Key takeaways
- Apple says you can back up an iPhone with iCloud, with a computer, or both. Google says an Android phone backs up to your Google Account.
- Backups don’t include everything. Apple’s pages list items that aren’t backed up, such as Face ID settings and Apple Pay information.
- Android’s free backup storage is 15 GB per Google Account, according to Google, and a backup can take up to 24 hours.
- Check that the backup actually ran. Restore steps differ by phone and software version.
This article is general information based on Apple and Google support pages. Menu names vary by device and software version, so check your phone’s own help if a step looks different.
Why back up?
Apple explains that a backup lets you copy and save the information on your iPhone, and use it to transfer to a new device if you replace your phone. The FTC also lists backing up your phone’s data among four ways to protect yourself from phishing and other threats. If your phone is lost, damaged or hit by malware, a backup is how you get your data back.
iPhone: choose a method
Apple’s backup methods page says you can use iCloud, your computer, or both.
iCloud: stores backups in iCloud, always encrypts them, and lets you back up and restore anywhere with Wi-Fi. Apple says you can store up to 12 TB (paid plans).
A computer: stores backups on your Mac or PC, depends on your computer’s free space, and offers encrypted backups, which are off by default.
Back up an iPhone with iCloud
Apple’s steps for a manual backup:
- Connect to a Wi-Fi network.
- Open Settings, tap your name, then tap iCloud.
- Tap iCloud Backup.
- Tap Back Up Now, and stay connected to Wi-Fi until it finishes. The date and time of your last backup show under Back Up Now.
For automatic backups, Apple says to make sure “Back Up This [Device]” is on in the same menu. The phone then backs up when it is plugged in, on Wi-Fi and locked. If you get an alert that there isn’t enough iCloud storage, follow the onscreen steps to buy more.
What an iCloud backup doesn’t include
Apple lists these as not included: notes you already store in iCloud, photos if you use iCloud Photos, messages if you sync Messages in iCloud, data in other cloud services like Gmail, Apple Mail data, Apple Pay information and settings, Face ID or Touch ID settings, iCloud Music Library and App Store content, and offline maps. In other words, anything that already syncs to iCloud is stored there rather than in the backup. If you turn off iCloud Backup for a device, Apple says backups in iCloud are kept for 180 days before being deleted.
A computer backup
Apple says a computer backup includes almost all of your device’s data and settings, but not content synced from your computer, data already stored in iCloud, Face ID or Touch ID settings, Apple Pay information, or Mail data. To back up Health, Activity and Keychain data, you need to create an encrypted backup.
Android: back up to your Google Account
Google says you can back up content, data and settings from your phone to your Google Account, then restore them to the original phone or some other Android phones. Some of the steps below work only on Android 9 and up, and backup isn’t available on personal devices with a work profile or on company-owned devices.
Automatic backup:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Google services, then All services.
- Choose the data you want to back up: photos and videos, device data, or both.
- Turn Backup on.
Manual backup: Open Settings, tap Google, then All services. Under “Backup and restore,” tap Backup, then Back up now.
Google adds:
- You get 15 GB of storage at no charge for your Google Account, and you can pay for more.
- A backup can take up to 24 hours. “On” shows under the data types you selected when it’s saved.
- Use a PIN, pattern or password screen lock rather than a swipe or Smart Lock to help protect backed-up data.
- Some data is further encrypted with your screen lock, but photos and videos in Google Photos and MMS media from your carrier aren’t.
- You can’t restore a backup from a higher Android version onto a phone running a lower one.
After you back up
- Check the date or “On” status so you know the backup ran.
- Don’t erase or reset your phone until you’ve confirmed the backup. Google notes that you can reset a device after backing up.
- Keep your account passwords and your phone’s screen lock PIN safe, since you may need them to restore. Turning on two-factor authentication for your Apple Account or Google Account adds protection.
Frequently asked questions
Is iCloud the same as a backup? Not exactly. Apple says iCloud both syncs data (such as Photos and Notes) and backs up data that isn’t already synced.
How often should I back up? Apple’s and Google’s automatic options back up regularly when conditions are met, so turning them on is easiest.
Can I restore an iPhone backup to Android? The pages we read don’t cover moving between iPhone and Android, so we don’t say.
Information checked on: October 30, 2026. Menus change with software updates.
Sources
- Apple Support, Backup methods for iPhone or iPad (published October 20, 2026)
- Apple Support, What does iCloud back up? (published May 1, 2025)
- Apple Support, How to back up your iPhone or iPad with iCloud (published September 24, 2026)
- Google Android Help, Back up or restore data on your Android device (no date shown)
- FTC, How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams (September 2022)