How to Back Up an Android Phone to Google

Android backs up your phone to your Google Account so a new or reset phone can restore it during setup. Photos and videos are handled separately by Google Photos, so you will turn on both.

Open Backup settings

Open Settings, tap System, then tap Backup. If it is not there, open Settings, tap Google, and tap Backup.

Turn on Backup by Google One

Tap the Backup by Google One toggle. If you are signed into more than one Google Account, pick the one to back up to. From now on backups run automatically when the phone is idle, charging, and on Wi-Fi.

Tap Back up now

Tap Back up now to run the first backup immediately. The screen lists what is included: apps and app data, call history, contacts, device settings, and SMS and MMS messages. Photos and videos are not on this list.

Turn on photo backup

Open Google Photos, tap your profile picture in the top right, tap Photos settings, tap Backup, and turn on Backup. Choose Storage saver or Original quality. Photos and videos then upload on Wi-Fi in the background.

Check the backup ran

Go back to Settings, System, Backup. The last backup time is shown under the account name, and tapping Backup details lists each category with its own time.

On Samsung phones. The Google backup is under Settings, Accounts and backup, then Back up data in the Google Drive section. The same screen offers Samsung Cloud, which separately backs up Samsung apps, home screen layout, and settings.

Storage and restore. Backups count against the 15 GB of free Google storage, which is shared with Gmail and Google Drive; a Google One plan adds more. Restoring happens during the setup of a new or reset phone, when you sign in and choose the backup to restore from.