If you’re working in an IT company, you’ll find that backing up is a standard procedure that most companies implement to prevent any data loss. This also enables companies a fast way to recover files and data when needed. As a tech enthusiast and expert, I always make sure that I have a complete backup of all of my files and data by performing backup procedures either once or twice a month. Why don’t you give a try to backup and restore Android phone?
Android Smartphone – Built-In Backup & Restore System
When it comes with Android devices such as Smartphones and Tablets, backing up data has never been easier before. As a matter of fact, you can easily do so within the device alone. No third-party apps needed to back up the whole content of your phone. With the integration of Google accounts, you can now back up everything from apps, contacts, SMS, and even device settings. You can do all of that in just a few simple steps. In this article, we will guide you on how to fully back up the content of your Android smartphone as well as how to restore it. This guide is also a great guide to follow for those that are migrating contents and data from an old smartphone to a brand new one.
Things To Note:
Before anything else, here are a few things to note about Android backup:
Not all Android devices have settings in the same place or with the same names. For your specific device’s settings, see your manufacturer’s support site.On a tablet that people share, only the tablet’s owner can see the backup and reset options.Not all apps can back up or restore all settings and data. To find out about an app, learn how to contact its developer.Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.
Method 1: How to Backup Android Phone Using Google Services
Backing up files and data on your Android smartphone is quite easy with the integrated Google account service. You can find the integrated Google account service within the device settings. However, the location of the settings can vary from brands to models but as long it’s an Android phone then this service should exist within the device. First things first, for this method to work, you need an active Google account that’s registered and logged in on your Android phone. Otherwise, this method will not work. You can, however, use third-party apps from the Google Play store for this purpose but we will talk more about that on the lower part of this article. Once you’re certain that you’ve linked your personal Google account within the Google settings of the device, then follow the steps below to perform a complete device backup:
Step 1: Launch Device Settings App
The first step is to go to the device general settings. It’s usually in the form of an app that’s titled “Settings.”
Step 2: Proceed to Google Settings
Inside the settings user interface, look for accounts or Google settings. In some phones, the Google account settings can be found within the account settings of the device. While on others, the Google account setting is already at the front options of this user interface.
Step 3: Enable “Back up to Google Drive”
The last step is to simply enable the “Back up to Google Drive” option. This will let your device automatically backup everything into your Google Drive. That way, you can restore them anytime you wish with any devices as long as you log in your linked Google account. Here’s a short quick video on how to do this method: In some smartphones running on older versions of Android, the backup via Google account is not available. However, you can use the built-in “Backup & Restore” option which is available on all Android devices.
Method 2: How to Backup Android Phone Using Built-In Device Backup & Restore Option
Other than Google account, you can also do a device back up via the “Backup & Restore” option. This feature is readily available to use for all Android phones. To perform a backup or to restore a backup, simply do the following steps:
Step 1: Launch Device Settings App
But of course, all device options and configuration can be found within the setting interface. Simply launch the app to begin the process.
Step 2: Tap On Backup & Restore
Within the settings interface, look for “Backup & Restore” option. Do note that the location of this option varies from device to device. Tip: In some models, you can find this option within the “Account” or “System” options. On other handsets, it’s already at the front list of the settings interface. Once found, tap on it to open the options for it.
Step 3: Select Data Backup
In this method, you will need external storage to back up the content of your device. Unfortunately, you cannot use the internal storage of your phone. You can, however, use either an OTG USB Flashdrive, a MicroSD Card, an external hard drive (HDD/SSD) for phones such as SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD, or a computer.
Step 4: SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD
The SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD is definitely the ultimate external hard drive that you will ever need. It is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. It comes with a USB Type-C to Type-C connector and a Type-C to Type-A adapter for computer use. It is available in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB models. It is rated with a transfer speed of up to 550MB/s and is durable enough to withstand water and dust (IP55 rated). Once you connected your external storage to your phone, you can now use the device backup feature. This will let you backup messages, contacts, and other data to your external storage. To begin, simply select and tap on the external storage option and then tap back up. Select the files that you wish to back up and then tap one more time on back up. Tip: In some devices, you will have the option to encrypt your back up file to secure it from being hacked. Additionally, here’s a short quick video on how to do this method. Now that you’ve successfully created a backup, ensure that you store your external storage in a secure and safe place. So you can easily find it when the need to restore that backup arises.
