To back up your phone properly, turn on the built-in cloud backup (Google’s backup on Android, iCloud Backup on iPhone), make sure your photos are covered too, and keep a second copy on a computer or external drive. That gives you the 3-2-1 setup backup experts recommend: three copies of your data, on two kinds of storage, with one off-site. The cloud backup handles a lost or broken phone. A separate, dated copy gives you another way back if an account gets locked or a sync mistake removes files.
Backup vs sync: why it matters
Most people assume that because photos “are in the cloud”, they are backed up. Often they are synced, which is not the same. Apple’s support page draws the line clearly: iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive and Notes sync your data across devices, while iCloud Backup takes periodic snapshots of the data that does not sync. Google Photos also uploads pictures separately from Android’s device backup, and deleting a backed-up photo in Google Photos can remove it from your online library.
Sync is convenient, but changes travel in both directions. Delete a photo from iCloud Photos on one device and that deletion syncs to your other devices. A true backup is a separate copy that a mistake on the phone does not instantly overwrite. The goal is to have both.
The 3-2-1 rule for your phone
CISA, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, describes the 3-2-1 rule as three copies of important files, on two different types of storage media such as a hard drive and the cloud, with one copy stored off-site. For a phone, that usually looks like this:
- Copy 1: the data on your phone.
- Copy 2: your Google or iCloud device backup, with Google Photos or iCloud Photos enabled separately if you want your pictures and videos uploaded too. This is the off-site copy.
- Copy 3: a copy on your computer or an external drive at home, updated every month or so.
Back up an Android phone with Google
Android backs up to your Google Account, in the service Google now calls Backup by Google One. Google says it covers:
- Apps and app data (where the app supports it)
- Call history
- Contacts
- Device settings
- SMS and MMS messages
- RCS messages if you use Google Messages, and call settings and blocked numbers if you use the Phone by Google app
- Photos and videos, if you use Google Photos
Turn on Android device backup:
- Open Settings and tap Google, then All services.
- Under Backup and restore, tap Backup.
- Turn on Backup by Google One and tap Back up now if you want to run it immediately.
Photos and videos use a separate setting. In Google Photos, tap your profile picture, then Photos settings > Backup, and switch Backup on. Check the status says Backup complete before you assume recent pictures are safe. Menu names can vary by phone.
A few details worth knowing:
- Storage: your Google Account includes 15 GB at no charge, shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos. Backups that do not fit need more storage from Google One.
- Encryption: Google encrypts backups in transit, and some data is further encrypted with your phone’s screen lock. Google notes that photos and videos in Google Photos and carrier MMS media are not covered by that screen-lock encryption. Use a PIN, pattern or password, not swipe or Smart Lock, so backup encryption can work.
- Restoring: you restore during setup of a new or reset phone. Google says you cannot restore a backup from a newer Android version onto a phone running an older one.
- Not every app backs up everything. Some apps keep their own data or need their own backup, so check the important ones.
Back up an iPhone with iCloud
iCloud Backup saves device settings and supported app data that do not already sync to iCloud. It is not a complete copy of every file or service on the phone. Apple lists device settings, your Home Screen layout and app organisation, purchased ringtones, your Visual Voicemail password and your Apple Watch backup. Messages are included if you have not turned on Messages in iCloud, and photos are included if you do not use iCloud Photos.
To turn on automatic backups:
- Open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud.
- Tap iCloud Backup and turn on Back Up This iPhone.
- Backups then run on their own when the iPhone is connected to power and Wi-Fi with its screen locked.
To back up right now, follow the same path and tap Back Up Now, staying on Wi-Fi until it finishes. The date and time of the last successful backup appear underneath.
Storage is the usual problem. Apple gives you 5 GB of iCloud storage free, shared between backups, iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive and Mail. If it fills up, Apple says your device stops backing up to iCloud and new photos stop uploading. You can free space from Settings > [your name] > iCloud, where iOS 17 and later shows a Recommended for You list, or upgrade to a paid iCloud+ plan.
Make a local copy on a computer
A local copy keeps files available even when you cannot sign in to your cloud account. Use a computer or drive with enough free space.
iPhone: encrypted backup to a Mac or PC
On a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, the backup lives in the Finder:
- Connect the iPhone with a cable and click Allow if asked.
