How to Back Up Your Phone’s Photos

What this helps with: Keeping a safe copy of your photos online, so you don’t lose them if your phone is lost, broken, or replaced.

A backup copies your photos to your Apple or Google account. You can then see them on a new phone or a computer.

iPhone: turn on iCloud Photos

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap your name at the top.
3. Tap iCloud, then tap Photos.
4. Turn on Sync this iPhone. The switch turns green.
   • What you’ll tap: The switch next to “Sync this iPhone.”
5. Choose Optimize iPhone Storage if your phone is short on space. Your full-size photos stay safe in iCloud, and smaller copies stay on the phone.
6. Connect to Wi-Fi and plug in your phone. The first backup can take hours or even a day or two.

Good to know: Apple gives you 5 GB of free iCloud storage. Many photo libraries need more. If your phone says iCloud is full, you can choose a paid iCloud+ plan in Settings, your name, iCloud. Only buy it on that screen, never from a link in an email or text.

Android: turn on Google Photos backup

1. Open the Google Photos app.
   • What you’ll tap: The app’s icon is a colorful pinwheel.
2. Sign in to your Google Account if asked.
3. Tap your profile picture or initial at the top right.
4. Tap Photos settings, then Backup.
5. Turn on Backup.
6. To check progress, tap your profile picture again. When it’s done, it says Backup complete.

Good to know: Your Google storage (15 GB free) is shared by Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive. If it fills up, Google will offer paid storage in the app.

If something goes wrong

• Backup seems stuck. Connect to Wi-Fi, plug in the charger, and leave the phone overnight.
• “Not enough storage.” You can delete old videos you don’t need (they use the most space) or choose more storage.
• I can’t find my photos on a new phone. Sign in with the same Apple Account or Google Account you used before.
• Turning off backup won’t delete your photos from the phone. But deleting a photo on one synced device can delete it everywhere. Deleted photos usually stay in Recently Deleted (iPhone) or Trash (Google Photos) for 30 days or more.
• A message says your photos will be deleted unless you pay. Don’t tap the link. Open Settings or the Google Photos app yourself to check your storage.

Official sources

• Apple: Set up and use iCloud Photos
• Google: Back up photos and videos

Last checked: Oct 15, 2026

This is general help, not personalized tech support. Storage prices and free amounts are set by Apple and Google and can change.