Method 3: How to Backup Android Samsung Phone via Samsung Account
If you have a Samsung smartphone, you can also back up the data of your device via the Samsung account. This method is similar to the backup method via Google account service, the only difference is that instead of Google, you’ll be using Samsung’s. Furthermore, this method requires an active Samsung account and this method is exclusive to Samsung phones and tablets only. To back up the data that’s stored in your Samsung smartphone, simply do the following: Note: Samsung smartphones running on Android 7 and up has this feature but those that are running on older versions of Android doesn’t.
Step 1: Launch the Settings App
Launch the general settings app.
Step 2: Select Samsung Account
The location of the Samsung Account backup option differs on each model. In most cases, you will find it within the accounts option or backup & restore option. Once found, select the option to perform device back up via Samsung account. It can be either on “Samsung Cloud” or “Backup Data.”
Step 3: Backup Device Data
Once you found the option to back up the files and data of your Samsung smartphone, begin the procedure to start backing files up. Select those that you wish to back up and begin the process. Note: Depending on the model, Samsung has granted about 15GB of cloud storage for you to use and back up your files and data. The capacity of storage can vary from account to account or country to country. Again, do note that this method is exclusive to Samsung smartphones only. Furthermore, not all Samsung smartphones have this feature. Now that we taught you on how to back up your Android phone, next is a step by step guide to restoring it.
Method 4: How to Restore a Backup on Android Phone
Restoring a backup file that you made is quite easy. In most cases, whatever method you chose to back up the files of your phone, the option to restore it is readily available within the backup option. So here’s how to restore a backup file on each method:
Step 1: Restoring a Google Drive Backup File to an Android Phone
If you’re migrating to a brand new Android phone or want to recover the backed up files back after a factory reset, all you have to do is log-in and linked the device to your Google account. Your device will then automatically restore the files included in your most recent backup from Google account. Simply go to device settings, proceed to Google options, and log-in your Google account.
Step 2: Restoring a Backup File to an Android Phone from an External Storage
If you backed up the data of your device using the built-in backup system, restoring that back up is quite similar as well. All you have to do is connect your phone to the external storage that contains your backup file and then, proceed to the “Backup & Restore” option of your device. Within the option, select the path that contains your back up file. It can be from your computer or external storage. If it’s stored in the external storage, select external storage. The device will then list all the backup files that you have done. Select the file that you wish to restore and tap restore. The device will then proceed to restore every file and data that are contained in your backup file.
Step 3: Restoring a Backup File from Samsung Account to an Android Samsung Phone
With Samsung Cloud, you can easily restore any backups made and uploaded to Samsung Cloud by simply going to the device settings, selecting Samsung Cloud or Backup Data or Accounts and them selecting restore. You will then be given a list of backup files if you have done more than one backups before. Select the backup that contains the files that you want to restore and proceed with the restore. The phone will then restore every files and data that are contained in that backup file without deleting any files, apps, or any data stored in your Samsung phone prior to the restoring procedure. And that’s it, that’s how easy it is to backup and restore files to your Android phone.
Third-Party Backup & Restore App
Other than the brand and manufacturers’ way of backing up files on your Android phone, you can also use other apps on the Google Play store to do device backup and restore as well. However, we do not recommend using third-party apps for this purpose. Doing so can potentially be a way for the creators of the app to steal information and data from you and liability against them can be difficult to pursue. Using other apps can be risky, if you have a non-rooted Android, then there’s no point in using them. Since all the 3 listed backup method does the exact same thing. Furthermore, they are more secure and safer to do since Google and Samsung can be held liable if something goes wrong. But, if you have a rooted Android phone, then the ultimate app for backing up the data on your device is the Titanium Backup. Learn more on how to use the Titanium Backup app here. Suggested reads: 4 Simple Ways to Recover Files on a Broken Android Phone Top 7 Methods to Restore Deleted Android App Icons in 2 Minutes
Backup and Restore Android Phone Data
Ultimately, the ability to back up the data stored in your Android phone is a convenient feature that everyone should enjoy. You can use this featured various purposes such as migrating to a brand new phone, to fix a sluggish performance of your phone without losing data, and more. Additionally, to have this feature for free is definitely a welcome add on for these devices. This makes it easier to move to a new phone while ensuring that all-important information and data is moved as well. Have questions, comments, or suggestions relating to backup and restore Android phone? Let us know in the comment section below!
