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How to back up an Android phone to your Google Account

Photo of Abu Bakar SaadatBy Updated 9 November 20263 min read

Devices: Galaxy A57 5G (One UI 8.5) and Galaxy S26 (One UI 9.0) · Checked November 2026 · Publisher: Saadat Rafiq

Real screenshot · Galaxy A57 5G, One UI 8.5

In short

On a Samsung Galaxy, open Settings, tap Accounts and backup and, under Google Drive, tap Back up data. Then tap Back up now, or, if backup is off, tick what to back up and tap Confirm. On a Google Pixel and most other phones, open Settings, System, Backup. Photos are backed up separately in Google Photos.

Well, losing a phone is bad enough without losing your contacts and messages along with it. The reason a Google backup matters is that it saves your apps and their data, call history, contacts, text messages and phone settings, so if the phone is lost or replaced, you sign in on the new one and everything comes back.

Every Google Account has 15 GB of free storage, shared between backup, Gmail, Drive and Photos.

The screenshots are from a Samsung Galaxy S26 with One UI 9.0 and Android 17, apart from the first, from our Galaxy A57 with One UI 8.5. On a Google Pixel the path is Settings, System, Backup; the page itself works the same way. We did not turn backup on.

4 of 5 steps show a real screenshot from our Galaxy A57 5G (One UI 8.5) and Galaxy S26 (One UI 9.0).

What changed: added what Google's backup does not save, from Google's help page.

Steps

0 of 5 steps
  1. 1

    Open Settings and tap Accounts and backup

    On a Pixel and most other phones, tap System, then Backup instead. On some phones Backup is under Google.

    Android screenshot: Open Settings and tap Accounts and backup
  2. 2

    Under Google Drive, tap Back up data

    A Galaxy has two backups on this page: Samsung Cloud at the top and Google Drive below it. The Google backup is the one that restores onto any Android phone, including a non-Samsung one.

    Android screenshot: Under Google Drive, tap Back up data
  3. 3

    Tap Back up now, or turn backup on first

    If backup is on, tap Back up now and stay on Wi-Fi until it finishes. If it is off, as it was on our Galaxy S26, Back up data opens a Back up your device page instead: tick Photos & videos and Other device data (contacts, call history, device settings, apps and app data, SMS and MMS messages, and SIMs) and tap Confirm. We tapped Cancel.

    Android screenshot: Tap Back up now, or turn backup on first
  4. 4

    Check what is included

    The Backup page lists each part under Backup details. On our Galaxy S26, with backup off, it showed Photos & videos, Documents and Other device data, all Off, with a Turn on button at the top. Tap a row to change it; a part switched off is not included.

    Android screenshot: Check what is included
  5. 5

    Turn on photo backup

    Tap Photos & videos to open the Google Photos backup settings and switch Backup on. You can also open Google Photos, tap your profile picture and switch on Backup there. Photos usually need the most space.

What Google backup does not save

If you do not see this option

  • There is no backup option Google says backup cannot be used on a phone set up with a work profile, set up for work only, or owned by a company. Source: Back up or restore data on your Android device
  • Backup uses your Google storage Google says you get 15 GB of storage at no charge for your Google Account, shared with Gmail and Photos, and more through Google One. Source: Back up or restore data on your Android device
  • You have a Google Pixel Open Settings, System, Backup. On our Pixel 10a with Android 17 the page showed Backup Off with a Turn on button, and Photos and videos, Documents and Other device data all Off. We did not turn it on.
    Android screenshot: Backup page on a Google Pixel 10a, Android 17

If this does not work

  • Backup still does not say On Google says a backup can take up to 24 hours, and On then shows under the parts you chose. So give it a day on Wi-Fi before you assume something is wrong.
  • A backup will not restore Check the Android version on both phones, because Google says you cannot restore a backup from a newer Android version onto a phone with an older one.

Good to know

I am afraid WhatsApp chats are not part of this backup, so they need a backup of their own. Open WhatsApp, go to Settings, Chats, Chat backup and back up to your Google Account there.

A backup that is not updated for 57 days is deleted by Google, so a phone left switched off in a drawer slowly loses its safety net. Use the phone or back up by hand now and then.

About this guide

Device
Android
Shown on
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G (SM-A576B), One UI 8.5, Android 16, Samsung Galaxy S26 (SM-S942N, Korean model), One UI 9.0, Android 17 (build CP2A.260605.016.S942NKSU5BZJB)
App
Settings
Real screenshots
4 of 5 steps
Checked
November 2026
Sources
1 official, linked below

Sources

Links checked November 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.

What to do next

Before you repair, sell or swap your Galaxy Step 1 of 4

  1. How to move phone contacts to your Google account on a Samsung GalaxyMake sure your contacts are in your Google account.
  2. How to export contacts on a Samsung Galaxy (to a file or the SIM)Keep a spare copy of your contacts as a file.
  3. How to use Maintenance mode on a Samsung Galaxy before a repairGoing for repair? Lock your data away.

Did this guide work for you?