How to Back Up Your Android Phone (2026) | WIRED

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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 March 2026: I've updated the steps for backing up with Google and information on Google’s subscriptions, added new sections on 2FA codes and passkeys, local backup options, and backing up within apps, and verified the existing steps outlined.

Table of Contents

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- Backing Up to Google

- Managing Backups and Extra Storage

- Backing Up to Your Windows PC

- Backing Up to Your Mac

- Backing Up to Your Chromebook

- Backing Up to Another Cloud Service

- Backing Up Locally

- Backing Up Within Apps

- Backing Up a Samsung Phone

- Don’t Forget 2FA Codes and Passkeys

Backing Up to Google

The simplest and easiest backup option is Google’s cloud service, which is built into Android. These screenshots are from the process on a Pixel 10 Pro XL. Your precise route may differ slightly, depending on your phone model.

Google via Simon Hill

- Go to Settings, Back up or copy data. You can also get there via Settings, Security and Privacy, System and updates, Backup on most Android phones, or Settings, Accounts and backup for Samsung phones.

- 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.

Managing Backups and Extra Storage

You can find your backups in the Google One app by tapping the Backup section.

Google via Simon Hill

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, 200 GB for $3 per month or $30 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 $150 per month. Storage is also included with all of Google's AI plans. You can share this storage with up to five family members. The Google One app offers more insight and control for your backups on the Storage tab.

You might not want to pay for extra space, so let’s look at how to back up files directly to your computer before I dip into alternative backup services.

Backing Up to Your Windows PC

Google via Simon Hill

It is easy to back up files from your Android phone on a Windows PC. Here’s how:

- Plug your phone into a USB port on your desktop or laptop.

- Drag down the notification shade on your phone and look for a notification from Android System that says something like Charging this device via USB, Tap for more options, and press it.

- Look for an option that says File transfer and select it.

- A window should now pop up on your PC, or you can open Windows File Explorer and click your phone listed in the left pane under This PC.

- You can dig into folders and copy and paste any files you want to back up. This isn’t the most user-friendly layout, though. For example, your photos will probably be in a folder labeled DCIM, Camera.

If you want something like iTunes to manage this process or an app to manage a wireless backup from phone to PC, then you can find various premium options online, though I don’t recommend any of them. If you're trying to send files from your Android phone to a PC, try using Microsoft’s free Link to Windows app.

Backing Up to Your Mac

Backing up files from your Android phone on a Mac is also pretty straightforward. Here’s how:

- Install the official Android File Transfer app on your Mac.

- Plug your phone into a USB port on your Mac.

- An Android File Transfer window should open on your Mac, and you will see a list of folders and files on your phone.

- Dig in and copy and paste any files you want to back up. You may have to search to find the files you want. For example, your photos will be in a folder labeled DCIM, Camera.

There are some premium apps for MacOS that offer more of an iTunes-like experience, but nothing that I vouch for.

Backing Up to Your Chromebook

Here is how to back up files from your Android phone on a Chromebook:

- Plug your phone into a USB port on your Chromebook.

- Drag down the no