How to Backup Your Android Smartphone/Tablet

If you were lucky enough to get a new Android smartphone or tablet for Christmas you will want to make sure all of your information on your new device is backed up and safe in the event that your new device meets an unfortunate end or is stolen. Thankfully Google does actually help you a great deal with keeping your new smartphone and tablet backed up. Google will keep the majority of your information about your purchases, calendars, email and more in sync and backed up to the Google cloud.

Backup With Your Existing Cloud Backup or Storage Service

If you already have an existing subscription with a cloud backup or storage service many of them also have Android apps that can backup photos and videos already. Some are also able to backup and sync other file types as well. If you don’t already backup your computer you might want to look at one of these services to backup your computer and your Android device as well.

Here are a few of the services that offer some type of backup of an Android device.

• Carbonite – They have a great Android app that can backup photos, video and even provide some other security features as well like remote wipe.
• Mozy – You can set it up to automatically backup your photos and videos from your Android to your computer
• Dropbox – Will automatically upload photos and videos. You can also sync other files to your computer from your Android.
• Bitcasa – Will upload photos and videos. Allows access and streaming of your other uploaded files.
• MEGA – Will upload photos and give you access to all of your already uploaded data.
• SugarSync – Sync anything and everything from any machine to or from your Android.
• SOS Online Backup – Can backup your computer, Android and even Facebook if you want.
• SurDoc – Have not actually tried this app recently but looks promising to upload photo, audio and more.
• IDrive – Can backup photos, videos and more like SMS messages and contacts.

If you already use a cloud or backup service that does not offer an Android app or is access only you can also take a look at BitTorrent Sync to automatically backup and sync your data from your Android to your computer. It can help make automatically backing up your Android easy to services like Backblaze.

Backup Only Your Android Device

If you don’t have a computer and just want to get your photos, videos and other files backed up from you Android smartphone or tablet to the cloud then you have some more options. While many of the services above offer free accounts you can also look at some of these apps.

• G Cloud Backup – This is by Genie 9, the same company that makes Zoolz. It can backup more than just photos and is easy to use.
• Mobile Backup & Restore – This app is made by AVAST and looks good. I have not actually tried it but will be adding it to my list of apps to try out.
• GO Backup & Restore Pro – This is another app I will have to try but does look good. The pro version offers to upload backups to Google Drive and Dropbox which could be convenient.
• BitTorrent Sync – BitTorrent Sync makes it easy to copy files off your Android device to your own computers. One of my favorite Android apps.
• My Backup Pro – I have used the free version of this app and it worked well when I used it. One of the better backup apps out there it.

Android Photo and Video Backup

The most likely files that you will want to backup from your Android smartphone or tablet is probably going to be the photos and videos you create with your new device. Sure you might create some other documents but those photos and videos are probably the most important. That being said most of the apps I have mentioned so far actually help you protect those files.

• Google+ – One of the best ways to backup your photos and videos is Google+. Not only will Google+ backup your photos and video to Google you will then get access to the unique enhancements of Google+ like Auto Awesome photos and movies.
• Facebook – If you are a regular Facebook user you can sync your photos right to your Facebook account.
• Amazon Cloud Drive Photos – Can automatically upload your photos and videos to your Amazon cloud drive.
• Photofeed – Cloud Photo Backup – Looks like an interesting app and one that I will be looking into more in 2014.

The great thing about Android is there is not just one way to keep you files safe. There are multiple methods that you can use and the hard part can be finding the one that works best for you.

What do you use to on your Android smartphone or tablet to backup your files from your device?