How to Backup Android Phone to PC: Best Ways

The built-in option to backup all data on PC is one of the biggest things missing from Android. There are established methods from iPhone or iPad to Apple macOS and the iTunes client for Windows. Even not in Chrome OS, you will find similar approaches to backup Android smartphones to PC.

Using the standard Your Phone app is the most convenient way to back up data on a Windows PC. You can sync your OneDrive image folder to your computer and upload them to the cloud. Possible options are direct USB connection, Bluetooth and cloud storage.

In this post, we will learn how to backup Android phone to PC quickly.

How to backup Android phone to PC

I discussed backing up Android to PC with different operating systems:

Backup Android Phones to PC in Microsoft Windows
Backup Android phone to PC in Apple macOS
Create a backup using Google Chrome OS

1. Backup Android Phones to PC in Microsoft Windows OS

Using the old school USB method
Using the OneDrive method
Using the Bluetooth Method
Using the Link to Windows app

1. Using the old school USB method

This method is applicable to any files that you want to back up from Android phone to PC. To do this, you will need a suitable cable and converter. USB-C is becoming an increasingly popular connector for both PCs and mobile devices.

For example, you will need a USB-C to USB-A cable if your Android smartphone has a USB-C connector and your computer only has a standard square USB-A connector.

Simply insert each end of the connector into the appropriate gadgets and wait for the pairing to complete.

Connect Android phone to PC with USB cable when it is unlocked.

On your phone’s display, tap the notification that says “Charge this device via USB”.
Select USB File Transfer from the file list.
File Explorer should now show the phone as a USB device. Transfer files over your phone and PC just like you would with a USB stick.
When done, disconnect your phone from PC after removing your Android device.

2. Using the OneDrive Method

This solution also works for all files, not just photo backups. Download the Microsoft OneDrive app for Android and upload your files to the company’s cloud storage.

Set up an Android subfolder in OneDrive as a basic approach to remember where to upload and download data backups. To share files using File Explorer instead of a browser, make sure all files are synced to your Windows PC.

Here is how you backup Android phone to PC using OneDrive:

Select “Settings”from the pop-up menu by right-clicking on the cloud symbol next to the system clock.

There is a popup on the Account tab. Click on it.
Select Folders by clicking on the button.

Select the folder you want to sync with your Windows 10 PC by checking the box next to it.
When finished, click OK.
Click the folder listed under OneDrive on the left side of File Explorer. The files that were downloaded from Android should now be viewable.
You can browse the same folder and retrieve files sent from your PC using the OneDrive for Android software.

Note. Dropbox, Box, and Google Drive are other options if you don’t want to use OneDrive to back up Android data to PC.

3. Using the bluetooth method

This method of backing up Android data to PC will require Bluetooth on both the Android device and the computer. This method also includes pairing your Android with your PC and sending/receiving a file.

Select “Devices”in the “Settings”app in Windows.
Turn on Bluetooth on your Android device.
Select Bluetooth and other devices.

On the right, click “Add Bluetooth or other device”.
Select Bluetooth from the pop-up menu.
To pair two devices, tap on your Android phone and follow the instructions on each device.

Right-click on the Bluetooth symbol in Windows next to the system clock, and then select “Get File”from the pop-up menu.
Tap and hold the file you want to transfer via Bluetooth on your Android smartphone.

Click the “Share”button at the top.
On the toolbar at the bottom, click the Bluetooth button.

Select your Windows PC from the list.
The resulting file will be displayed in the Bluetooth File Sharing Panel on your Windows computer. Click Done to finish.

4. Using the “Link to Windows”application

This method is used if you only want to download images from your android phone.

On your Android device, download and install the Microsoft Your Phone Companion-Link to Windows app from Google Play.
Sign up for a Microsoft account. Click the blue Continue button if you’re already signed in with another Microsoft app.

To accept the permissions, click the blue Continue button.
To access your contacts, make and manage phone calls, access pictures and other media, send and read SMS messages, and make and manage phone calls, click “Allow”in the following pop-ups.

To allow the program to restart in the background, click the blue “Continue”button, then “Allow”.
Launch the Your Phone app in Windows. You should already be logged in and enable pairing.

Click “My Computer is Ready”once you return to your Android phone.
Click the blue Allow button.
Click “Finish”to complete the setup.
Allow the Your Phone app to pin it to the taskbar on your Windows PC.
In addition, the Your Phone app will need permissions in your Android phone settings to receive alerts.

