Aller au contenu principal
article Vérifié le 30 March 2026

Back Up Phone Photos — iCloud, Google Photos or USB (2026)

Afraid of losing precious photos if your phone breaks? How to back up to iCloud, Google Photos, PC or USB drive step by step.

Par l'équipe éditoriale Lumio
Back Up Phone Photos — iCloud, Google Photos or USB (2026)

Back up your phone photos: the complete guide

You have hundreds of photos on your phone: birthdays, holidays, photos of the grandchildren, outings with friends. What would happen if your phone broke down, was stolen or lost? Without a backup, all those photos would be gone for good. This guide explains step by step how to keep your photos safe, whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone.

Transparency note: This article contains Amazon.fr affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep this site free and up to date.

Why backing up your photos is essential

Every year in France, thousands of people lose their personal photos because of a broken, lost or stolen phone. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, 538,000 mobile phone thefts were recorded in France in 2023 (source: crime and offence database, Ministry of the Interior, 2024). On top of that come hardware failures, drops into water and handling errors.

According to a study by Western Digital published in 2023, 29% of smartphone users have no backup of their photos. Among them, one third has already permanently lost photos.

For seniors, these photos often have irreplaceable sentimental value: family memories, photos of loved ones who have passed away, moments shared with grandchildren. Backing them up regularly means ensuring you never lose them.

The good news: backing up your photos is simple, and in most cases, it can happen automatically, without any action on your part day to day.

Method 1: iCloud Photos (for iPhones)

If you have an iPhone, the simplest solution is iCloud Photos. It is Apple’s backup service, built directly into your phone. Your photos are automatically sent to Apple’s secure servers via your Wi-Fi connection.

What you get for free

Apple offers 5 GB of free iCloud storage with every Apple account (formerly called Apple ID). These 5 GB are shared between photos, phone backups, documents and iCloud emails. In practice, 5 GB can store roughly 1,500 to 2,000 photos.

If you need more space, Apple offers iCloud+ subscriptions:

  • 50 GB: 0.99 euros per month (enough for most uses)
  • 200 GB: 2.99 euros per month (shareable with family)
  • 2 TB (2,000 GB): 9.99 euros per month

Source: apple.com/fr/shop/go/product/icloud, prices as of March 2026.

How to enable iCloud Photos, step by step

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone (the grey gear icon on the home screen).

  2. Tap your name at the very top of the screen. If you see “Sign in to iPhone”, you do not yet have an Apple account. Create one by following the on-screen instructions, or ask a family member for help.

  3. Tap iCloud.

  4. Tap Photos.

  5. Enable “Sync this iPhone” by toggling the switch to green.

  6. Choose “Optimise iPhone Storage”. This option is recommended: it keeps high-quality photos in iCloud, and lighter versions on your phone to save space.

That is it. From now on, every photo you take will be automatically backed up to iCloud whenever your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi. You can verify the backup is working by opening the Photos app and scrolling to the very bottom: you will see a message showing the number of synced photos.

How to check remaining iCloud space

Go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud. A coloured graph at the top of the screen shows you the space used and space available. If the bar is nearly full, you will receive a notification on your phone inviting you to free up space or upgrade to a higher plan.

Method 2: Google Photos (for Android phones)

If you have a Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, or any other Android phone, Google Photos is the most practical solution. The app is usually pre-installed on your phone.

What you get for free

Google offers 15 GB of free storage, shared between Google Photos, Gmail (your email) and Google Drive (your documents). In practice, if you use Gmail and Google Drive sparingly, those 15 GB can store roughly 5,000 to 7,000 photos.

If you need more space, Google offers Google One subscriptions:

  • 100 GB: 1.99 euros per month
  • 200 GB: 2.99 euros per month
  • 2 TB (2,000 GB): 9.99 euros per month

Source: one.google.com/about/plans, prices as of March 2026.

How to enable Google Photos backup, step by step

  1. Open the Google Photos app on your phone. It is the colourful pinwheel icon. If you cannot find it, search for “Photos” in your phone’s search bar.

  2. Sign in to your Google account if you have not already. You normally have a Google account if you have a Gmail address.

