Back up your device

Where your phone data is stored

Backups are uploaded to Google servers and they're encrypted with your Google Account password. For some data, your phone's screen lock PIN, pattern, or password is also used to encrypt your data so it can be backed up safely.

Your backup data (except what you back up to Google Photos) is erased if:

  • You don't use your device for 57 days
  • You turn off Android backup

What gets saved with Backup by Google One

  • App data
  • Call history
  • Contacts
  • Settings
  • SMS messages
  • Pictures and videos
  • MMS messages

Check backup details

You can check what data and which apps are included in your backup.

  1. On your Android phone, open the Google One app Google One.
  2. At the top, tap Storage.
  3. Scroll to the device backup section.
    • If this is your first phone backup: Tap Set up data backup.
    • If this isn't your first phone backup: Tap View details.
  4. To see your backup settings, tap Manage backup.

Turn on automatic backups

You can set up your phone to automatically back up your files.

  1. On your Android phone, open the Google One appGoogle One.
  2. At the top, tap Storage.
  3. Scroll to the device backup section.
    • If this is your first phone backup: Tap Set up data backup.
    • If this isn't your first phone backup: Tap View details.
  4. To see your backup settings, tap Manage backup.
  5. Choose your backup settings.
    • If you get advice to install an app, update an app, or change your settings, follow the onscreen steps. Then, go back to the Google One app to finish.
  6. If asked, tap Allow permissions.
  7. At the top left, tap Back .

Your Google One backup can take up to 24 hours. When your data is saved, "On" will be below the data types you selected.

Start or stop a backup

After you choose your backup settings, you can decide to start a backup right away. You can also turn off automatic backups at any time.

Start a backup

  1. On your Android phone, open the Google One app Google One.
  2. At the top, tap Storage.
  3. Scroll to the device backup section.
    • If this is your first phone backup: Tap Set up data backup.
    • If this isn't your first phone backup: Tap View details.
  4. To see your backup settings, tap Manage backup.
  5. Tap Back up now.

Stop future device backups

  1. On your Android phone, open the Google One app Google One.
  2. Scroll to the device backup section and tap View details.
  3. Turn off the types of data which you don't want to back up.

Get your data onto a new phone

Your photos and videos are already available in Google Photos. But you can restore the rest of the data you backed up while you set up your new phone for the first time or after a factory reset. At setup, to restore your data, follow the on-screen steps.

The process can take up to 24 hours.

Delete your data backups

If you turn off Backup by Google One on your device, your backups are deleted. Photos and videos that you previously backed up remain saved in Google Photos.

If you don't use your device for 57 days, the data you backed up (except photos or videos) is also erased.

Fix problems with backup

You can't start the backup process

Check that your phone can back up correctly.

  • Make sure your device is online. If you use mobile data, try to connect to Wi-Fi for a better connection.
  • Make sure your phone battery is charged.
  • Install or update the Google One app Google One.
  • In the Google One app, check your storage. If you're out of storage, you can choose between these options:
    • Buy more storage
    • Clear storage space

You can't find everything you backed up

Make sure to check the right place. Your files are saved inside other apps, not Google One.

  • For phone numbers and other contact info, check the Google Contacts website or app.
  • For meetings and reminders, check the Google Calendar website or app.
  • For photos and videos, check the Google Photos website or app.

If your media still won't back up

You can manually upload your files.

Learn how to:

  • Upload files & folders to Google Drive
  • Back up photos & videos in Google Photos

You got an error when you backed up your phone

If one or more types of data won't back up, try these steps. After each step, check if your backup works now.

  1. Make sure your device is online.
    • If you use mobile data, try to connect to Wi-Fi for a better connection.
  2. Install or update the Google One app.
  3. Open the Google One app. If you're out of storage, you can choose between these options:
    • Buy more storage
    • Clear storage space
  4. In the Google One app, tap Settings and then Manage backup settings. If you find advice to update or install an app, follow the on-screen steps.
    • Tip: If your device needs multiple updates, your phone backup can take a few hours.
  5. In the Google One app, at the top, tap Home.

If your data still won't back up

You can run a backup manually:

  • Upload files & folders to Google Drive
  • Back up photos & videos in Google Photos

You can't find photos or videos in your device's photo gallery or when you try to upload to social media

Unless you captured the photo or video on your device, it won't be saved in your gallery. Instead, all those photos are saved in the Google Photos app. If you want to add them to your phone, download them from Google Photos.

Fix problems with restore

You can't start the process to restore

If any Restore options are grayed out or you receive an error message, you may need to do some extra steps. One common solution is to check that your Android operating system is updated. To back up and restore your phone, it must run Android 8 or higher.

Your new phone didn't restore everything

If one or more type of file is missing after you restore a Google One backup, try these steps:

  • Make sure your device is online.
    • If you use mobile data, try to connect to Wi-Fi for a better connection.
  • Install or update the Google One app.
  • Open your Android settings. Confirm that:
    • Local device storage has enough space to fit the backup.
    • Your new device's version of Android is the same or newer than your old device. Learn how to check your Android version.
  • Your backup remains as long as you use your device. If you last used your device more than 57 days ago, the backup is no longer available.

Files that are restored at setup

Some data can only be restored when you set up your device, such as app data, settings data, and messages. To restore this data, reset your device to factory settings and then go through the Android setup process.

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