Most of us keep our whole lives on our phones these days — photos of the grandkids, contacts, messages, notes. But what happens if your phone is lost, stolen, or just stops working one day?
That's where backups come in. Here's how to check yours is switched on.
iPhone
- Go to Settings and tap your name at the top
- Tap iCloud, then iCloud Backup
- Make sure the switch is turned on (green)
- Check the "Last Backup" date — ideally it should say today or yesterday
If it hasn't backed up recently, make sure you're connected to WiFi and your phone is plugged in overnight.
Android
- Go to Settings
- Search for "Backup" or find it under System
- Tap Google Backup and make sure it's switched on
- Check the last backup time
What gets backed up?
- Photos and videos (via Google Photos or iCloud Photos)
- Contacts
- App data and settings
- Text messages
The most important thing
Make sure your photos are set to back up automatically. Go to the Google Photos or Apple Photos app and check that "Backup" is turned on. This alone will save you from heartbreak if something goes wrong.
Questions about your phone or computer? Drop a note to the newsletter and I'll cover it next month.