Keeping a current backup means you won't lose photos, messages, contacts, or app data if something happens to your phone. Find your device below for backup steps and how to fix common backup problems.
Apple (iPhone)
Backing Up with iCloud
Connect to Wi‑Fi and plug the phone into power.
Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
Make sure Back Up This iPhone is turned on, then tap Back Up Now.
Check progress and confirm it finished under the same menu — it'll show a “Last successful backup” date and time.
Backing Up to a Computer
Connect the iPhone to a Mac or PC with a cable.
On a Mac, open Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar; on a PC, open iTunes.
Choose Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this computer, then click Back Up Now.
Common Issues
Not enough iCloud storage: free plans include 5GB, which fills up fast with photos. Check Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage and either free up space or upgrade your storage plan.
Backup stuck or not starting: confirm you're on Wi‑Fi (iCloud backups don't run on cellular data by default) and that the phone is plugged in and locked.
Samsung
Samsung phones can back up in two places — Samsung Cloud for phone settings and some app data, and Google Backup for contacts, photos, and app data more broadly. Using both gives the most complete coverage.
Samsung Cloud
Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Back up data.
Choose what to include, then tap Back up.
Check the “Last backed up” date on the same screen to confirm it completed.
Google Backup
Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Google Backup (or Settings > Google > Backup).
Make sure backup is turned on and tap Back up now if available.
Common Issues
Not enough storage: free Google storage is 15GB shared across Gmail, Photos, and Drive. Check Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Storage.
Backup stuck or not starting: confirm you're connected to Wi‑Fi and signed into your Samsung and Google accounts, and that the phone isn't in battery-saving mode, which can pause background backups.
Backing Up with Google
Go to Settings > System > Backup (on some versions: Settings > Google > Backup).
Make sure Backup by Google One is turned on.
Tap Back up now to run it immediately, or check the “Last backup” date to confirm one already completed.
This backs up contacts, photos, app data, call history, and device settings to your Google account, tied to your Google One storage plan.
Common Issues
Not enough storage: free Google storage is 15GB shared across Gmail, Photos, and Drive. Check Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Storage.
Backup stuck or not starting: confirm you're connected to Wi‑Fi and signed into your Google account, the phone is charging, and it isn't in battery-saving mode, which can pause background backups.
Motorola
Motorola's near-stock Android uses Google's built-in backup for contacts, photos, app data, and device settings. Note that the Migrate app on Motorola phones is for transferring data to a new device one time — it's not an ongoing backup, so it's worth setting up Google Backup separately.
Backing Up with Google
Go to Settings > System > Backup.
Make sure Backup by Google One is turned on.
Tap Back up now to run it immediately, or check the “Last backup” date to confirm one already completed.
Common Issues
Not enough storage: free Google storage is 15GB shared across Gmail, Photos, and Drive. Check Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Storage.
Backup stuck or not starting: confirm you're connected to Wi‑Fi and signed into your Google account, the phone is charging, and it isn't in battery-saving mode, which can pause background backups.
LG
LG exited the mobile phone business in 2021, and the old LG Backup app/service is no longer supported. For an existing LG phone, Google Backup is the reliable option for contacts, photos, app data, and device settings.
Backing Up with Google
Go to Settings > System > Backup (path may vary slightly on older LG software — try Settings > General > Backup if you don't see it there).
Make sure backup to your Google account is turned on.
Run a manual backup if the option is available, or check the last-backup date to confirm one already completed.
Common Issues
Not enough storage: free Google storage is 15GB shared across Gmail, Photos, and Drive. Check Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Storage from any Google app.
Backup stuck or not starting: confirm you're connected to Wi‑Fi and signed into your Google account, and that the phone is charging.
Still Stuck?
Message Previ Support right in the app, or call 801-437-0620.