Have you ever lost your smartphone? Broken it? Dropped it the toilet, pool or hot tub? Experienced plain old hardware failure? What happened to all of the apps and other customizations that you had saved on your phone and how much time did it take to get your new phone set up “just the way you like it”?
Almost everyone I know has gone through the stress and pain of trying to restore a smartphone. In my previous article “Create a Digital File System in 5 Steps”, I included the importance of having a backup system in place to protect your important digital data. I think most people are aware of the need to have a backup system for their computer (although this may or may not actually get it done). But, how many of us apply this same logic to our smartphones? We should, after all, considering that smartphones are almost miniature computers and many of us keep vast amounts of important information on our phones.
Most of the major smartphones can back up data to either a computer or a cloud based system. There are pros and cons to cloud versus local backup systems, so first, you need to decide which is best for you.
Samsung users can take advantage of a FREE software program called Smart Switch. It is available for Windows/macOS/Android devices. This program not only backs up the information from your phone onto your computer, but it can also be used to transfer your data and apps from an old mobile device to a new one. Samsung Smart Switch Mobile App allows you to transfer content from an iPhone® or Android phone. Samsung Smart Switch for PC/Mac® allows you to upload data and apps from your old phone to a PC or Mac® and then transfer them to your new device.
Here’s how the PC version works to back up your smartphone in just a few simple steps.
Once the software has been downloaded, you will see a welcome screen with instructions to connect your phone to your computer via a USB connection.
Next, you will see a screen asking you whether you want to backup or restore your phone. There is also an Outlook sync option.
Tap the “Backup” button to initiate the backup process with your smartphone. In my case, I received the following message on my computer:
And then the following screen appeared on my phone. I clicked “allow” and the backup process continued to completion.
Once the backup is complete, SmartSwitch shows all of the categories which were successfully backed up.
The “More” button provides access to additional information about the software. The “Preferences” tab will display a list of backups that have been completed, including the date.
That’s it! Now you have a copy of your Samsung smartphone content including your settings, preferences, apps, contacts, email, music, photos, videos, voice recordings and more. The next time you get the dreaded “screen of death” on your smartphone, and at some point you will, simply open the app and hit “restore”. You will be up and running again in no time.
The Streamlined Office specializes in helping you become more efficient and productive in your home or business office. Contact us today for a FREE consultation at 480-221-0588.