Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system tries to make life easier with a smartphone. Live Tiles make it easy to see which apps you need to watch out for or which services you might want to update with a new status. Automatic image and contact backup was included in the first version of Windows Phone in 2010. Back in 2015 we had a very different idea of what a full backup was, which went far beyond what was available on Windows Phone 7. Set up a Windows Phone so you have everything you need if you’re about to install an update or replace your smartphone with another.
Before we begin, it’s important to note that the device we’re using for this example is running Windows Phone 8.1. Windows Phone 8.1 is beyond being the latest version of Windows Phone available to users, it includes the most robust backup and restore tools ever. Backed up information includes apps, their location on your Start Screen, background, theme, and Live Tile color. Email addresses are also backed up to Microsoft servers, but this depends on your settings. For example, Windows Phone 8.1 seems to back up user accounts and individual email addresses, but for these you will have to re-enter the password.
Even after making a backup, don’t expect the passwords of all your different apps to sync to your device if you need to restore them. So make sure you know the passwords for services like Facebook, Netflix, Reddit and Instagram as you will have to enter them again.
Press the power button on your Windows Phone. Now swipe up on the lock screen to unlock it. If you have added a PIN code for extra security, you may need to enter a PIN code.
Welcome to your Start Screen. Windows Phone 8.1 does not have a dedicated backup app. Instead, you’ll have to go to the Settings app. Many people pin the Settings app for Windows Phone to their Start Screen. If you are one of those people, open the Settings app by tapping Live Tile.
If you’re not one of those people who keep the Settings app on your Start Screen, place your finger on the top edge of your screen and swipe down to reveal the Action Center.
Faucet
Once in the Settings app, scroll down until you see it.
Now tap on it to take you to the Backup settings page.
Faucet
Then tap the Off Switch to turn it on. From this point forward, your most important Windows Phone settings will be stored in OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage service. Settings backups include the wallpaper you’ve assigned to the start Screen, any Internet Explorer passwords you’ve saved, where on your Start Screen and what Live Tiles, and a few others. Windows Phone 8.1 also allowed developers to back up their apps’ settings. That’s included, but there aren’t many apps in the Windows Store that take advantage of it yet. If you’ve never backed up your Windows Phone, now is a good time to hit the Back Up Now button. Press to continue opening the backup options.
Tap on the button and open Text Message Backup. If desired, select the time interval to restore messages to your device. button.
Tap now. Photos and Videos backup is slightly less straightforward than its counterparts. Before you open it, you need to decide how big of an image you want to back up. By default, Photos and Videos are automatically backed up in “Good Quality”. This means that your Windows Phone is uploading backups of your photos that are not as good as the original you took. For some this is good, for example it saves data usage. For others, memories are important, and photos taken with their smartphone are the best way to preserve those memories. That’s why I recommend turning on Best Quality photo backups. These backups only happen over Wi-Fi so they don’t exceed your data limit.
It is simpler to choose which one to use for videos. There is only one option to backup videos and that is “Best Quality”. It will only use Wi-Fi and will definitely prevent you from breaking your data plan.
That’s it, you have successfully backed up your Windows Phone. There are no other installations. Windows Phone will take over the backup for you, automatically copying what you uploaded and more to OneDrive. If you’re about to do a major upgrade, I still recommend going back to the Backup area and doing a manual backup.
