How to Back Up Your Phone, Tablet or Laptop Before a Repair

Most repairs, like a new screen, battery or charging port, don't touch your data. But any repair involves opening the device, and devices that are already damaged can fail without warning. That's why every good technician will tell you to back up your phone before a repair. It takes a few minutes, and it means your photos, messages and files are safe no matter what. Here's how to do it on each type of device.

iPhone and iPad

You have two good options:

1. iCloud backup: connect to Wi-Fi, open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then iCloud Backup, and choose Back Up Now. Wait until it finishes. If you don't have enough iCloud storage, you may need to free up space or temporarily upgrade.
2. Computer backup: connect the device with a cable. On a Mac, open Finder and select the device in the sidebar. On Windows, use the Apple Devices app or iTunes. Choose to back up all data to the computer. Turning on the option to encrypt the backup also saves things like saved passwords and Health data.

Also check that iCloud Photos is on if you rely on it, and that it has finished uploading.

Android phones and tablets

Menus vary by manufacturer and Android version, but the general steps are similar:

1. Open Settings and search for "Backup".
2. Turn on backup to your Google account and run it manually if there's an option to back up now.
3. Open Google Photos (or your gallery's cloud option) and confirm your photos and videos have finished uploading.
4. For messaging apps like WhatsApp, run the app's own chat backup from its settings. Chat history is often not included in the system backup.

Samsung users can also use Samsung Cloud or the Smart Switch app to save a copy to a computer.

MacBooks and Mac laptops

• Time Machine: plug in an external drive and use Time Machine (in System Settings) to make a full backup.
• Cloud sync: make sure iCloud Drive, or another cloud service you use, has finished syncing your Desktop and Documents.
• Copy key files manually: if you're short on time, drag your most important folders to a USB drive.

Windows laptops

• Copy your Documents, Desktop, Pictures and Downloads folders to an external drive.
• If you use OneDrive or another cloud service, check that syncing is complete before the repair.
• Note down any software licence keys you might need again.

What if the device won't turn on or the screen is broken?

A black screen doesn't always mean your data is gone:

• An iPhone with a broken screen may still back up to a computer it has trusted before.
• Your photos may already be in the cloud. Check from another device or a web browser.
• If the device is completely dead or water-damaged, board-level repair can sometimes bring it back long enough to recover data. Read more in our guide to getting data off a dead or water-damaged phone.

Tell us when you request a quote that you haven't been able to back up, so we know your data matters.

A few more things before handing over your device

• Verify the backup. Check the date of the last backup, or open a few files on the drive.
• Know your passwords. After a repair or a restore, you may need your Apple Account or Google account password.
• Remove sensitive items you don't need us to see, like a memory card, if they aren't required for the repair.

Planning a repair soon? See how our mobile repair service works from quote to drop-off.

Device repair in Ottawa — we come to you

Once your data is safe, let us handle the rest. We pick up your phone, tablet or laptop anywhere in Ottawa and Gatineau, repair it and drop it back off. Most repairs are completed the same day (MacBooks usually take 1–2 business days), with a 90-day warranty on parts and labour. Learn about our phone and tablet repair service, then get a free quote or book a pickup.

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