How to Back Up Your Phone: iPhone and Android Step by Step
How to back up your iPhone with iCloud or a computer, and your Android phone with Google, plus how to check that your backup worked before you need it.
This guide is general information only, not professional financial, legal or technical advice. Menus and rules can vary by device and country.
To back up an iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now. To back up an Android phone, open Settings, go to your Google settings, find Backup, and tap Back up now.
Both phones can also back up automatically, so you're protected if your phone is lost, stolen or broken. This guide shows each method, how much free storage you get, and how to confirm the backup actually worked.
Quick answer
- iPhone (iCloud): Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. Stay on WiFi until it finishes.
- iPhone (computer): Connect to a Mac, open Finder, select your iPhone and click Back Up Now. On Windows, use Apple's Apple Devices app.
- Android: Settings > Google > All services > Backup > Back up now (menu names vary by brand).
- Free storage: iCloud includes 5 GB free. A Google Account includes 15 GB free.
- Turn on automatic backups so you never have to remember.
- Check the date of your last backup to make sure it worked.
What a phone backup includes
A backup saves most of what you'd miss if your phone disappeared. The details differ between iPhone and Android.
| Feature | iPhone (iCloud) | Android (Google) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cloud storage | 5 GB | 15 GB (shared across your Google Account) |
| Manual backup path | Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup | Settings > Google > All services > Backup |
| Automatic backup | Yes, when plugged in, on WiFi and locked | Yes, when Backup is turned on |
| Computer backup option | Yes (Finder on Mac, Apple Devices app on Windows) | Copy files to a computer by cable |
| Photos | Through iCloud Photos (separate setting) | Through Google Photos |
| Messages, contacts, settings | Included | Included (SMS, MMS, contacts, call history, settings) |
Free storage fills up fast if you have lots of photos and videos. If you see a "not enough storage" message, you can delete old data, back up photos another way, or buy more space.
How to back up an iPhone with iCloud
iCloud is the easiest option because it works over WiFi with no cables.
- Connect to a WiFi network.
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Tap iCloud, then iCloud Backup.
- Tap Back Up Now.
- Stay connected to WiFi until the backup finishes.
When it's done, the date and time of your last backup appear under the Back Up Now button.
Turn on automatic iCloud backups
- Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- Turn on Back Up This iPhone.
- Your iPhone backs up on its own when it is plugged into power, connected to WiFi, and the screen is locked. Charging overnight is a good habit.
How to back up an iPhone to a computer
A computer backup is useful if your iCloud storage is full or you want a second copy at home.
On a Mac
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a cable. Tap Allow on the iPhone if asked.
- Open Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar.
- If asked, click Trust on the Mac, then tap Trust on your iPhone and enter your passcode.
- To include Health and Activity data, select Encrypt local backup and create a password.
- Click Back Up Now and wait for it to finish.
Write down your encryption password somewhere safe. Apple warns that you can't recover the backup without it.
Older Macs that run macOS Mojave or earlier use iTunes instead of Finder. The steps are very similar.
On Windows
Install Apple's Apple Devices app (or iTunes on older setups), connect your iPhone with a cable, select your device, and choose to back up. The encryption option works the same way as on a Mac.
How to back up an Android phone
Android backs up to your Google Account. Menu names vary by phone brand and Android version, so use the search bar in Settings and type "backup" if you can't find it.
Back up now
- Open Settings.
- Tap Google, then All services.
- Under Backup and restore, tap Backup.
- Tap Back up now.
Turn on automatic backup
- Open Settings and go to Google services > All services.
- Open Backup and choose what to back up, such as photos and videos, device data, or both.
- Turn Backup on.
A Google backup can include apps and app data, call history, contacts, device settings, and SMS and MMS messages. Photos and videos are backed up through Google Photos. Google notes that a backup can take up to 24 hours to complete, and so can a full restore.
How to check your backup worked
A backup you never checked is a backup you can't trust. Do this every few weeks.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and look at the last successful backup date.
- Mac backup: Select your iPhone in Finder and check the date of the latest backup.
- Android: Open the Backup screen in Settings and check when it last ran.
- Photos: Open Google Photos or iCloud Photos on another device or the web and confirm recent pictures appear.
If the date is old, run a manual backup and find out what stopped the automatic one.
Common mistakes and troubleshooting
Running out of cloud storage. Your backup silently stops when storage is full. Clear space first; our guide on how to free up phone storage can help.
Not staying on WiFi. iCloud backups need WiFi. If you leave the network mid-backup, it may stop before finishing.
Forgetting the encryption password. An encrypted computer backup is useless without it. Store it in a password manager or another safe place.
Assuming photos are in the backup. On both iPhone and Android, photos usually sync through a separate photo service. Check that it's turned on.
Never testing a restore. When you set up a new phone, restore from your backup and check that apps, messages and photos came back.
Protect the account that holds your backups with a strong password and two-step verification. If you've already lost something, see how to recover deleted files.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I back up my phone?
Turn on automatic backups so your phone backs up daily or whenever conditions are met. Also run a manual backup before updating your phone's software, traveling, or trading in your device.
Does iCloud back up my photos?
Photos are usually handled by iCloud Photos, which is a separate setting from iCloud Backup. If iCloud Photos is on, your pictures sync to iCloud. Check both settings to be sure.
Is a computer backup better than a cloud backup?
Each has strengths. Cloud backups run automatically and protect you if your home is affected, while computer backups don't use your cloud storage. Using both gives you the best protection.
How long does a phone backup take?
It depends on how much data you have and your internet speed. A first backup can take hours, while later ones are usually faster. Google says an Android backup can take up to 24 hours.
Can I back up an iPhone to Google or an Android to iCloud?
Not as a full device backup, because each phone backs up to its own maker's service. You can still use cross-platform apps, such as Google Photos on an iPhone, to keep copies of specific content like your pictures.