- Open the Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar.
- Click Trust on the Mac and the iPhone if prompted, and enter your passcode.
- Tick Encrypt local backup and set a password. Apple says this is required to save Health and Activity data, and you cannot restore the backup without that password, so store it somewhere safe.
- Click Back Up Now and wait for it to finish.
On Windows, Apple’s Apple Devices app does the same job, and older Macs use iTunes. To restore, choose Restore from Mac or PC on the Apps & Data screen during iPhone setup.
Android: copy photos and files over USB
Android has no single built-in full-device backup to a computer, but the files that matter most are easy to copy. On Windows:
- Unlock the phone and connect it with a USB cable.
- Tap the Charging this device via USB notification and choose File Transfer under “Use USB for”.
- A file window opens on the computer. Copy the DCIM folder (camera photos and videos) plus folders such as Download, Documents and Pictures.
- Eject the phone before unplugging.
Google notes that not every USB cable can transfer files, so try another cable if nothing appears. Some phone makers also offer their own desktop backup software, which can save more of the system.
Then copy that backup somewhere else
A copy on your laptop is still in the same house as your phone. Every few months, copy the photo folders or the phone backup to an external drive, or let the computer’s own backup system handle it. If you use a Mac, an external drive running Time Machine is the easiest way to keep that second copy current, and our guide to backing up your Mac with Time Machine walks through the setup.
Apps that need their own backup
- WhatsApp and other chat apps. WhatsApp chats use the app’s own Chat backup setting, which saves to Google Drive on Android or iCloud on iPhone. Turn it on separately and check the last backup date.
- Authenticator apps. Some two-factor apps sync codes to an account and some keep them only on the phone. Check yours, and keep your accounts’ recovery codes somewhere other than the phone.
- Notes, voice recorders and offline maps from third-party apps may store files locally. Open their settings and look for export or cloud backup options.
Test your backup before you need it
A backup you have never checked is a guess. Every few months:
- Look at the “last backup” date in Google or iCloud settings.
- Open Google Photos or iCloud Photos on the web and confirm recent pictures are there.
- On the computer, open the copied photo folder and check a few files open properly.
- When you get a new phone, restore from the backup rather than starting fresh, so you find out early if anything is missing.
Which setup should you use?
| You have | Minimum setup | Better setup |
|---|---|---|
| Android, lots of photos | Google backup on, Google Photos backup on | Plus a monthly USB copy of DCIM to a computer or drive |
| iPhone, under 5 GB of data | iCloud Backup on | Plus an encrypted Finder or Apple Devices backup |
| iPhone with a big photo library | iCloud Backup on, with enough iCloud+ storage for backups and iCloud Photos | Plus periodic photo exports to a computer and external drive |
| Any phone, no computer | Cloud backup plus photo backup | Plus a second cloud service for photos, or an external drive that connects to the phone |
If you are weighing up a paid iCloud plan, our breakdown of iCloud+ plans and Apple One explains what each tier includes.
FAQ
Does Google backup include my photos?
Only if you use Google Photos with backup turned on. The Android backup covers apps, settings, contacts, call history and messages, and the Photos & videos option relies on Google Photos.
Is iCloud Backup encrypted?
iCloud Backup is encrypted in transit and on Apple’s servers, but Apple holds the keys by default. Turning on Advanced Data Protection makes it end-to-end encrypted, along with Photos, Notes and more, so only your trusted devices can decrypt it. For a local backup, tick Encrypt local backup in the Finder or Apple Devices app.
How often should I back up my phone?
Leave the automatic cloud backup on so it runs daily, and make a local copy at least once a month, or before any big change such as a software update, a repair or switching phones.
Can I restore an Android backup to an iPhone, or the other way round?
A full Android backup cannot restore directly onto an iPhone, or an iPhone backup onto Android. Use the platform’s migration tools to transfer supported data. Google Photos is available on both platforms; iCloud Photos can be accessed at iCloud.com, subject to your account’s web-access settings.
What happens if I run out of cloud storage?
On iPhone, Apple says backups stop and new photos stop uploading to iCloud Photos until you free space or upgrade. On Android, data beyond your 15 GB of free Google storage needs a Google One plan or a clean-up.