  3. Tap your profile picture (or the initial of your first name) at the top right of the screen.

  4. Tap “Photos settings”.

  5. Tap “Backup”.

  6. Enable backup by toggling the switch to on.

  7. Choose backup quality. Two options are available:

    • Original quality: photos are backed up as-is, without compression. They take up more space.
    • Storage saver: photos are slightly compressed. The quality difference is invisible to the naked eye for everyday use (family sharing, viewing on screen). This option is recommended as it allows you to store far more photos in your free space.

Backup starts automatically when your phone is connected to Wi-Fi. A small cloud icon with an upward arrow briefly appears in the notification bar to indicate backup is in progress.

How to check remaining Google storage

In Google Photos, tap your profile picture, then “Photos settings”, then “Backup”. You will see the space used and remaining. You can also check your total storage at one.google.com/storage.

Method 3: Transfer your photos to a computer via USB cable

Backing up your photos to your computer is a reliable method that requires no subscription. It is also a good complement to cloud backup: having your photos in two different places is even safer.

What you need

  • Your phone
  • Your computer (Windows or Mac)
  • Your phone’s charging cable (it is the same cable you use to charge the battery)

From an Android phone to a Windows PC

  1. Plug your phone into your computer with the USB cable.

  2. On your phone, a notification appears. Tap it and choose “File transfer” (or “MTP”). If you do not see this notification, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification panel.

  3. On your computer, open File Explorer (the yellow folder icon in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen).

  4. In the left menu, click on your phone’s name (for example “Samsung Galaxy” or “Xiaomi Redmi”).

  5. Open the “DCIM” folder then “Camera”. This is where all your photos are stored.

  6. Select the photos to copy. To select all, press Ctrl + A (both keys at the same time). To select specific photos, hold the Ctrl key and click each desired photo.

  7. Right-click on the selected photos, then click “Copy”.

  8. Create a folder on your computer to store your photos. For example, on the Desktop, right-click, then “New”, then “Folder”, and name it “Phone photos March 2026”.

  9. Open that folder and right-click inside, then “Paste”. The transfer begins. Wait for the progress bar to finish before unplugging the cable.

From an Android phone to a Mac

  1. First install the Android File Transfer application on your Mac. Download it free from android.com/filetransfer. Without this application, your Mac cannot read your Android phone’s contents.

  2. Plug your phone into the Mac with the USB cable. If your Mac only has USB-C ports (as is the case with recent Macs), you will need a USB-C to USB-A adapter (available from around 8 euros).

  3. On your phone, choose “File transfer” in the notification that appears.

  4. Android File Transfer opens automatically on your Mac. Navigate to the DCIM folder, then Camera.

  5. Select your photos and drag them to a folder on your Mac (for example to the Desktop).

From an iPhone to a Windows PC

  1. Plug your iPhone into your computer with the Lightning cable (or USB-C for iPhone 15 and newer).

  2. On your iPhone, a message appears: “Trust This Computer?”. Tap “Trust” and enter your unlock code.

  3. On your computer, open File Explorer.

  4. Click “Apple iPhone” in the left menu, then “Internal Storage”, then “DCIM”. Your photos are sorted into subfolders.

  5. Select, copy and paste your photos into a folder on your computer, as explained above for Android.

From an iPhone to a Mac

  1. Plug your iPhone into the Mac with the cable.

  2. Open the Photos app on your Mac (it is pre-installed).

  3. Your iPhone appears in the left menu of the Photos app. Click its name.

  4. Click “Import All New Photos” to automatically copy all photos not yet on your Mac. You can also select individual photos before clicking “Import Selection”.

Imported photos are stored in your Mac’s photo library. They will not be deleted from your iPhone.

Method 4: Copy your photos to a USB drive or external hard drive

A USB drive or external hard drive is a practical solution for having a physical copy of your photos that you can keep at home or entrust to a family member. It is also useful for transporting your photos and showing them on another screen (television, a relative’s computer).

Which USB drive or hard drive to choose?

  • 64 GB USB drive: sufficient for roughly 20,000 to 25,000 photos. Available from around 8 euros.
  • 128 GB USB drive: for roughly 40,000 to 50,000 photos. Available from around 12 euros.
  • 1 TB external hard drive: to store over 300,000 photos, plus videos and documents. Available from around 45 euros.

