Backup Your Phone
Lose phone — keep photos + contacts.
Why now
Lost / stolen / dropped-in-toilet phones happen weekly. WITHOUT backup = 30 years of photos GONE. Contacts gone. Notes gone. With backup = restore on new phone in 30 minutes.
iPhone — iCloud backup
- Settings → tap your name → iCloud.
- iCloud Backup → ON.
- Connect to wifi + plug in nightly.
- Auto-backups while charging.
- Free 5GB. Most need $1-3/mo for 50-200GB.
Android — Google backup
- Settings → Google → Backup.
- Toggle ON.
- Photos → Google Photos backup ON.
- Free 15GB. $2-3/mo for 100-200GB.
- Auto-backs up on wifi while charging.
Verify backup works
- iPhone — Settings → iCloud → Backup. See last backup date.
- Android — Settings → Google → Backup. See last backup.
- Should be within last 24 hours.
- Can also see photos at iCloud.com / photos.google.com from computer.
- Test once: log into iCloud / Google Photos on computer — see your photos.
Backup new phone setup
- Buy new phone.
- Choose "Restore from iCloud" or "Restore from Google".
- Sign in with same Apple ID / Google.
- Phone re-downloads photos, apps, contacts, settings.
- Hours later — phone looks just like old one.
- This is the magic. 5 minutes setup once = priceless when needed.
Free 5GB / 15GB enough?
Most seniors' photos = 50-100GB. Free tier insufficient. iCloud 50GB = $1/mo, 200GB = $3/mo. Worth $12-36/yr to never lose 30 years of photos.