WIRED

How to Back Up Your Android Phone (2026)

2026-03-22 · 11:30 UTC ·Simon Hill ·2 min read

Brief

Simon Hill's 382-word WIRED guide outlines several Android backup paths beyond Google's default services, including USB file transfer to a Chromebook, third-party cloud providers like Dropbox and OneDrive, and local backup options such as NAS, Syncthing, and Swift Backup. It also notes that some apps, including messaging apps like WhatsApp, maintain their own in-app backup systems.

Why it matters

WIRED's March 22, 2026 guide recommends backing up Android files to a Chromebook by connecting over USB, switching the phone's USB mode from charging to File transfer, and then copying files through ChromeOS's Files app.

Key details

  • For non-Google cloud backups, the article names Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, MEGA, and Box as alternatives; photo backup can often be automated, while other file types usually require manual uploads.
  • For local or self-managed backups, the piece suggests copying files to external drives via Windows or Mac, using NAS apps that back up over home Wi‑Fi, or trying Syncthing and Swift Backup, noting Swift Backup may require payment or root access for full functionality.
Source evidence

title: How to Back Up Your Android Phone (2026) | WIRED
author: Simon Hill
contenttype: article
publication: WIRED
published: 2026-03-22T11:30:00+00:00
sourceurl: https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-backup-your-android/

word_count: 382

There are some premium apps for MacOS that offer more of an iTunes-like experience, but nothing that I vouch for.Backing Up to Your ChromebookHere is how to back up files from your Android phone on a Chromebook:Plug your phone into a USB port on your Chromebook.Drag down the notification shade and look for a notification from Android System that says something like Charging this device via USB, Tap for more options and tap it.Look for an option that says File transfer and select it.The Files app will open on your Chromebook, and you can drag any files you want to copy over.Backing Up to Another Cloud ServiceMaybe you have run out of Google storage, or you prefer another cloud service. There are Android apps for Dropbox, Microsoft’s OneDrive, MEGA, Box, and others. Most of them offer some cloud storage for free, but what you can back up and how you do it differs from app to app.We looked at how to back up mobile photos on a few of these before, and you can usually set up the process to be automatic, though other files often have to be backed up manually. If you want to automatically sync photos and other files across devices using one of these services, then check out the Autosync app. There are specific versions for Dropbox, OneDrive, MEGA, and Box.Whatever service you choose, make sure to keep your cloud storage safe and secure.Backing Up LocallyMaybe you’d prefer not to use the cloud or Google’s services for your backup. You can always use the methods listed above for Windows or Mac to download files, then manually move them onto a portable hard drive or USB flash drive, but that’s quite a lot of work.If you have network-attached storage (NAS), there’s likely an app that can automatically back up some of your files when you are connected to home Wi-Fi. You might also consider Syncthing (though it’s best for syncing rather than backing up) or something like Swift Backup, though you may need to pay and/or root your phone to get the best from them.Backing Up Within AppsMessaging apps, and a handful of other apps, have their own backup systems built in. I’ll give you a couple of examples here, but check up on your favorites.WhatsApp via Simon Hill