Know How to Take Backup of Your Android Phone to Windows & Mac

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Let me start by asking you some questions – Is your smartphone bugging you with the slow-mo speed when you tap the browser? Or are you suddenly get a ‘force close’ pop up for a particular app on your smartphone’s screen? If yes, my friend your phone is gasping for space! It needs to undergo a factory reset to gear up its performance. However, your device includes thousands of data from images, to chats, to a dozens of videos, contacts and a lot more which can get completely erased from your smartphone when you tap on the factory reset option. Horrific thought isn’t it? Well you can avert the loss of your precious data by taking preventive measures by which I mean taking backup of the data stored in your Android device. So let’s check out some easy methods you can use to take the back up of all your data from your Android device to your Windows or Mac.

Four alternative Backup methods

As an Android user, you can take a backup of the data via:

USB
Google Account
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi

Here’s a quick take on the process of taking backup via the above mentioned individual options.

Method 1: Back up via USB

While many of you would prefer to opt for wireless connectivity and cloud storage option, at times it’s good to opt for the old classic USB connectivity as it’s an ideal choice to go in for if you have a lot of data or content to transfer and save at once. That being said, it’s quite easy to transfer data from your Android device to the PC via USB cable. However you must know that the process of transferring data from your smartphone varies depending on whether you own a Windows PC or Mac.

Let’s take a look at the techniques used to take a backup from Android to Windows and Android to Mac.

If you have a Windows PC or Laptop:

Step 1: Connect your Android device with a USB cable to your Windows PC or Laptop.

Step 2: Scroll the screen down from top to check the USB connectivity notification –>Click on the Charging via USB.

Step 3: Select the File transfer option under the “Use USB for”

Step 4: Open the file explorer on your Windows PC, you will find the now be able to view the files on the screen of your PC or Laptop –>Drag and transfer the files or data you intent to take a backup of.

Step 5: Once done, locate the safe remove hardware icon on the system to unplug the USB connectivity of your device from the PC

Note: If you see a warning stating that the device cannot be removed, or “stopped,” don’t panic, all you need to do is – click on the OK button –>Locate the programs that probably are open, save those files and then close the program again.

If you have a Mac Desktop or Laptop:

First and foremost you need to install the ‘Android File Transfer’ app. It’s an official Google program application that works on Macs running with Mac OS X 10.5 or the following upgraded versions. You also need to ensure that your Android device is running on either 3.0 version or up. Further to this, the process for file transfer from Android to Mac is pretty similar to that of an Android to Windows. So once setup here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Plug your Android device into your Mac USB port with the USB cable.

Step 2: Unlock your phone and swipe down on your screen –> Tap on USB for charging to view more options –>Select on the Transfer File option.

Step 3: Open the Mac Finder or Spotlight Search –> locate ‘Android File Transfer’ option under the other listed programs –> Double click on the Android drive icon

You can now view and transfer the data of your Android device on your Mac desktop or laptop.

Step 4: Once done, open the Finder sidebar –>Find your Android device under ‘Devices’

Step 5: Click on Eject to unplug the device from your mac desktop or laptop.

Method 2: Backup via Google Account

One of the perks of owing an Android smartphone is that most of the backing up of the data is done automatically within certain intervals. But that’s only when you are signed into your Google Account on your Android smartphone. Through this signed in account, Google automatically backs up most of your data – including the details of your Android settings, display preferences, Wi-Fi networks, passwords.Wait that’s not all, Google also saves all those precious photos and videos! If you haven’t yet… here’s how you can enable this setting and take backup of your data via Google account.

Step 1: Go to Settings –>Tap on Backup & Restore or Backup & reset

Step 2: If your phone has both “Back up my data” and “Automatic restore,” make sure to enable both by swiping the toggle on.

Step 3: Tap and select all the options listed to ensure that the data is synced with your Google Account.

Note: Some procedure to enable Google Account could differ from device to device.

If you have data that frequently needs to be shared you can always look for other cloud storage options. Apart from Google Drive there are other alternatives like; Dropbox that you can go for. Similar to Google Drive, Dropbox too can transfer images, videos etc. from your Android device to your PC, Laptop or Mac. Here’s how you can setup Dropbox in your device.

Step 1 :Download the Dropbox app on your phone and computer (recommended) or go to Dropbox.com.

Step 2: Create an account and fill in your information.

Step 3: If you downloaded the app, Dropbox will create a folder on your hard drive.

Step 4: Drag and drop any photos or files you want into the folder.

Dropbox will automatically sync these files online and to any other computers or mobile devices linked to your account.

Method 3: Backup via Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi connectivity is the easiest and quickest way to transfer those thousands of images, videos and more from your Android device to your PC, Mac or Laptop. That being said, you can easily download third party apps like AirDroid to transfer data in a matter of moments. AirDroid app is a specially designed app for Android smartphones and is compatible with both Windows and Mac desktop. This screen sharing app allows you to transfer images, videos etc. from your Android smartphone to your Mac or Windows desktop that too wirelessly! All you need to do is ensure to install app on your Android device as well as on your PC or Mac. Here’s how can install and use the AirDroid App on your smartphone and desktop.

Step 1: Download and install the AirDroid App for free from Google Play store.

Step 2: Once installed, you need to sign up (create a username and password) If you have already signed up, Tap on the ‘Sign In’ option to go further.

Step 3: On signing in, tap on the My Device option –> you will come across the Web IP Address Now open the AirDriod App in Android.

Step 4: Enter this URL on the browser of your PC or Mac

Step 5. Tap on the QR code in the AirDroid app on the device, as shown above. The camera is activated. Aim the camera at the QR code on the PC screen under “Scan QR code”, as shown below. Your device will automatically read the QR code and connect to the PC.

Step 6: A Request to view all app and notification from your phone on your PC in real time –>Tap on the Enable option

Step 7: You can now easily control certain features of your Android smartphone with the help your mouse and keyboard.

Method 4: Backup via Bluetooth

If you are facing Wi-Fi connectivity issues you can always turn on connecting your Android device to your desktop or laptop via Bluetooth. But here’s a word of caution- Comparative to Wi-Fi, transferring files through Bluetooth could be time consuming as pairing the devices isn’t that quick. However, you can always give it try right? Well to enable Bluetooth;

Step 1: On you Android device, tap on Settings –> Tap on the Bluetooth option under connections (Ensure to set your Android device on discoverable mode via Bluetooth).

Step 2: Next, from Windows 10 PC, Click on the Start button –> Click on Settings –> Toggle to enable Bluetooth. Once done, your computer will automatically start detecting any nearby bluetooth enabled devices –>Select the Pair button besides on your device’s bluetooth name to connect either the PC, Laptop or Mac with your Smartphone.

Step 3: You can then select the files you wish to transfer from your Android Smartphone to your PC, Laptop or Mac

Backing up the data is often the most neglected task. However, with the above suggested methods taking a backup of your data is a pretty simple job and it could save you from the nightmare of losing all your valuable data. So procrastinate no more and save all your priceless photos, videos, and important contacts safe and secured.

If you think there are other methods of taking backup that we can add to this list then do share them with us. Also, if you liked this article then do share it with your family and friends.

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