Do I have to backup my photos before activating a new device?

[Rebecca321]

I'm trying to back up my old Samsung Galaxi Mini to switch to the S6 but the cloud keeps saying my contacts upload failed and I don't know what to do. Photos said it would take 13 hours, so I was wondering if I could just do it another time, even after my new phone is activated - will I sitll have access to those photos and videos?

[Jakeman1 · Accepted solution]

You can do it later

[Salisbury]

  I would make sure your contacts are already backed up to Verizon Cloud and up to date. Before you proceed do another back up from the old phone first of the contacts to make sure. Open the Verizon Cloud app on the phone click on the top left to get into the settings and go into what to back up to see if contacts etc. is selected then back up. Make sure you're using wifi as to not use up all your data.

  13 hrs, for photos seems like a long time but Verizon Cloud sometimes says an extraordinary length of time and it ends up taking no where near that.

  Do you happen to have Verizon Cloud installed on a desktop computer as well?

[Jakeman1]

I would back up contacts to Google and if you need to your photos to Google Cloud. It will save you tons of headaches instead of using Verizon Cloud which will give you a bunch of headaches. Verizon cloud does work for some people but the general consensus is it does not work well.

[Salisbury]

  I thought Google Cloud or Drive backs up email contacts but not cellular phone number contacts, as Verizon Cloud does. Google after all doesn't support or provide any mobile cellular network.

[Jakeman1]

Google will only back up Google contacts so you need to change them all to google. Verizon Cloud only backs up Verizon Contacts so you would need to set them all to Verizon for their cloud to back them up.  unfortunately they do not make it easy and sometimes they change with each update as to the default of how they are saved.  I use Contacts Optimizer and change them all to one or the other then use that cloud to back up (usually Google now as it is seamless and so easy)

[Jakeman1]

The android system is designed to use Google as it's contacts backup regardless of what type of contact it is (email or cellular) as long as it is on the device as a Google Contact.  Verizon will back up all Verizon contacts regardless of what type they are (email or cellular)  as long as it is on the device as a Verizon Contact.  Verizon will not back up contacts that are on the device as Google contacts or SIM contacts or even Phone Contacts. Google will not back up contacts that are on the device as Verizon Contacts or SIM contacts or Phone Contacts.  Google, Verizon and your phone do not care if the contact is a cellular contact or an email contact as long as it is on your phones phone book as a contact and it meets the criteria (google for google and Verizon for Verizon) they will back the contact up.