Although most modern phones are good at backing up data, there are some events that you can’t prepare for. Losing your phone and dropping it in water are two of many situations that may prevent you from retrieving your photos and files.
To save yourself from catastrophe, it’s a good idea to back your phone’s data up from time to time. In addition to plugging your phone into the computer, there are many great third-party apps to let you make sure everything is safe and sound.
Keep reading to learn about six ways to backup your android phone photos, videos, and files.
1. Google Photos
Google Photos is one of the many cloud-based storage systems that Android users can take advantage of. If you’re looking for a safe place to store all of your precious photos, screenshots, and memes, it might also be the easiest system for you to use.
Every photo and video you take on your phone will upload to the Google Photos cloud without you having to lift a finger. This makes it an easy way to ensure that everything is safe, without having to remember to backup your photos yourself.
One of the best parts about the app is that it lets you store as many photos as you want for free. The free version also comes with a quality limit of 1080p, but for most people, that should be more than enough.
To make sure that your phone backs up your photos automatically, open the Google Photos app. Go to Settings > Backup & Sync, then check to make sure that the switch is on.
2. Google Drive
If the files you’re looking to store aren’t only photos, you might want to give Google Drive a try. In a similar vein to Google Photos, the app lets you store files in a cloud, then access them from anywhere.
You can backup your phone to the app, or choose which specific files you want to store. Google Drive can hold photos, documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, and many other types of files.
Google Drive offers different storage options for you to choose from. These range from the 15 GB free option, to 2 TB of space. The larger storage options come with other perks, such as discounts in the Google Store, and gifts, like a free Google Nest Mini.
3. Dropbox
If for whatever reason you’re not a fan of Google (although you do have an Android phone), you can also use Dropbox to store everything.
Dropbox has a simple interface and only does things that you tell it to. For example, it won’t delete duplicate photos on its own.
Android is a bit pricier than Google Drive, offering only 2 GB of free space and requiring users to pay more for monthly or annual plans. However, it does sync your file changes faster than Google and other apps.
After downloading Dropbox from the app store, create an account, then click the “+” that appears on the right side of your screen. Click it, choose the files you want to upload, then confirm by pressing “upload”.
4. Amazon Drive
If you’re looking for a storage option offered by a different tech giant, you can always take advantage of Amazon Drive.
Amazon Drive lets you store as many photos as you want for free, provided that you have a Prime subscription. For $60 a year, Amazon Prime gives you an unlimited amount of storage for all file types, making it one of the cheaper options.
However, while Amazon Drive is a reliable choice and a competent competitor to Google, leaving Google behind means that you’ll have to remember to sync your photos and other files yourself.
If you feel like you’re someone who might forget to do this, then it might not be worth it to make the switch.
5. Android File Transfer
Feeling a bit old-school? Connecting your phone to your computer remains one of the most straightforward and easiest ways to back up your files.
When you plug your phone into your computer, an autorun program should launch. After that, all you have to do is select the photos on your phone that you want, then put them into a folder on your PC.
If you have a Mac, you might be unsure as to whether or not you can transfer your files from your Android to your computer. You’ll be happy to know that you can, and this guide can help you go about doing it: https://setapp.com/how-to/transfer-files-between-android-and-mac.
6. Sync Everything Wirelessly
If you don’t want to use a cable to connect to your computer but also don’t want to use a cloud-based storage system, there are some different apps you can use to transfer your files wirelessly from one device to another.
Syncthing is one example of such a program. It’s free to use and works as a sort of bridge between two devices. You can use it to back up your files to your computer, or as a simplified cloud program, where any changes you make sync across different devices.
Backup Your Android Phone With These Tips
Whether you’re switching phones and are worried about losing your files or just want to keep everything safe, it’s a good idea to backup data from time to time. By trying out some of the different platforms mentioned in this guide, you’ll be able to backup your android phone data and keep it safe.
Do you now have a better understanding of how to backup the data on your android phone? If you do, make sure to check out some of our other blog posts for more tech-related guides and tips.