Help Guides
How do I back up my photos from my phone?
Losing years of photos because a phone breaks or gets lost is heartbreaking. Backing them up is simpler than most people expect, and we can set it up for you.
The easiest way to back up photos is to turn on automatic cloud backup. On an iPhone this is iCloud Photos. On an Android phone it is Google Photos. Once set up, every new photo is backed up automatically over Wi-Fi. We can get this working during a single visit.
If you would rather have someone come and make sure your photos are safely backed up, give us a call. This is one of the most common things we help with.
Your options for backing up photos
iCloud Photos (iPhone)
iCloud Photos automatically copies every photo and video on your iPhone to Apple's cloud storage. Once it is turned on, the backup happens in the background whenever you are connected to Wi-Fi. You can then view your photos from any Apple device signed in to the same Apple ID.
Google Photos (iPhone or Android)
Google Photos is a free app that backs up photos to Google's cloud. It works on both iPhone and Android. It is a popular choice for Android users and a good alternative for iPhone users who want more free storage than iCloud provides.
Checking your storage is not full
Cloud backup only works if your cloud storage account has space available. Both iCloud and Google Photos offer limited free storage. If it is full, photos stop backing up without any obvious warning. It is worth checking this regularly.
Would you rather we handle this?
We set up photo backups across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa. One visit and your photos will be protected automatically going forward.
Book a VisitBacking up to a computer
Photos can also be transferred from your phone directly to a laptop or desktop computer. On a Windows PC this usually happens automatically when you plug in your phone with a USB cable. On a Mac, the Photos app handles the import. This gives you a local copy that does not depend on cloud storage.
Backing up to an external hard drive
For a more permanent offline copy, photos can be saved to an external hard drive. This is a good option if you have a very large photo collection or prefer not to rely on cloud services. It does require a regular manual copy unless set up to run automatically.
Having more than one backup
The safest approach is to have photos backed up in at least two places. For example, iCloud Photos as the automatic everyday backup, plus a copy on a computer or hard drive every few months. That way you are protected even if one backup fails.
We can take care of this for you
You do not have to figure this out yourself. If you want to make sure your photos are safely backed up and you would rather have someone come and set it all up properly, that is exactly what we do. We visit homes across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa and sort this out regularly.
Get help today
We set up photo backups and make sure nothing gets lost across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa. One visit and your photos will be protected.
Get Help TodayFAQ
Common questions about backing up photos
- How much does it cost to back up photos to the cloud?
Both iCloud and Google Photos offer a small amount of free storage. For most people with a lot of photos, a paid plan is needed. These typically cost a few dollars a month and we can help you choose the right one during a visit.
- What happens if I run out of iCloud or Google storage?
New photos stop backing up automatically. Your existing photos are not deleted, but you will not be protected going forward until more storage is added or old files are cleared out.
- Can I back up photos to my computer instead of the cloud?
Yes. Photos can be transferred directly from your phone to a computer or an external hard drive. This is a good option if you prefer not to use cloud storage. We can set this up during a visit.