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What should I back up before I factory reset my Android phone?

By the AndroidAnswers Editorial Team · Updated

About 6 minutes · Basics & setup

Illustration of a phone showing a cloud with a check mark, with a key on one side and a circular arrow on the other

Steps to check

  1. Make sure you know your Google Account and password

    This matters more than anything else. After a reset, the phone asks for the Google Account that was on it, to show that you or someone you trust did the reset. To see which account is on the phone, open Settings and tap Accounts (the name can differ by phone). Then sign in to it on another device or computer to be sure the password works. If you set a screen lock, make sure you know the PIN, pattern, or password too. If you changed your Google password recently, Google suggests waiting 24 hours before you reset.

    Samsung If a Samsung account is signed in, Samsung says you will also need its password to finish the reset, and the phone needs a network connection to sign out of it.Pixel Settings → Passwords & accounts. The Google Account is listed next to Google.

  2. Turn on Google backup and back up now

    Google backup saves your apps and app data, call history, contacts, device settings, and text messages (SMS and MMS) to your Google Account, so you can restore them when you set the phone up again. Open Settings, tap Google, then All services, and under Backup and restore tap Backup. Make sure it is on, then tap Back up now. Google notes that not every app can back up all of its data, which is why the next steps matter.

    Samsung Settings → Accounts and backup → Back up data (under Google Drive) → Back up now. You can also make a Samsung Cloud backup: Settings → Accounts and backup → Back up data (under Samsung Cloud), choose items, and tap Back up now.Pixel Settings → System → Backup, and make sure backup is on before you tap Back up now.

  3. Check that your photos and videos finished backing up

    Photos and videos are backed up by Google Photos, not by the device backup. Open Google Photos and tap your profile picture at the top right. It should say Backup complete. If it says items are still uploading, stay on Wi-Fi and wait. Google notes that the Photos app shows every photo on your phone, even ones that are not backed up, so check the status rather than just seeing your photos there.

    Samsung If you keep photos only in the Gallery app and do not use Google Photos, copy them to a computer with Smart Switch or a USB cable before the reset.

  4. Back up chat apps on their own

    Many chat apps keep their own backups. In WhatsApp, tap More options (three dots) → Settings → Chats → Chat backup, then tap Back up. WhatsApp says the only way to restore a backup on a new or reset Android phone is with your Google Account, so use the same account when you set up again. For other chat apps, look in that app's settings for a backup option, or check its help pages.

  5. Move your sign-in codes from authenticator apps

    If you use an app that shows sign-in codes, such as Google Authenticator, those codes are easy to lose in a reset. In Google Authenticator, sign in to your Google Account inside the app so your codes are saved to it. If you use it without an account, tap Menu → Transfer codes → Export codes to move them to another device first. Other authenticator apps have their own transfer or backup steps.

  6. Copy files that live only on the phone

    A reset erases everything stored on the phone itself. Downloads, documents, voice recordings, and anything not in a cloud service will be gone. Connect the phone to a computer with a USB cable, tap Allow on the phone, choose Transferring files (the name can differ by phone), and copy the folders you want to keep onto the computer.

    Samsung Smart Switch can back up the whole phone to a Windows PC or Mac, or to a microSD card or USB drive. If your microSD card is encrypted, decrypt it before the reset: in Settings, search for Decrypt SD card.

  7. Check the smaller things, then reset from Settings

    On Android 15 and up, some wallet apps let you back up transit cards with money on them, and you will get a reminder before the reset. If you use Google Maps Timeline, turn on its backup in Maps (your profile picture → Your Timeline → the cloud icon). Google notes you may need to turn off Timeline auto-delete first. When you are ready, charge the phone, connect to Wi-Fi, and reset from the Settings app rather than with the buttons.

    Samsung Settings → General management → Reset → Factory data reset. Samsung notes that resetting from Settings avoids triggering Google's reset protection.Pixel Settings → System → Reset options → Erase all data (factory reset).

Normal vs. not

Usually normal

After the reset you sign in to some apps again, the home screen looks different, and restoring everything takes a while. Google says a restore can take up to 24 hours to finish.

Worth a closer look

Backup will not finish, Google Photos keeps saying items are waiting, or you cannot sign in to your Google Account on another device. Fix these before you reset, not after.

What people are saying

Common questions

Should I remove my Google Account before I reset?

If you are keeping the phone, you do not need to. Just make sure you know the password. Google's Pixel help warns that removing your Google Account can delete your backup. If you are selling or trading in the phone, reset it from the Settings app.

Will my text messages and contacts come back?

Yes, if Google backup was on. It includes contacts, call history, and SMS and MMS messages, plus RCS chats if you use Google Messages. You restore them by signing in to the same Google Account when you set the phone up.

Do I need to pay for more Google storage?

Not always. Google accounts come with 15 GB of free storage, shared by Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. If Photos says there is not enough storage, you can free some up or buy more before you back up.

Sources we checked

Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.