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Article ID : 00255689 / Last Modified : 05/28/2024Print

How can I backup or restore content? (Android 11 or Higher)

    IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.

    Valid for

    • Android™ 11 or higher

    Your data is precious to you. Therefore, you should not save photos, videos, and other personal content only on your device's internal memory or the external memory card (SD® card). If something should happen with the hardware, or if your device is lost or stolen, the data stored on its internal memory or the external memory card is gone forever. You should use online backup options, which will save your data to online servers (the cloud).

    Note: It's important to remember the passwords you set when you back up data. If you forget a password, restoring important data such as photos, contacts, and messages may not be possible.

    To have a comprehensive backup system in place, it is recommended that you use all these backup options:

    • Automatically synchronize data using your Google™ account
    • Back up and synchronize photos and videos using Google Photos™
    • Back up data to Google Drive™

    Automatically synchronize data using your Google™ account

    You can backup content, such as your calendar and contacts, by letting Google apps synchronize automatically with your Google account. Your Google account may already be automatically synchronizing data with the Google apps you're using. You should check that the Automatically sync data feature is turned on, and then decide what Google apps you want to sync with your Google account.

    The following Google apps and data can be automatically synchronized for each Google account:

    • Calendar
    • Chrome
    • Contacts
    • Docs
    • Drive
    • Gmail
    • Google Fit data
    • Google News
    • Google Play Movies & TV
    • Keep notes
    • People details
    • Play Games Cloud Save
    • Sheets
    • Slides

    Note: The individual apps that can be automatically synchronized will differ depending on your device model, Android version, installed apps, and settings.

    To enable the Automatically sync data feature

    1. Find and tap Settings → Accounts/Passwords and accounts.
    2. Tap the switch beside Automatically sync data to turn the feature on.

    To automatically sync data for individual apps

    Note: Make sure to turn on the Automatically sync data feature first.

    1. Find and tap Settings → Accounts/Passwords and accounts.
    2. Tap the relevant Google account.
    3. Tap Account sync.
    4. Tap the switches beside different apps and data to enable or disable automatic synchronization.
    5. To synchronize manually, tap the Menu icon (three vertical dots) → Sync now.

    Back up and synchronize photos and videos using Google Photos™

    Using Google Photos, you can backup and synchronize photos and videos on your Xperia® device and external memory card (SD card) to a Google account. This way, all your photos and videos are backed up and secure.

    To activate the backup and synchronization of photos and videos

    • If you are using Google Photos for the first time:
      1. Make sure you're signed in on your device with the Google account you want to use for backup and synchronization.
      2. Find and tap Photos. The first time you open the app, a Backup & sync window opens in the lower part of the screen.
      3. Check that the switch to the right of Backup & sync is active.
      4. Check that the shown Google account is the one you want to use for backup and synchronization, then tap Confirm.
    • If you have already used Google Photos:
      1. Make sure you're signed in on your device with the Google account you want to use for backup and synchronization.
      2. Find and tap Photos.
      3. In the upper right corner, tap the cloud icon. The cloud icon has an oblique line when Backup & sync is inactive.
      4. Tap the switch next to Backup & sync is off to turn the feature on.
      5. Check that the shown Google account is the one you want to use for backup and synchronization, then tap Confirm.

    Note: Photos and videos stored on your device or SD card will be shown in the Google Photos app, whether they are backed up to your Google account or not. Backup & sync must be active for the photos and videos to be backed up to your Google account.

    Back up data to Google Drive

    Google Drive is a cloud storage app that allows you to upload backups to Google. Your backups are encrypted using your Google account password. For some data, your device's screen lock PIN, pattern, or password is also used for encryption. The backed-up data is then used to restore your settings and data to a new device or a device that has been reset to its original factory settings.

    Note: What is included in the backup might differ depending on your device model, Android version, installed apps, and settings. Check what applies to your specific device when you enable the feature.

    The backup includes:

    • Apps and app data
    • Call history
    • Contacts
    • Device settings (including Wi-Fi passwords and permissions)
    • Photos and videos
    • SMS

    To backup your data to Google Drive

    1. Find and tap Settings → System → (Advanced) → Backup.
    2. Tap the switch beside Backup to Google Drive to turn the feature on.
    3. Tap Account, then choose a Google account to use.
    4. Tap OK → DONE.

    To restore your data from Google Drive

    On a new Xperia® device or an Xperia device that has been reset to its original factory settings:

    1. Turn on your device.
    2. When prompted in the setup guide, connect to a Wi-Fi network.
    3. When prompted in the setup guide to Copy apps & data, tap NEXT.
    4. Tap either A backup from an Android phone or A backup from the cloud. Both options allow you to restore data from Google Drive.
    5. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your data.

    Note: If you go through the setup process without properly restoring your backed-up data from Google Drive, you will need to reset your device to its original factory settings and set it up again to restore your data from Google Drive.