How to Back Up Your Data to an External Drive on Your Phone

Edited 4 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

BackupMobileSmartphoneData ManagementDevice ManagementExternal DevicesConnectivityPhone SettingsGoogleAppleUSB OTGDevice SynchronizationDevice ConfigurationUser InterfaceDevice CustomizationDevice PerformanceGoogle ServicesData SecurityDevice SettingsBackup Solutions

Backing up your data is an important process, in order to protect it from accidental loss, system failures, or potential damage to your device. With the rise of mobile technology, phones now contain a large portion of our personal and business information. Therefore, knowing how to back up your data, especially to an external drive, can help ensure that this information is not lost under any circumstances. This guide will walk you through the steps required to backup your mobile phone data to an external drive.

Understanding data backup

Data backup is the process of making copies of data so that these additional copies can be used to restore the original data after a data loss incident. While smartphones have built-in backup solutions, they are typically cloud-based or tied to a specific ecosystem like Google for Android devices or iCloud for Apple devices. Backing up to an external USB drive gives you physical and instant access to your data whenever you need it.

Requirements for backing up your data

Before you begin the backup process, it's important to make sure you have all the necessary tools and applications:

• Smartphone with USB OTG (on-the-go) capability
• External drive with enough storage space
• USB OTG Adapter
• File management application
• Charging Cable

Backing up data on an Android device

Step 1: Connect your external drive

First, connect your external drive to your phone using a USB OTG adapter. Plug the OTG adapter into your phone and then attach your external drive to this adapter. Once connected, your phone will inform you that the new storage has been recognized. A notification may appear that the device is now connected for file transfer or media sharing.

Step 2: Choose what to backup

Open your file management app. Most Android phones have a built-in app simply called 'Files' or 'My Files.' If you don't have it, you can download a third-party file manager app like ES File Explorer or File Manager from the Google Play Store.

After opening the app, navigate through the files and folders on your phone. It's up to you to select the most important files. These can include photos, videos, documents, and other media or files that aren't automatically backed up to cloud services. It's worth reviewing these files and making sure they're organized in a folder, making them easier to select.

Step 3: Start the backup process

Select your favorite files and copy them to the clipboard of your file manager. Navigate to your external drive, which is usually displayed at the bottom of the list or in the 'External storage' section. Tip: Folders of various programs such as WhatsApp, DCIM (containing camera images) and others are good options for backup.

Create a new folder in the external drive, perhaps named something descriptive like the date or "Phone Backup." Paste your files into this folder, making sure the transfer proceeds smoothly. Depending on the amount of data, this may take some time, so be patient.

Step 4: Verify and remove

Once the data transfer is complete, it's important to verify that all your selected files are available on the external drive. Open the new folder and view the files to ensure everything has been backed up correctly. After verification, safely eject the USB drive via your phone settings (usually in the notification tray or under 'Storage settings').

Backing up data on an iOS device

Backing up your iPhone data to an external drive might seem a bit technical due to iOS restrictions, but it's definitely possible. Here's how to back up iPhone data:

Step 1: Required app installation

Install a third-party app for file management that can work with external devices, such as FileBrowserGo or Documents by Readdle. These apps allow extensive file operation capabilities that iOS's native Files app may restrict.

Step 2: Using the adapter

Use the official Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter or any compatible adapter to connect your external drive to the iPhone. Plug the adapter into the iPhone, and then connect your external drive to the adapter. Your iOS device may ask for permission to allow the file manager to access the drive.

Step 3: Copy the files

Open your third-party app and select the files and folders you want to back up. As with Android, the files selected typically include photos, videos, and document storage. It may also include certain app files if they aren't backed up to iCloud.

The third-party app will provide options to copy or move files. Select the files and move them to the connected external drive. Create a backup folder to store your files on the drive, ensuring they stay organized and easy to find later.

Step 4: Confirm and disconnect

Before disconnecting the drive, browse to it using the app to verify that all the intended files have been successfully copied. Once you are sure that the backup was successful, close the app and make sure you execute the 'Safely Remove' feature before disconnecting the external drive. Usually, the app will provide an eject option within its settings or interface.

Benefits of using an external drive

Backing up data to an external drive offers several benefits. It provides immediate access to your data without reliance on internet connectivity, which is important for locations with poor network services. Plus, external drives typically offer more storage space than limited free-tier cloud options and can serve as a separate safety net against data breaches and cyber threats like ransomware.

Conclusion

Creating regular backups of your smartphone to an external drive is an essential aspect of modern data management. Not only does it protect against unexpected data loss, but it also enables you to manage your data physically. Following the steps mentioned for an Android or iOS device ensures that your favorite files are stored safely. The process becomes intuitive with practice, giving peace of mind about data security. Backup your mobile phone data regularly at appropriate intervals, and always confirm that the data is safely stored on your external drive before deleting it from the phone storage.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update