ANDROID GUIDE
Before you reset a phone to fix a problem, or move to a new one, a backup decides how much of your setup comes with you. Google's Pixel Phone Help and Google One Help describe what is saved, how to check that a recent backup exists, and where the limits are. This guide follows that material in the order you would use it.
Before you start: the steps below come from Google's Pixel documentation, so menu names on other Android phones may differ. Some steps depend on the Pixel model.
Know what a backup does and does not cover
Google says you can back up data and settings from your phone to your Google Account, and that photos, videos and contacts are synced to their own services, separate from the device backup. Google One's page lists what Backup by Google One saves: MMS and SMS messages, pictures and videos, settings, contacts, call history and app data.
Check that a recent backup exists
- On a computer, open Google Drive.
- Click Storage on the left, then Backups.
- Look for your device in the list and read the last-modified date.
Make sure backups go to the right account
- Open Settings > System > Backup.
- Tap Account storage.
- Choose the Google Account you want to use, or tap Add account.
Two limits to know about
- Google One says your backup data, except what is saved to Google Photos, is erased if you turn backups off or do not use the device for 57 days.
- Timeline backups in Google Maps are a separate opt-in on each device, and Google says it can take a few days for changes to show in a backup.
Only then reset or switch phones
Google's Pixel page states the order directly: after you back up, you can reset the device by erasing everything on it. On a new Pixel, you can restore from a cloud backup during setup: sign in to your Google Account, set up your screen lock, and when asked to restore data from an old device, pick the backup, choose what to copy and tap Restore.
If restoring does not finish
Google notes that on Pixel 9 and later you can restore after setup through Settings > Accounts & backup > Android Switch > Start, and that if errors occur during a transfer you can try again to retrieve the missing data types. It also says you can restore from only one previous device that way, so reset first if you want to use a different one.
Sources: Google, "Back up or restore data on your Pixel device" (Pixel Phone Help), support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/7179901; Google, "Back up your device" (Google One Help), support.google.com/googleone/answer/9149304. Both pages were read on November 11, 2026. This post summarizes Google's documentation; the ordering and commentary are our own, we did not run these steps on a test device, and menu names may differ on your phone.