One UI 9 is a big update. It’s a full Android version jump, and it’s landing on millions of Galaxy phones over the next few weeks.

Most of the time, it installs without a problem and keeps all your data. But “most of the time” isn’t “every time”. A failed install, a power cut or a phone that won’t boot after the update can wipe everything you didn’t save somewhere else.

That’s why I always take a backup before a major update. In this guide, I will show you three ways to back up your Galaxy phone before One UI 9: Samsung Cloud, Google and Smart Switch.

Quick answer: for the fastest backup, go to Settings > Accounts and backup and back up to both Samsung Cloud and Google Drive. For a full local copy that includes your photos and app data, use Smart Switch on a Windows PC or Mac.

Why You Need a Backup Before One UI 9

Here’s why it matters more than for a normal monthly patch:

  1. One UI 9 is several gigabytes, and a big install has more room to go wrong.
  2. If you don’t like One UI 9, the only way back to One UI 8.5 wipes your phone. I have explained it in my guide to downgrade One UI 9 to One UI 8.5.
  3. If the update fails, a factory reset is sometimes the only fix.

A backup takes 10 to 30 minutes. Losing years of photos and chats takes a lot longer to get over.

What Each Backup Method Saves

What gets saved Samsung Cloud Google Smart Switch (PC)
Contacts and calendar Yes Yes Yes
Call logs and messages Yes Yes Yes
Apps Yes Yes (redownloads from Play Store) Yes
Settings and home screen layout Yes Some Yes
Photos and videos Through Gallery sync Through Google Photos Yes, full copy
Needs internet Yes Yes No

My advice? Use at least two. Cloud backups are easy, and a Smart Switch copy on your computer is the safest.

Method 1: Back Up to Samsung Cloud

This is built into every Galaxy phone. All you need is a Samsung account.

  1. Connect your phone to Wi-Fi and plug it into the charger.
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Tap Accounts and backup.
  4. Under Samsung Cloud, tap Back up data.
  5. Pick what you want to save. I’d select everything.
  6. Tap Back up now and wait for it to finish.

When it’s done, you’ll see the date and time of your latest backup on the same screen. Check that it says today.

There’s more. Samsung Cloud doesn’t back up your photos this way. To save them, open the Gallery app, tap the menu (three lines) > Settings and turn on cloud sync.

Method 2: Back Up to Google Drive

Google backup is a good second copy, especially if you might switch phones later.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Accounts and backup.
  3. Under Google Drive, tap Back up data.
  4. Make sure backup is turned on.
  5. Tap Back up now.

For photos and videos, open Google Photos, tap your profile picture and turn on backup. It can take hours if you have a big library, so start it the night before.

Method 3: Back Up With Smart Switch on a PC or Mac

This is the method I trust the most. It makes a full copy of your phone on your own computer, including photos, videos and app data. No internet needed, and no cloud storage limits.

  1. Download Smart Switch for Windows or Mac from Samsung’s official Smart Switch page and install it.
  2. Open Smart Switch on your computer.
  3. Connect your phone with a USB cable.
  4. On your phone, tap Allow when it asks for access.
  5. In Smart Switch, click Backup.
  6. Choose what you want to save and click OK.
  7. Wait for it to finish. Don’t unplug the cable.

To bring your data back later, connect the phone again and click Restore. Smart Switch picks the latest backup by default.

No computer? You can do the same with a USB drive or a microSD card. Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > External storage transfer and choose Back up.

A Few More Things Before You Update

  1. WhatsApp chats aren’t in your phone backup by default. Open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat backup and tap Back up.
  2. Write down your Samsung and Google account passwords. You’ll need them after a reset.
  3. Note your 2FA app. If you use an authenticator app, make sure you can move your codes or have backup codes ready.
  4. Charge to at least 50% and keep 10GB or more free space.

Once that’s done, you’re ready. Head to Settings > Software update > Download and install. If One UI 9 isn’t there yet, check the One UI 9 update tracker for your model, or read my post on why the One UI 9 update is not showing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the One UI 9 update delete my data?

No. A normal over-the-air update keeps everything. The backup is only for when something goes wrong.

I flash firmware with Odin. Do I still need a backup?

Yes, even more. Flashing with HOME_CSC keeps your data, but flashing with CSC wipes the phone. Here’s my post on CSC vs HOME_CSC.

How much free storage does Samsung Cloud give me?

It depends on your country and plan. The free tier is small, which is one more reason to keep a Smart Switch copy on your computer.

Final Words

That’s it. Take a backup today, and One UI 9 can’t take anything from you, no matter what happens during the install.

Which Galaxy phone are you backing up? Drop your model number (Settings > About phone) in the comments, and I’ll tell you where your One UI 9 update stands.

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