How to Back Up Your Phone Before a Repair
We always recommend backing up before any repair — not because repairs usually cause data loss, but because it costs you five minutes and it means there's genuinely nothing to worry about, whatever happens.
Why we ask, even for a simple screen repair
Most repairs, including screen and battery replacements, don't touch your data at all. But we handle a lot of phones every day, and the honest, responsible thing to say is: back up first. It's the same reason you'd back up a laptop before sending it in for a service, even if the fault has nothing to do with the hard drive.
iPhone: the fastest way
- Connect to Wi-Fi.
- Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- Tap Back Up Now and wait for it to finish — you'll see the date and time of the last successful backup underneath.
If you don't have enough free iCloud storage, connecting to a computer with Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) and backing up locally works just as well and doesn't need extra storage space.
Android: the fastest way
- Connect to Wi-Fi.
- Go to Settings > Google > Backup (the exact wording varies slightly by manufacturer).
- Make sure Backup is switched on, then tap Back up now.
Photos and videos usually back up separately through Google Photos — check Google Photos > your profile icon > Photos settings > Backup to confirm it's switched on and up to date.
What if your phone won't turn on?
This is the situation where backing up in advance really matters — if the phone is already broken (water damage, a dead screen, a phone that won't power on), you can't back it up at that point. It's a genuine reason to make backing up before anything goes wrong a habit, not just a pre-repair checklist item.
What we do to protect your data regardless
We handle every device with the assumption that whatever's on it matters to you. We don't access your personal data, apps, or files during a repair unless a fault specifically requires it and you've been told first. If you're ever unsure whether a particular repair might affect your data, ask us before you leave your device — we'll always tell you honestly.