For simple use, a 64 GB or 128 GB USB drive is more than enough.

How to do the transfer

The simplest method goes through your computer. Here are the steps:

  1. First transfer your photos from phone to computer by following the steps in Method 3 above.

  2. Plug your USB drive or external hard drive into a USB port on your computer.

  3. On Windows: open File Explorer. Your USB drive appears in the left menu (for example “USB Drive (E:)”). Open the folder where you copied your photos, select them, right-click, “Copy”, then open your USB drive and right-click, “Paste”.

  4. On Mac: your USB drive appears on the Desktop or in the Finder (left menu). Drag your photo folder onto the USB drive.

  5. Wait for the transfer to finish before removing the USB drive. On Windows, click the small arrow at the bottom right of the screen (near the clock), then the USB icon, then “Eject”. On Mac, click the small eject icon next to the USB drive name in the Finder. Never remove a USB drive without ejecting it: you risk corrupting the files.

Direct transfer from phone to USB drive (without a computer)

This is possible, but you need an adapter:

  • For iPhone (Lightning): a Lightning to USB adapter costs around 30 euros (Apple brand) or 10 to 15 euros (third-party brands).
  • For iPhone 15 and newer (USB-C): a simple USB-C to USB-A adapter is enough (around 8 euros).
  • For Android (USB-C): an OTG (On-The-Go) USB-C to USB-A adapter costs around 5 to 8 euros.

Once the adapter is plugged between your phone and the USB drive, open the “Files” app (on iPhone) or the file manager (on Android) to copy your photos to the drive.

Method 5: Share your photos with your family

Backing up your photos is good. Sharing them with your loved ones is even better. Here are the simplest methods.

Shared albums on iCloud (iPhone)

If you and your family members have iPhones, iCloud shared albums are a very practical solution. They do not count against your iCloud storage space.

  1. Open the Photos app.
  2. Go to the Albums tab.
  3. Tap the + at the top left, then “New Shared Album”.
  4. Give the album a name (for example “Summer holidays 2026”).
  5. Add the people you want to share with by entering their email address or phone number.
  6. Add the desired photos.

Your family members will receive an invitation and can view the photos, as well as add their own. It is ideal for a collaborative family album.

Shared albums on Google Photos (Android)

  1. Open Google Photos.
  2. Select the photos you want to share (long-press one photo, then tap the others).
  3. Tap the Share button (triangle or arrow icon).
  4. Choose “Create shared album” or send directly via a link.
  5. Add people by entering their email address.

Recipients will receive a link to view the photos, even if they do not have a Google account (when shared via link).

Sending photos via WhatsApp

To send a few photos on a one-off basis, WhatsApp is the most familiar method for seniors. According to the CREDOC 2024 digital barometer, 55% of those aged 60-69 and 32% of those over 70 use WhatsApp regularly in France.

  1. Open a WhatsApp conversation with the desired contact.
  2. Tap the paperclip icon (Android) or + (iPhone) at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Choose “Gallery” or “Photo & Video Library”.
  4. Select the desired photos (up to 30 at a time).
  5. Tap Send.

Note: WhatsApp compresses photos to send them more quickly. The quality is sufficient for viewing on a phone, but the photos will not be in their original quality. To share high-quality photos, prefer iCloud or Google Photos shared albums, or send the photos as a “document” in WhatsApp (this preserves original quality).

How much storage space do you need?

Here is a simple guide to estimate your needs:

  • 1,000 photos taken with a recent smartphone take up roughly 2 to 3 GB of space.
  • A one-minute video in standard quality takes up roughly 100 to 150 MB (i.e. 0.1 to 0.15 GB).
  • A one-minute video in high definition (4K) takes up roughly 300 to 400 MB.

In practice:

Number of photosSpace needed (approx.)Suitable solution
Under 2,000Under 5 GBFree iCloud (5 GB)
2,000 to 5,0005 to 15 GBFree Google Photos (15 GB)
5,000 to 15,00015 to 40 GBiCloud 50 GB (0.99 euros/month) or Google One 100 GB (1.99 euros/month)
Over 15,000Over 40 GB128 GB USB drive + paid cloud

If you record a lot of videos (birthdays, grandchildren’s performances), your storage needs will be significantly higher. In that case, a paid cloud subscription or an external hard drive is recommended.

