How to Back Up Your Phone Before a Repair

Most repairs don’t touch your data — but any phone can fail unexpectedly, especially one that’s already damaged. A backup takes a few minutes and means you’ll never lose your photos or messages, whatever happens.

iPhone: back up with iCloud

1. Connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Open Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup.
3. Turn on Back Up This iPhone, then tap Back Up Now.
4. Wait until it finishes — you’ll see the time of the last successful backup.

If your iCloud storage is full, you can buy more temporarily, or use a computer instead.

iPhone: back up to a computer

• Mac: connect the iPhone, open Finder, select it in the sidebar and choose Back Up Now.
• Windows: use the Apple Devices app (or iTunes) and choose Back Up Now.

Tick “Encrypt local backup” if you want saved passwords and Health data included.

Android: back up with Google

1. Open Settings and search for Backup (it’s under Google or System on most phones).
2. Make sure backup is turned on for your Google account and tap Back up now.
3. Open Google Photos and confirm backup is complete.

Samsung owners can also use Samsung Cloud or Smart Switch on a computer.

Don’t forget these

• WhatsApp: chats are backed up separately — Settings → Chats → Chat backup.
• Authenticator apps: if you use one for two-factor codes, make sure your codes are synced or that you have backup codes saved somewhere safe.
• Passwords: know your Apple ID or Google account password — you may need it to sign back in after a repair.
• Your passcode: a technician may need to test the phone after a repair, so ask how the shop handles this.

What if the phone won’t turn on?

If the phone is completely dead, you can’t make a new backup — but you may already have one. Check your iCloud or Google account on another device to see when the last backup ran. Tell the repair shop if data is your top priority so they know before they start.

Ready for your repair?

Once you’re backed up, see what we fix or request a quote.