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 August 2025: We've verified and updated all steps and added new screenshots.
Backing Up to Google
The simplest and easiest backup option is Google’s cloud service, which is built into Android.
Google via Simon Hill
Go to Settings, System, Backup. You can also find this option via Settings, Back up or copy data. 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.
Google via Simon Hill
Managing Backups and Extra Storage
Google via Simon Hill
You can find your backups in the Google Drive app by tapping the menu at the top left and choosing Backups.
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, 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 $250 per month. You can share this storage with up to six family members. The Google One app offers more insight and control for your backups on the Storage tab.