Mobile phones have become as crucial to many of us as PCs. However, their primary goal has remained the same. We still use them to make phone calls and send texts, but we also have access to more complex functions such as shooting photos and videos, saving crucial documents, sending emails, etc. As a result, our phones have evolved into one-of-a-kind storage devices for our most important data. It is suggested that you back up this information if you wish to secure it, and one of the best ways to do so is to use an external hard drive. This post will demonstrate many methods for data backup from your Android to an external hard drive.
Easily Backup Android To External Hard Drive Using Computer
A computer is one method for data backup from your Android device to an external hard drive. In this situation, the computer functions as a go-between between your Android device and the hard drive and a temporary storage location for your files. To use this approach, move the files from your phone to your computer, then from your computer to the external hard drive. What you must do is as follows:
1 – Connect the Android device to your computer. You can connect using the cable that came with your charger.
2 – Using your computer, access the files on your Android device and choose the ones you want to back up.
3 – Select “Copy” or “Cut,” then save the files to a folder. We suggest creating a new folder and labeling it “Back up” or something similar to make it easier to find later. The process might take several minutes, depending on how many files you transfer.
4 – Disconnect your Android device from your computer once the files have been transmitted.
Now that your files have been saved to your computer, you may move to the next part of the process:
1 – Connect the external hard drive to your computer. Make use of the cable that came with your hard drive.
2 – Navigate to the external hard drive and select the folder you created when transferring the files from your device to your computer.
3 – After transferring the folder, disconnect the hard drive from your computer and keep it somewhere secure.
Easily Backup Android To External Hard Drive Without Using Computer
Well, while using a computer as a mediator while backing up data from your Android device to an external hard drive might be beneficial, it is also time-consuming. This is especially true when transferring a large number of files. Only some have access to a computer. Fortunately, you can backup your data with just your device and an external hard drive. Remember that you’ll need an OTG connector to connect your device straight to the external hard drive.
Transferring data from the Android device to an external hard drive is simple, but you must first establish which file system your hard drive uses. In many circumstances, this will be NTFS, a file type that most Android devices do not support. If you’re not sure what file system your external hard drive uses, check the device manual or follow these steps:
1 – Connect the external hard drive to your computer.
2 – Find the hard drive, right-click it, and press “Properties.”
3 – Check the text next to “File system.”
If you notice “NTFS,” you’ll need to install a third-party app to directly connect the external hard drive to your device. To do so, follow the steps below:
1 – Launch the Play Store on your device and search for “NTFS.”
2 – Install “exFAT/NTFS for USB by Paragon Software” on your Android device.
3 – Launch the app, read the terms and conditions, and press the “I accept” button.
4 – Using an OTG connector, connect the external hard drive to your Android device.
5 – Give the app permission to access the external hard drive and select “Mount.” Remember that the app isn’t free, but you may try it out for free to see whether it’s right for you.
6 – Select whether to continue the trial mode or make a purchase. Well, if this is your first time transferring files from your Android device to a hard drive, we recommend using the trial option. You can easily test the features before purchasing the app. You can sign in with your Facebook or email account.
Now that you’ve logged in, let’s get started on backing up your Android device‘s data to an external hard drive:
1 – Let the app access your Android device’s files by tapping “Open.”
2 – A pop-up window will display on the screen, alerting you that you must install Total Commander on your device. Select “Open Google Play” to go right to the Total Commander page.
3 – Tap “Install” and wait for the app to download.
4 – Launch Total Commander and grant it access to the files on your device.
5 – Find and tap “exFAT/NTFS for USB by Paragon Software” from the list.
6 – Find the files you like to back up and tap the copy option from the bottom menu.
7 – Copy and paste your file into the external drive.
8 – After transferring all the files, disconnect the external hard drive from your Android device.
Conclusion:
If you’re running out of storage space or want an offline copy of your files, external hard drives may make your life much simpler. They provide a safe and convenient option to save your valuable files in just a few steps. We hope that this article has helped you understand the various methods for backing up your files and that you now have a piece of mind knowing that your data is secure. Do you back up your files on external hard drives? Do you prefer internet storage or offline storage? Tell us about it in the comments section below.