Although most of the communication nowadays happens on new social media apps, text messages still are one of the most used mediums of communication on smartphones. Some of these text messages can be important for you in different ways depending on the context. Have you ever thought about taking regular backups of your text messages on an Android phone? There are several ways to take these backups and we'll explore them one by one. The good thing is that backups of text messages do not take up much space. So, no matter which solution you opt for, there always will be space for backups.
One of the methods shown below can be used to take backups of anything on your Android smartphone. Using 3rd-party apps is more convenient, but you never know when they are going to be discontinued.
So, let's get started and learn different ways to securely take backups of all the text messages arriving on an Android smartphone. Feel free to pick the method that works best for you. Here we go!
Why Backup Text Messages?
Before we dive into learning the methods of backing up text messages on Android phones, we'll first quickly discuss why we need it in the first place. Here are some of the concrete reasons to do so.
- Accidental Deletion: It is very likely that now and then you inadvertently delete some of the most important texts. Once they are purged, recovery is almost impossible.
- Device Loss or Damage: A smartphone can also get stolen and may get damaged—accidentally. In both cases, your text messages are gone forever.
- Switching Phones: If you are changing your phone, transferring text messages can be much easier if you have a backup of the same.
Now that we know the reasons to keep backups of text messages, let's start with the methodologies to do it. All the methods are safe and do not damage or corrupt your phone in any way.
1. Use Google Backup (Built-in Solution)
The first solution is easy to use and works flawlessly. One of the Google services available on an Android smartphone is the Google backup service. So why not use it to our advantage? Here's how to do it.
To get started, go to Settings → Manage backup option. Here, click the Turn on button. To start backup immediately, you can click the Back up now option.
To ensure the backup is taken in all cases, switch on the setting to take backup both when using mobile or Wi-Fi data. You can find it in the Advanced settings section.
These backups are directly stored in your Google account. So, whenever you change your Android device, use the same Google account while the new device setup process is going on. It'll automatically pull down all the saved data from your Google account into the device.
2. Use Third-Party Apps
Although Google backup is a reliable and recommended method to backup data on an Android phone, some people prefer 3rd-party apps specifically designed for this task. If you are in the same boat, here are some apps one can use to take text message backups on an Android smartphone.
SMS Backup & Restore
This is a popular and free app one can use to take SMS backups on your phone. It has a simple interface and can be configured to take backups automatically at regular intervals.
Following are some of the primary features of this app.
- Take a backup of both text messages and call logs.
- Save backups to remote cloud storage services viz., Dropbox or Google Drive.
- Configure it to take automated and recurring backups.
- Selectively restore from a large archive to speed up the process.
- Transfer backup files directly to a secondary Android device.
- Convert backup file format for easy reading on a computer.
Super Backup & Restore
Another app you can use to not only backup SMS but also apps, call logs, and whatnot. It has both free and paid versions though the former variant is good enough for common use cases.
You can use the following features from within this app.
- Create automatic backup schedules.
- Save to remote cloud storage services of your choice.
- Save backups to an SD card.
- Easily restore backup data in a few clicks.
- Backup apps, call logs, photos, etc.
3. Manual Export (Advanced Option)
And last but not least is an option to complete the backup process, manually. It doesn't take much time and you are in full control of your backup files. You can do it in the following way.
First of all, install the SMS restore app mentioned in the previous section. It has an option to export the text messages in the form of an XML file.
You can now save this file both locally on your PC and upload it to a cloud storage service of your choice—manually.
What the app was doing automatically, you are doing it manually. The advantage is that you have a choice of cloud storage services not supported by the app. And, you can also make multiple remote copies of your backup files.
For restoration, simply give access to the XML file to that same app during restoration and all the SMS messages will appear back on your Android device.
Tips for Secure Backups
Now that we are familiar with different ways to take text message backups, let's look at some of the best practices on can follow to ensure your backups work—whenever needed.
- Use Cloud Storage: Never rely only on locally-saved backup files whether they are on your mobile device or your desktop PC. Always save them on at least 2 cloud storage accounts.
- Encrypt Backups: Always make sure the backup files are encrypted before they get saved. Apps may do it automatically (check that with your app), but if you are exporting plain XML files, encrypt them before uploading them to the cloud storage.
- Test Restore Functionality: Always run mock restoration tests with the actual backup files to ensure they do work. Failing to do so may get you in trouble if the restoration process does not go as intended in the time of need.
Conclusion
Backing up your text messages on an Android phone is a simple yet vital step to safeguard important information. Whether you rely on Google’s built-in backup or prefer third-party apps like SMS Backup & Restore, these methods ensure you’re prepared for any eventuality. Take a few minutes today to set up your backup—your future self will thank you!