2. Backup Android phone to PC in Apple macOS

Now I will guide you on how to backup Android phone to PC that runs on Apple macOS.

Using the USB connection method
Using Bluetooth on a Mac

1. Using the USB connection method

On a Mac, launch Android File Transfer. It can be found on the launchpad.

Connect your Android phone to Mac with a USB connection after unlocking it.
On your phone, tap the notification that says “Charge this device via USB.”
Select “File Transfer”from the “Use USB for”list.
The phone should now appear in Android File Transfer on Mac. Drag and drop files between Android File Transfer and Finder.
When you’re done, remove your phone from your Mac and eject it.

2. Using Bluetooth on Mac

If you don’t have a cable handy, you can definitely use the Bluetooth feature to back up data from your Android. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices.

Select Bluetooth in System Preferences on Mac.
Click the Connect button next to the listed Android device to pair the two devices and follow the on-screen instructions.
Select Sharing on the main System Preferences page.
Check the box next to “Bluetooth Sharing”to allow file sharing via Bluetooth.
Right-click the connected Android smartphone in the Bluetooth section of System Preferences, returning there.
The pop-up menu allows you to select Send File to Device.
The Bluetooth file sharing window will appear. Click the “Submit”button after selecting the file you want to send.
To receive the file on your Android smartphone, click “Accept”.

3. Create a backup using Google Chrome OS.

Backing up an Android phone to a PC running Google Chrome is described in the following sections.

Using the USB connection method
Using the Share with Environment feature
Using the Google Drive Method
Using a USB flash drive

1. Using the USB connection method

Connect Android phone to PC with USB connection after unlocking it.
On your phone, tap the notification that says “Charge this device via USB.”
In the “Use USB for”section, select “File Transfer”.
Drag and drop files between devices using the Files app in Chrome OS.
When you’re done, turn off your Android phone.

2. Using the “Sharing with the environment”function

Enable the Share Sheet and Neighborhood Sharing flags in Chrome Omnibox by typing chrome:/flags.

You can confirm that Neighborhood Sharing is enabled by going to Settings and selecting Connected Devices from the menu on the left. It is recommended to enable the “Sharing with the environment”function.
Make sure that “Sharing with the environment”is enabled on your Android smartphone. Turn this feature on by going to Settings > Google > Device Connections > Neighborhood Sharing.
Select the file you want to share from Android’s Files menu, then click the Share button.
From the drop-down list, select “Share with Environment”.
Click “Accept”to accept the file on your Chromebook.

3. Using the Google Drive method

For Chrome OS devices, Google Drive should be your first choice for cloud storage. It’s included in the Files app, available from the menu on the left.

To transfer files from your Android device to your Chromebook, use the Google Files app. Also, it is a potentially lethal competitor to Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox for Android data backup on PC.

4. Using USB storage

You can transfer files to and from your Android phone by connecting a USB storage device with the appropriate adapter. Your phone must support USB in order to transfer data through the phone’s USB charging port.

Data transfer, external peripherals and other functions are supported through this protocol. An easy solution would be to buy a new external hard drive or SSD with the necessary connections if you’re using one that doesn’t come with the right cable.

Conclusion

So far, I have discussed various methods for backing up Android phone to PC, including Windows PC, macOS, and Chrome OS. Most of the solutions fall into the category of USB and Bluetooth file transfer methods, while some use the cloud storage platform to back up Android phone to PC.

FAQ

Can I backup Android phone to PC?

Backing up data from your Android mobile phone to PC via USB cable is quite easy. However, you should know that whether you have a Windows PC or a Mac, the way you download data from your smartphone changes.

How do I backup my entire Android phone on my computer?

1. Connect your Android smartphone to your computer. Open developer options by going to Settings > General.2. Choose Android debugging or USB debugging. Select USB to transfer files. To transfer files, select 3. Copy the files from your Android phone to your computer by navigating to it in Windows Explorer.

How to make a full backup of my Android phone?

1. Open the Google One app on your Android smartphone.2. Tap “Storage”at the bottom.3. Scroll to the Device Backup section. If you just got a phone, back it up. Then select “Set up data backup”.4. Click “Manage Backup”to access your backup settings. Turn on device data to back up the data on your phone.5. Now click “Backup”.

How do I backup my Android phone on my Windows 10 computer?

1. Connect your Android phone to your Windows PC with a USB cable. On an Android phone, select File Transfer if required.2. On your computer, search for Android data.3. Drag the selected files to your computer for backup.