How to Back Up Your Text Messages on Android
Android does not automatically back up all text messages — but Google Messages and a few simple steps can protect your texts before they are lost.
3 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Check Which Messages App You Use
Open your messages app and look at its icon and name. Google Messages has a colorful chat bubble icon. Samsung Messages has a similar icon but a different color scheme. Both have backup options, but the settings are in different locations.
Step 2. Enable Google Messages Backup
If you use Google Messages: open the app → tap your profile photo (top right) → "Messages settings" → "Chats" → "Enable chat backup." Sign in with your Google account if prompted. Choose "Back up now" to create an immediate backup.
Quick Tip
Once backup is enabled, Google Messages backs up automatically. Switch on "Only when charging" to avoid using your data plan.
Step 3. Enable Samsung Messages Backup (Samsung Phones)
Open Samsung Messages → tap the three-dot menu → Settings → "Back up messages" → sign in with your Samsung account → toggle on backup. Messages sync to Samsung Cloud.
Step 4. Use SMS Backup & Restore for a Downloadable Archive
Install "SMS Backup & Restore" from Google Play (free). Open the app → "Back Up Now." Choose to back up SMS, MMS (photo messages), and call logs. Set the backup destination as Google Drive. The backup creates an XML file you can restore from on any Android phone.
Step 5. Restore Messages on a New Android Phone
For Google Messages backup: install Google Messages on the new phone, sign in with the same Google account, and restore from the most recent backup during the app setup. For SMS Backup & Restore: install the app on the new phone, tap "Restore," sign in to Google Drive, and select the backup file.
Quick Tip
If switching from iPhone to Android, iMessages (blue bubble texts) cannot be directly transferred. Back up an iTunes/Finder backup on a computer and use iSMS2droid or similar software to convert the iPhone backup to Android-compatible format.
Unlike iPhone, Android does not automatically back up text messages through its standard backup system. Google's device backup saves your apps and settings, but standard SMS messages may not be included unless you take specific steps to back them up.
If you have ever gotten a new Android phone and found your text messages did not transfer, this is why. It is a common frustration that affects millions of Android users who assume their messages are safely backed up.
The most reliable solution is Google Messages — Google's official SMS app. Google Messages has a built-in backup feature that backs up your conversations to Google Drive. When you switch to a new Android phone, your messages restore automatically when you sign in with the same Google account and install Google Messages.
Many Android phones come with Google Messages pre-installed. Samsung phones use Samsung Messages by default, which has its own Samsung Cloud backup. Check which Messages app your phone uses — the solution differs slightly based on whether you use Google Messages or Samsung Messages.
For users who want a permanent, accessible archive of their messages — not just a backup for phone switching purposes — apps like SMS Backup & Restore (free, available on Google Play) create a readable backup file you can store on Google Drive, a computer, or an SD card.
Official sources
- Google Help Center — support.google.com
- Android Help — support.google.com
- Google Account help — support.google.com
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