How to Back Up Your Android Phone with Google One Backup (Before Reset or New Phone)

You want a complete backup of your Android phone before resetting it, switching devices, or just for safety — but you’re not sure what gets saved or how to trigger it.

Why: Android’s built-in backup (Google One backup) saves your apps and their data, call history, contacts, device settings, and SMS/MMS to your Google Account, while photos and videos back up separately through Google Photos. Once it’s on, it runs automatically — but the first backup can take a while, so you want to start it well before you wipe or trade in the phone.

The menus below use Google’s generic Android wording. On Samsung (One UI) the Google backup lives under Settings > Google > All services > Backup, alongside Samsung’s own Smart Switch backup.

Fix 1: Turn on Google One backup

This is the main automatic backup for your phone’s data and settings.

1. Open Settings > Google > All services.
2. Under Backup and restore, tap Backup.
3. Turn the Backup by Google One toggle on (first time: follow the on-screen prompts).
4. Confirm the backup account is the Google account you’ll sign into on the new phone.

What this backs up: apps and app data, call history, contacts, device settings, and SMS/MMS messages (plus RCS messages via Google Messages).

Fix 2: Run a backup now (don’t wait for the automatic one)

Automatic backup runs when the phone is idle, charging, and on Wi-Fi — but before a reset you want it done now.

1. Go to Settings > Google > All services > Backup.
2. Tap Back up now.
3. Keep the phone on Wi-Fi and plugged in until it finishes — Google notes a backup can take up to 24 hours for a full phone.
4. When it’s done, each data type shows On with a recent backup time.

Fix 3: Back up photos and videos separately (Google Photos)

Photos and videos are not in the Google One device backup — they go through Google Photos.

1. Open Google Photos > tap your profile picture.
2. Make sure it says Backup complete. If backup is off, tap Turn on backup.
3. Leave the phone on Wi-Fi and charging until the photo backup finishes too.

(For the full photo-backup walkthrough and troubleshooting, see our Google Photos backup guide.)

Fix 4: Use a screen lock so encrypted data restores

Some backed-up data is end-to-end encrypted using your screen-lock PIN, pattern, or password.

1. Make sure your phone has a PIN, pattern, or password (not just swipe) under Settings > Security.
2. Remember it — you’ll need it to restore that encrypted data on the new device.
3. Note that restore works only onto a device running the same or newer Android version.

FAQ

How much does it cost? The backup uses your free 15 GB of Google storage (shared with Gmail, Drive, and Photos). If that’s full, you’ll need a Google One plan or to free up space first.

Does this back up everything, like a full phone image? No — it backs up apps and their data, contacts, call/SMS history, and settings, plus photos via Google Photos. It’s not a bit-for-bit image. Things like some app data and 2FA authenticator codes may not transfer; export those separately.

How do I know the backup actually worked? In Settings > Google > All services > Backup, each data type shows On and a timestamp. In Google Photos, the status should read Backup complete.

How do I restore it on a new phone? During the new phone’s setup, sign into the same Google account and choose to restore from your backup. You’ll need the old phone’s screen lock for the encrypted parts.

Sources: Android Help — Back up or restore data on your Android device