To find out the number of photos on your phone:

  • On iPhone: open Photos, go to Albums, scroll to the very bottom. The total number of photos and videos is displayed.
  • On Android: open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, then “Photos settings”, then “Backup”. The number of backed-up photos is displayed.

Common mistakes to avoid

Mistake 1: Believing the cloud backs up everything automatically without checking

Cloud backup only works if it is enabled and if you have available space. If your iCloud or Google storage is full, new photos are no longer backed up, and your phone does not always warn you visibly.

What to do: once a month, verify that backup is active and that you still have space. Follow the steps described earlier in the “How to check remaining space” section.

Mistake 2: Deleting photos from the phone thinking they are in the cloud

If you have enabled iCloud Photos or Google Photos sync, your photos are linked between your phone and the cloud. Deleting a photo from your phone also deletes it from the cloud. This is a very common mistake that leads to permanent photo loss.

What to do: only delete photos from your phone if you have a separate copy (on a computer, USB drive or hard drive). To free up space on your phone without deleting photos from the cloud, use:

  • On iPhone: Settings, your name, iCloud, Photos, then “Optimise iPhone Storage”.
  • On Android: in Google Photos, Settings, Backup, then “Free up device space”.

Mistake 3: Never backing up on a physical medium

The cloud is convenient, but it depends on your internet connection and your subscription. If you forget to pay the subscription, or if your account is hacked, you could lose access to your photos.

What to do: in addition to the cloud, copy your most precious photos to a USB drive or external hard drive once or twice a year. Store this medium in a safe place, preferably different from where your phone is (for example, at a family member’s home).

Mistake 4: Using a single weak password for your Apple or Google account

Your Apple or Google account protects access to all your photos backed up in the cloud. A weak password (date of birth, a relative’s first name, “123456”) puts all your data at risk.

What to do: use a password of at least 12 characters, mixing letters, numbers and symbols. For example, an easy-to-remember phrase like “MyCat3Eats!Well” is both strong and memorable.

Mistake 5: Putting off backing up until later

This is the most common mistake of all. You tell yourself “I’ll do it tomorrow” and end up never doing it. Then the phone drops or gets stolen, and the photos are lost.

What to do: enable automatic cloud backup right now. If you have read this guide this far, take 5 minutes to follow the steps in Method 1 (iPhone) or Method 2 (Android). In 5 minutes, your photos will be safe.

Summary: which method to choose?

MethodCostDifficultyAutomaticIdeal for
iCloud Photos (iPhone)Free (5 GB) to 0.99 euros/month (50 GB)EasyYesiPhone users who want an effortless solution
Google Photos (Android)Free (15 GB) to 1.99 euros/month (100 GB)EasyYesAndroid users who want an effortless solution
Copy to computerFreeMediumNoThose who want a local copy alongside the cloud
USB drive / hard drive8 to 45 euros (one-time purchase)MediumNoThose who want a physical medium to store in a safe place

The best strategy is to combine two methods: automatic cloud backup (Method 1 or 2) for everyday use, and a copy to USB drive or computer (Method 3 or 4) once or twice a year for your most important photos.

Editorial note

Sources consulted:

  • French Ministry of the Interior, crime and offence database, 2023 report (published 2024)
  • 2024 digital barometer, CREDOC / ARCEP / CGE / Agence du numerique
  • Western Digital, “Data Never Sleeps” study on backup habits, 2023
  • Apple, iCloud+ pricing (apple.com/fr, consulted March 2026)
  • Google, Google One pricing (one.google.com, consulted March 2026)

Limitations of this article: The steps described correspond to the most recent versions of iOS (iOS 18) and Android (Android 15) at the time of writing. Menus and options may vary slightly depending on your phone brand (Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, etc.) and its system version. Cloud subscription prices are subject to change.

Verification date: 30 March 2026

Conflicts of interest: This article contains Amazon affiliate links. Editorial recommendations are independent of any commercial relationship.

Questions fréquentes