Why this matters
Many families only realise how important their photos and documents are when a phone breaks or a laptop dies. Setting up automatic backups means those memories and records are safe no matter what happens to the device.
What you'll need
- Your phone and/or computer
- A cloud account (iCloud, Google, OneDrive) or an external drive
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1
Back up your phone photos
iPhone: Settings, your name, iCloud, Photos, turn on "Sync this iPhone". Android: open Google Photos, tap your profile picture and turn on Backup.
Step 2
Back up computer folders
On Windows, use the Windows Backup app or OneDrive to back up Desktop, Documents and Pictures. On a Mac, use iCloud Drive for Desktop & Documents.
Step 3
Keep a second copy on an external drive
Copy important folders to an external drive every month, or use File History (Windows) or Time Machine (Mac).
Step 4
Store the drive safely
Unplug the external drive after backing up and keep it somewhere safe, ideally away from the computer.
Step 5
Check you can get files back
Open your cloud account on another device and confirm your photos and documents are there.
Summary
Automatic cloud backups plus an occasional external drive copy keep your family’s important files safe.
Still Need Help?
Some IT problems are easier to solve with a professional. If you've followed the guide and still need help, the Omnicron team can assist.