How to Back Up Photos to the Cloud

Set up automatic cloud backup for your phone photos so you never lose them to a lost or broken phone.

Steps

  1. 1

    Choose a cloud backup service

    like Google Photos, iCloud, or Dropbox. Each gives free storage with paid upgrades for more space.

  2. 2

    Download the app

    from your phone's app store and sign in or create an account.

  3. 3

    Open the app settings

    and turn on the backup or sync option. Look for "Backup" or "Camera uploads" in the menu.

  4. 4

    Select your upload preferences

    like upload quality and whether to use WiFi only. The app starts backing up your photos in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much free storage do I get?Show
Google Photos gives 15 GB free, iCloud gives 5 GB free, and Dropbox gives 2 GB free with options to buy more space.
Can I access my photos from a computer?Show
Yes, log into the service's website or desktop app to view and download all backed up photos from any device.
What happens if I delete a photo from my phone?Show
Most services keep the cloud copy unless you delete it from the cloud itself, but check your app's settings to confirm.
How long does the first backup take?Show
It depends on how many photos you have and your WiFi speed, from a few minutes to several hours for large libraries.

Written by the HowToDoStuff.online editorial team. Last updated .