Getting a new Android phone is always exciting. However, transferring data from your old device can be tedious, especially if you relied on Google Drive for backups. The good news is that restoring your Google Drive backup to a new Android phone is straightforward once you understand the steps.
Requirements for Restoring Google Drive Backup
Before starting the restoration process, ensure you meet these requirements:
- Your old Android phone had backups enabled for Google Drive.
- You used the same Google account on the old and new phones.
- The new phone runs Android 5.0 Lollipop or later.
- You have a stable internet connection on both devices.
If you meet these requirements, you can easily restore your Google Drive backup to the new phone in a few steps.
Enable Backup on New Android Phone
The first step is enabling backup on your new device:
- Open the Settings app on your new Android phone.
- Tap on ‘System’ or ‘Backup.’
- Select the ‘Backup’ option.
- Turn on the switch for ‘Back up to Google Drive.’
This allows your new phone to start backing up data to your Google Drive account. It is crucial as it lets you access the backup from your old device during the restoration process.
Restore Google Drive Backup
With backup enabled on your new phone, you can now restore the Google Drive backup from your old device:
- Open the Settings app on your new phone.
- Go to ‘System’ or ‘Backup’ and select ‘Backup.’
- Tap on ‘ Restore from Google Drive.’
- Sign in using the Google account containing the backup from your old phone.
- Select the backup you want to restore.
- Tap on ‘Restore’ to start the restoration process.
That’s it! Your phone will now transfer the backup data from Google Drive and restore it. The process may take a while depending on the size of your backup. Do not cancel the restoration process.
Alternative Ways to Restore Google Drive Backup
Apart from the steps above, you can also restore your Google Drive backup to a new Android phone in these ways:
Using the Google One App
If you have the Google One app installed, open it and:
- Tap on the ‘Backup’ tab.
- Select your old device’s backup.
- Tap on the three-dot menu.
- Choose ‘Restore to device’ and select your new phone.
Using Google Drive on Computer
You can also use a desktop browser to restore the backup:
- Go to drive.google.com and log in.
- Open the backup folder from your old device.
- Click on the three-dot menu next to a backup file.
- Choose ‘Download’ to download the backup to your computer.
- Now move the downloaded backup file to your new phone’s storage.
- Finally, use the steps above to restore from this backup file.
What Data is Restored from Google Drive Backup?
The Google Drive backup from your old phone contains lots of important data. Here is a look at what gets restored to your new device:
| Data Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Contacts | All names, numbers, and details |
| Call history | Recent incoming/outgoing calls |
| Text messages | Entire SMS/MMS conversations |
| Apps | Selected apps with settings and data |
| Photos & Videos | Media from camera and downloads |
| Audio files | Music, ringtones, podcasts etc. |
| Documents | Word, PDF and other files |
| App data | Private keys, settings, game progress etc. |
| Home screen layout | Wallpapers, widget positions and settings |
| System settings | Display, app permissions, WiFi networks etc. |
| Calendars | Events, reminders and details |
As you can see, the Google Drive backup contains almost all important data from your old Android phone. Restoring it migrates most of your information and settings to the new device.
Troubleshooting Google Drive Restore Issues
In some cases, you may encounter issues while trying to restore Google Drive backup to your new Android phone. Here are some common problems and fixes:
Backup Not Showing Up
If you cannot see the backup from your old phone on the new device, try these steps:
- Check if backup is completed on your old phone.
- Your new phone must use the same Google account as the old one.
- Force stop the Google Drive app and clear its data/cache.
- Check if you have enough storage space on the new phone.
- Toggle Airplane mode on/off to refresh connections.
Stuck on Preparing Backup
If the restoration process gets stuck, it could mean:
- Unstable internet connection. Try WiFi or toggle Airplane mode.
- Large backup size. Let the process continue for some time.
- Corrupted backup data. Your old phone backup may be faulty.
- Other apps consuming resources. Close other apps to free up memory.
Restored Backup Crashes Apps
Incompatible app data from old phone backups can make apps crash on your new device. To avoid this:
- Select app data you want to restore during the process.
- Do a factory reset and only restore app settings where possible.
- Manually reinstall apps after restoring other data.
Conclusion
Restoring your Google Drive backup is the easiest way to transfer data to a new Android phone. Simply enable backup on the new device, select the old phone’s backup and tap Restore. The process may take time depending on backup size but migrates most of your apps, settings, media files, documents and other important data.
With Google Drive integration, you no longer need cables or third-party apps to migrate your information to a new Android device. Just make sure to maintain regular backups so that your data is always available in your Google Drive when getting a new phone.