Backup on Android devices

Android was developed by Google and therefore also breathes Google. So the company has ensured that important stuff is stored on Google’s servers. That is not only reassuring, it is also practical. If you buy a new Android device, you can have the device ready for use in no time via Google’s backup option. Email, downloaded apps, Wi-Fi passwords: they’re all transferred. Google calls this the Android Backup Service. This is what will be saved:

• Google Calendar Settings
• Wifi networks and passwords
• Home screen wallpapers
• Gmail Settings (Email and Contacts)
• Apps installed from Google Play
• Display settings (brightness and sleep mode)
• Language and input settings
• Date and time
• Third-party app settings and data (varies by app)

Note: do you want to use a different device? Then turn off the old device before logging in to the new one. Only then will all the above settings be applied to the new device.

Enable the Android Backup Service as follows:

• Tap on Institutions.
• Tap on Cloud and accounts (Android 7 and 8) or Accounts and backup (Android 9 and 10).
• Tap on Backup and Restore (Android 9 and 10)
• Under ‘Google Account’, make sure the options Backup my data and Automatic restore turn on. This is the case if the slider behind these options is blue. Is the slider gray? Then tap it. In Android 9 and 10, tap Backup my data and tap behind ‘Off’ on the slider.
• Tap on backup account.
• Tap your account. If you haven’t yet linked your Google account with your phone, tap Add Account. We tap Add Account.
• If prompted, enter the device PIN and tap Next one.
• If you don’t have an account yet, tap create Account. If you already have an account, tap the box that says ‘Email address or phone number’ and enter your email address. We already have an account and enter our email address.
• Tap on Next one.
• Enter your Google account password.
• Tap on Next one.
• Tap on OK.

The account is now set up. You no longer have to worry about it: your data is continuously updated automatically.

The Android Backup Service does not make copies of your photos and videos. Thankfully, the default Photos app does!

• Open the Google Photos app by tapping it.
• In the top right corner, tap Menu (a circle with your own photo or initials).
• Select Institutions (*see note below).
• Tap on Backup and Sync.
• Make sure this option is turned on. If you see a blue slider behind ‘Backup and synchronization’, then the option is on. If you do not see this and the slider is gray, then drag the slider to the right. If you don’t see the ‘Backup and Sync’ option, the word ‘On’ will appear under ‘Backup’. If you see the word ‘Off’, tap the slider.

Your device now saves a copy of your photos on internet. You can also view them there if you sign in with your Google account:

*Note: You will see the option Institutions not? Then you are working with an outdated version of the Photos app. Go to the Play Store to install the new version.

WhatsApp, the app we all use on our smartphones. And whose conversations we don’t want to lose. On Android devices, you can copy the conversations in WhatsApp to Google. This also means that you have quickly transferred your ‘apps’ to a new phone thanks to this backup. Read how it works in the tip ‘Backing up WhatsApp conversations’.

Should you ever need it, a backup is very easy to restore.

• A new device: turn off the old device, remove the SIM card if applicable and place it in the new device. Turn on the new device and sign in with your Google account. All data will now be transferred.
• The current device: Reset it to factory settings. Then sign in with your Google account. All data will now be transferred.

You have to transfer the WhatsApp messages separately. You can read how to do this in the tip ‘Keep WhatsApp conversations on a new phone’.