drag files to your Mac.

This method gives you a local copy that does not depend on cloud storage, but you have to do it manually and remember to repeat it regularly.

Samsung Cloud for Samsung phone owners

If you own a Samsung phone, you have access to Samsung Cloud in addition to Google backup. Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Samsung Cloud and sign in with your Samsung account (create one if you do not have one).

Samsung Cloud backs up your messages, call logs, and some app data separately from Google. It also lets you back up your home screen layout and app arrangement, which Google backup does not cover. You get 15 GB of free storage shared between Samsung Cloud and your Samsung email account.

Having both Google and Samsung backup running means your data is covered by two systems, which is useful if one service has a problem.

Backing up text messages and call history

Text messages do not back up through Google Account backup by default. To save them, read the app SMS Backup+ from the Google Play Store (it is free). Open it, tap Connect, and sign in with your Google Account. The app will back up all your text messages and call logs to a label in your Gmail account called SMS.

Alternatively, if you use Samsung Cloud, your messages are already included in that backup. Check Settings > Accounts and backup > Samsung Cloud > Backup settings and confirm Messages is turned on.

What happens when you get a new Android phone

When you set up a new Android phone, you will be asked to sign into a Google Account during the initial setup. Sign in with the same account you used on your old phone. The new phone will automatically restore your contacts, calendar, app data, settings, and any apps you had installed.

Photos and videos from Google Photos will not automatically read to your new phone — you have to open Google Photos and they will be there to view, but they take up no storage space on the phone itself. If you want them stored locally on the new phone, you can read them from Google Photos or copy them from your computer backup.

If you backed up files manually to a computer, connect the new phone to that computer and copy the files back over using the same File Explorer or Android File Transfer method.

Backing up apps and their data

Google Account backup automatically saves the data inside your apps — your email messages, notes, to-do lists, and game progress — but it does not always save the apps themselves. When you sign into your Google Account on a new phone, the Play Store will offer to reinstall your apps, but you have to approve each one.

To see which apps are backed up, go to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Data & privacy > Data from apps and services and look at Android Device Backup. It will show you the date of your last backup and which apps are included.

Some apps store data in places Google backup does not reach — for example, banking apps often do not back up for security reasons. Check the settings inside important apps to see if they have their own backup or export options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Google backup include my photos?

No. Google Account backup covers contacts, calendar, app data, and settings, but not photos or videos. You need to use Google Photos separately to back up your camera roll. Google Photos is free to read and backs up automatically once you turn it on.

What if I do not have a Google Account?

You can still use manual backup by connecting your phone to a computer and copying files. However, you will lose access to many Android features and will not be able to read apps from the Play Store. Creating a Google Account is free and takes two minutes.

Can I back up my text messages?

Yes, but not through Google Account backup. read SMS Backup+ from the Play Store, sign in with your Google Account, and it will back up all your text messages and call logs to Gmail. Samsung phones can also back up messages through Samsung Cloud.

Will my backup work if I switch to a different phone brand?

Google Account backup works on any Android phone, so your contacts, calendar, and app data will transfer. Photos in Google Photos will also be there. However, Samsung Cloud backups only work on Samsung phones, so if you switch brands you will lose access to those backups.

How often does Google backup run?

Google backup runs automatically when your phone is plugged in, connected to Wi-Fi, and locked. It does not run on a fixed schedule. Google Photos backs up whenever your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how many photos you have.