Here are some tips on backing up your mobile device
iPhone/Tablet Users
The free way: Use iTunes on your computer! Once you plug it in, it will allow you to check the "update this device using wi-fi" to make the next backup easy. Also check the "Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected. On the left-hand column, make sure to go to each section and check the checkbox to make sure they are going to sync.
Apple also offers iCloud as a cloud backup solution. Go to Settings, click your name at the top, iCloud, then select everything you want to sync. Remember, this is a sync, so if you delete it from your phone, it's gone from the cloud too! If you have a lot of pictures on your phone you'll inevitably pay either 99 cents or $2.99 a month to use iCloud. I use both iTunes and iCloud.
Google's Android
The process is similar between devices, but may vary. This is a wireless option. Go to Settings, Personal, Backup and reset, and select both Backup my data and Automatic restore.
Go to Settings, Personal, Accounts & Sync, and select your Google account.
Select all of the option boxes listed, to ensure that all available data is synced.
The above example is for Google Nexus S devices.
Select all of the option boxes listed, to ensure that all available data is synced.
The above example is for Google Nexus S devices.
Google's Android also can be backed up manually to your computer. Connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable, and it will show up as an external hard drive. For Macs, you may need to first download a tool called Android File Transfer. Select the disk, and navigate to the DCIM folder. This folder contains your video and picture data. Select the data files that you want to back up, and drag them to an area on your computer, such as your desktop. The selected files will copy over to your computer.
If the manual process above is too cumbersome, you can use third-party software to automate copying your smartphone data to your computer, such as AirSync from DoubleTwist, which will sync data between your computer (Mac or Windows) and your smartphone, similarly to the way iTunes works for iOS users. AirSync can also sync wirelessly over your network.
Another notable piece of software is The Missing Sync for Android—an all-in-one sync and backup program that is easy to use (and again offers wireless syncing), but has a higher price tag than other choices.
Another notable piece of software is The Missing Sync for Android—an all-in-one sync and backup program that is easy to use (and again offers wireless syncing), but has a higher price tag than other choices.
Samsung
Samsung's Sidesync is packed with backup and sharing features. After downloading their PC or Mac program. Full feature description can be found here.
Third-Party Software
Our family uses a program called Photosync. It's setup to upload any new photos or videos from our iPhones to a desktop computer when we return home. In this way, we don't rely solely on iCloud and so we can remove a large amount of images to make space on our devices. This may not be available for Samsung, however.
Disclosure:
I own Apple products and have never owned a Samsung or Android. What I've shared about Apple is mostly from my experience. Where the information for the latter two products is taken from their respective websites. If you have any corrections to share, please let me know!! But, no, I don't get paid for mentioning, owning, or promoting any products or services.
Important:
Remember, "backup" means to save a copy of a current "snap-shot" of your phone. Whereas a sync typically means that when you delete something off of one device, it will be removed from the other (iCloud). There is also something called "sync" but it does a little of both. In this way your program may backup any new files to the backup destination file. This is usually the best of both worlds. Be sure that this is happening, though, and don't assume your "sync-ing" is doin the latter.
We offer in-home help with setting up these solutions. Let us know if you have any questions or need help.