How to back up your phone before a repair.

The number one worry people have about phone repair is losing their photos, messages, and contacts. The good news: most repairs do not touch your data at all. But backing up is always a smart idea, and it only takes a few minutes.

Do you actually need to back up?

For the most common repairs, your data is completely safe:

• Screen replacement: No data risk. The screen is a separate component. Your storage chip is untouched.
• Battery replacement: No data risk. The battery is a separate component.
• Charging port replacement: No data risk. Same as above.

The only repairs with a data risk are:

• Motherboard repair: Rare, but this is where your data lives. Always back up if possible.
• Software troubleshooting: Some fixes involve resetting the phone. We will always warn you first.

Even though screen and battery repairs are safe, having a recent backup means you are covered if anything unexpected happens. It takes 5 minutes and could save you years of photos.

How to back up your iPhone

You get 5 GB free with every Apple ID. If that is not enough, the 50 GB plan costs $1.49 NZD per month. You can turn it off after the backup if you do not want to keep paying.

How to back up your Samsung

What about photos specifically?

Photos are usually the thing people care about most. Here are the quickest ways to make sure they are safe:

• iPhone: If iCloud Photos is turned on (Settings - Photos - iCloud Photos), your photos are already backed up automatically. Check that it says "Up to Date" at the bottom of the Photos app.
• Samsung / Android: Open the Google Photos app. Tap your profile picture, then "Photos settings", then "Backup". Turn it on if it is off. It uploads your photos to your Google account over Wi-Fi.
• Quick manual backup: Plug your phone into a computer and copy the DCIM folder (where photos are stored) to your desktop. Takes 5 to 10 minutes depending on how many photos you have.

What if the screen is too broken to use?

If your screen is completely black or unresponsive, you cannot navigate to the backup settings. Do not worry. A screen replacement will restore your ability to use the phone, and your data stays on the phone the entire time. Once the new screen is on, everything will be exactly where you left it.

If you need to get data off a phone with a dead screen before the repair (say, to use on a temporary phone), there are a couple of options:

• iPhone: If you have previously trusted a computer, plug the phone in and it will appear in Finder or iTunes. You can access your backup from there.
• Samsung: Some models support DeX or screen mirroring via USB-C to HDMI. You can see your phone's screen on a TV or monitor and operate it from there.

Related reading: what to expect from a same day repair and common phone problems and fixes. View our repair pricing.