How to set up and use Google Drive Backup (formerly Google One) to back up your phone photos and files to the cloud

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to set up and use Google Drive Backup (formerly Google One) to back up your phone photos and files to the cloud. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Google Drive Backup is a free feature that automatically uploads your photos, videos, contacts, and other device data to your Google account. Once enabled, it runs quietly in the background, giving you an off-device copy of your important files that you can restore from if your phone is lost, stolen, damaged, or replaced. This guide walks you through setting it up on both Android and iPhone, and covers common issues you might encounter along the way.

Before You Start

You'll need a Google account to use Google Drive Backup. If you don't already have one, head to accounts.google.com and create a free account first. You'll also want a reasonable amount of cloud storage available. Every Google account includes 15 GB of free storage shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. If you back up a lot of high-resolution photos and videos, you may eventually need to upgrade to a paid Google One plan for more space.

Set Up Google Drive Backup on Android

Step 1: Sign In to Your Google Account

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap Google, then Manage your Google Account if shown.
3. Confirm you're signed in with the Google account you want to use for backups.

Step 2: Enable Device Backup

1. In Settings, tap Google.
2. Tap Backup.
3. You'll see a list of backup categories such as Photos & videos, Device data, and Contacts & calendar.
4. Tap each category and toggle the backup switch to On.
5. For Photos & videos, choose your preferred upload quality: Storage Saver or Original Quality.
6. Tap Back up now to start your first backup immediately.

Step 3: Confirm the Backup Is Running

Your first backup can take a while depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. You can check progress by returning to Settings > Google > Backup. A progress bar and estimated time remaining will display while the upload is active.

Set Up Google Drive Backup on iPhone

Step 1: Install the Google Drive App

1. Open the App Store and search for Google Drive.
2. Tap Get to install the app, then open it.
3. Sign in with your Google account.

Step 2: Enable Backup

1. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
2. Tap Settings, then Backup.
3. Tap Photos & videos and toggle Back up to Google Photos to On.
4. Choose your upload quality: Storage Saver or Original Quality.
5. Tap Back up now to begin.

Step 3: Allow Background Access

For backups to continue when you close the app, iOS needs permission to refresh content in the background.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Google Drive.
3. Toggle Background App Refresh to On.
4. Also ensure Photos access is set to All Photos so the app can find your images.

Restoring From a Backup

When you get a new phone or sign in to a new device, Google Drive Backup can restore your data automatically during setup.

On Android

1. During the initial setup of your new device, choose to restore from a backup when prompted.
2. Sign in with the same Google account you used for backups.
3. Select the most recent backup from the list.
4. Choose which items to restore (apps, contacts, photos, etc.) and tap Restore.

On iPhone

iPhone doesn't restore directly from a Google Drive backup in the same way Android does. Instead, your backed-up photos and videos will appear in the Google Photos app once you sign in. Contacts can be restored by exporting them from Google Contacts or by syncing your Google account through Settings > Mail > Accounts.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Backup Is Stuck or Won't Start

• Check that you have a stable internet connection. Switch to Wi-Fi if you're on mobile data.
• Confirm you haven't run out of Google storage. Visit one.google.com/storage to check your quota.
• Make sure the Google Drive app is up to date via the Play Store or App Store.
• Restart your phone and try again.

Photos Aren't Uploading

• Open Google Photos and confirm Backup is turned on (this is separate from Drive Backup on some devices).
• Check that the app has permission to access your photos in your phone's system settings.
• On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Google Photos > Permissions and ensure Files and media is allowed.
• On iPhone, go to Settings > Photos and confirm Google Photos has access to All Photos.

Backup Keeps Pausing

• Battery optimisation settings can pause background activity. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Google Drive > Battery and set it to Unrestricted.
• Disable any third-party "battery saver" or "task killer" apps that may be stopping Drive from running.
• Make sure your phone is charging or has more than 20% battery if you've set a low-battery threshold.

Not Enough Storage

If you've filled your 15 GB of free storage, you'll need to either:

• Free up space by clearing items from Gmail or removing files from Google Drive.
• Upgrade to a paid Google One plan for 100 GB or more.

Related Articles

• How to backup photos to external drive

If you've worked through these steps and your backup still isn't working as expected, our support team can help. Please Open a Ticket with details about your device, operating system version, and the issue you're experiencing.

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