Back up media from your Android device

Google One is included with select Metro by T-Mobile plans. You can add Google One to your plan by contacting support or visiting your local Metro by T-Mobile store.

Your backup will remain in your Google One account as long as you use your phone and connect to the internet.

Your backup data will be erased if:

  • You don't use your device for 57 days
  • You turn off Android backup

Where your phone data is stored

The info on your phone is backed up in different places.

What gets saved by Android

The following data is backed up in your Android settings. You don't need to turn on Google One's backup to save this data.

  • App data
  • Call history
  • Contacts
  • Settings
  • SMS messages
What gets saved by Google One
  • Google Photos: Original quality photos and videos
  • Android Messages: Photos, videos, and audio files from your MMS messages

Why RCS messages don't get saved

RCS, or Rich Communications Services, is a way for Android phones to send advanced messages like group chats, high-resolution photos, and audio/video messages. Whether you can send and back up RCS messages depends on the phone, carrier, and messaging app you use.

T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile don’t universally support RCS messages, so you can't back them up using Google One.

Turn on automatic backups 

You can set up your phone to automatically save backup copies of your files. 

  1. On your Android phone, open the Google One app Google One. 
  2. At the top, tap Settings and then Manage backup settings. 
  3. Choose the backup settings you want. 
    • If you see advice to install an app, update an app, or change your settings, follow the steps on the screen. Then, go back to the Google One app to finish. 
  4. If asked, allow permissions. 
  5. At the top left, tap Back Back.

Your Google One backup can take up to 24 hours. When your media is saved, "On" will be below the data types you selected. 

Start a backup 

After you have chosen your backup settings, you can start a backup of your phone immediately. 

  1. On your Android phone, open the Google One app Google One. 
  2. Tap Backup now. You might need to tap Turn on first to get started. 

Get your media onto a new phone

With an eligible Metro by T-Mobile plan, you can restore your backup data in the Google One app.

  1. On your new Android phone, open the Google One app Google One.
  2. At the top, tap Settings.
  3. Tap Restore from your backup.
  4. Next to the media you want to get back, tap Restore.
    1. If you see advice to install an app, update an app, or change your settings, follow the steps on the screen.
    2. Then, go back to the Google One app to finish.
  5. If asked, allow permissions.
  6. At the top left, tap Back Back.

Your Google One restoration can take up to 24 hours.

Delete your phone backups

You can erase your backed-up phone files to give yourself more storage space.

Notes:

  • This will permanently delete your backup file.
  • If you still have automatic backups turned on, new backup files will be created in the future.
  1. On your Android phone, open the Google Drive app Google Drive.
  2. On the left, tap Menu Menu and then Backups.
  3. Tap the backup file you want.
  4. Choose an option:
    • Delete MMS files only: To erase files like pictures and videos, tap MMS and then Delete.
    • Delete all files in the backup folder: At the top, tap More More and then Delete backup and then Delete.

 

Fix problems with backup or restore

 

Your MMS (multimedia) messages weren’t restored on your phone

MMS backups work best with the Android Messages app Android Messages Try to back up again after you set Android Messages as your default texting app.

  1. If you don’t have it, download Android Messages from the Play Store.
  2. On your Android device, open the Settings app Settings.
  3. Tap Apps & notifications and then Default apps.
    • If you don’t see this option, at the bottom, tap Advanced.
  4. Tap SMS app and then Messages.
You saw an error when you backed up your phone

If one or more types of media won't back up, try the steps below. After each step, check if your backup has started working.

  1. Make sure your device is online. If you're using mobile data, try connecting to Wi-Fi for a better connection.
  2. Install or update the Google One app.
  3. Open the Google One app. If you're out of storage, do one of the following:
    1. Buy more storage
    2. Clear storage space
  4. In the Google One app, tap Settings and then Manage backup settings. If you see advice to update or install an app, follow the steps on the screen.
    • Note: If your device needs multiple updates, backing up your phone can take a few hours.

In the Google One app, at the top, tap Home.

If your media still won’t back up 

You can run a backup manually:

Your new phone didn't restore everything

If one or more types of media are missing after restoring a Google One backup, try these steps:

  • Make sure your device is online. If you're using mobile data, try connecting to Wi-Fi for a better connection.
  • Install or update the Google One app.
  • Open your Android settings. Confirm that all of the following are true:
  • Your backup will remain as long as you use your device. If you last used your device more than 57 days ago, the backup is no longer available.
  • In the Google One app, tap Settings and then Restore from your backup. If you see advice to update or install an app, follow the steps on the screen.
    • Note: If your device needs multiple updates, backing up your phone can take a few hours.

Files that are restored during setup

Some data can only be restored while setting up your device, including app data, settings data, and basic messages. To restore this data, reset your device to factory settings, and then go through the Android setup process.

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