How to Backup Google Messages

Google Messages doesn’t have its own Back up button. Instead, your texts are saved as part of your Android phone’s backup to your Google account, alongside apps, contacts, and settings. Once it’s turned on, it runs automatically, and your messages come back when you set up a new phone with the same account. This guide shows how to turn on and check the backup, how to restore it, and what to use if you want a copy you can open yourself.

Quick answer

Open Settings on your Android phone, go to Google > Backup (or System > Backup), turn on Backup by Google One, and tap Back up now. Make sure SMS & MMS messages appears in the list of backed-up data.

How to back up Google Messages

Step 1: Open backup settings

Open the Settings app. Depending on your phone, go to Google > Backup, or System > Backup. On Samsung phones, look under Google > Backup or search Settings for “backup.”

Step 2: Turn on backup

Turn on Backup by Google One (sometimes called Back up to Google Drive). Check that the account shown is the one you want to use.

Step 3: Check what’s included

Below the switch, Android lists the types of data being backed up. Confirm that SMS & MMS messages is there. Some phones also show Device data or Other device data; keep it on.

Step 4: Back up now

Tap Back up now. Stay on Wi-Fi and keep the phone charging until it finishes. After this, backups run automatically, usually overnight when the phone is idle and charging.

How to restore your messages

Messages are restored when you set up a phone:

1. On the new phone (or after a factory reset), sign in with the same Google account during setup.
2. When asked, choose to restore from your backup and select the device it came from.
3. Make sure messages are included, then finish setup.
4. Open Google Messages and set it as your default SMS app if prompted. Your conversations appear as the restore completes.

You generally can’t restore a Google backup onto a phone that’s already set up without resetting it. For moving to a new phone, see our guide on transferring Google Messages to a new phone.

Where is the backup stored?

The backup lives in your Google account storage, but you can’t open or read the messages from it. You can see that it exists in the Google Drive app under Storage > Backups. See viewing your SMS backup on Google Drive for details.

Want a copy you can read?

If you need a file of your messages, for example to keep records or print a conversation, use a third-party SMS backup app from the Play Store. These apps can save texts as a file to your phone or cloud storage, and some can restore them later. Review the app’s permissions before installing, since it will be able to read your messages.

Things to know

• Backups count toward your Google account storage.
• Google may delete a backup if the phone isn’t used for a long time (roughly two months), so set up a new phone soon after switching.
• Chats in other apps, like WhatsApp, use their own backup settings.
• Switching from a Samsung Messages app? See transferring Samsung Messages to Google Messages.

Troubleshooting

• Back up now is grayed out: Connect to Wi-Fi and plug in the charger. Some phones only back up on Wi-Fi.
• SMS isn’t listed: Update Google Messages and Google Play services from the Play Store, then check again.
• Backup failed: Free up Google account storage, or check that your account isn’t a work account with backups disabled by an administrator.

Frequently asked questions

Does Google Messages back up photos and videos in texts?

MMS messages are included in the backup, but very large attachments may not all be kept. Save important photos to Google Photos separately to be safe.

Can I back up messages to my computer?

Not with the built-in backup. Use a third-party SMS backup app and save the file to a folder you can copy to your computer.

Summary

1. Go to Settings > Google > Backup.
2. Turn on Backup by Google One and confirm SMS & MMS are included.
3. Tap Back up now.
4. Restore by signing in with the same account when setting up a phone.