How to fix Automatic Google Backup is Broken on Android

Many Android users are reporting a strange problem. The automatic Google Drive Backup feature on their Android device stops working without any warning or notification!

The problem gets unmasked when they incidentally check Android Settings. The ‘Back up Now’ button under Settings> System > Google > Backup> Back up to Google Drive is greyed out and inaccessible. While the ‘Active backups’ list shows ‘Waiting for backup’ under data categories — App data, Call history, Photo and Videos etc.

The problem has been commonly reported on Samsung Galaxy Note, Motorola, Google Pixel, OnePlus, LG V30, Huawei Mate Pro and some other devices running either Android 9.0 Pie or Android 10. The Android backup issue may not be limited to just these phones, as usually users don’t check if their automated Google Drive Backup function is working or not. Thus, the problem may have remained largely unnoticed.

Moving on, workarounds to fix the issue, like Restart, Reboot, Factory Reset or re-adding Google account have all been proven futile. So now, your device is not backed up on Google Drive while the cause of the problem is also unknown.

If you’ve been affected by this problem on Android phones there are two things that should worry you now —

How to fix the problem so that Google Drive starts backing up Android data again?

And equally important—how to recover Android data that is already lost as you might have deleted important photos, videos, contacts, text messages etc., from your phone, knowing that there’s Google Drive backup to fall back on.

So first let’s delve into the first question.

How to fix Google Drive Backup Broken issue on Android phones?

So far, it seems that Google and Android phone OEMs haven’t rolled out a solution to fix this bug.

However, thankfully, some Android users have shared a couple of solutions in various discussion forums that have worked for them —

• Disable all security locks on Android phone
• Use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) commands

Note: These solutions are temporary fixes. Further, they may or may not work on your Android device. But recommended to try.

Solution 1: Disable all security locks on your Android phone

You may be using fingerprint, pattern, Pin code, or face recognition to unlock your phone screen or any app. Disable the authentication lock under your Android ‘Settings’ and then check if the Google Drive ‘Backup Now’ button is accessible or not. This is a short-term solution as every time you want to backup data on Google Drive, the security phone lock has to be removed.  Anyway, a temporary fix but worth trying in the meanwhile.

Solution 2: Use ADB command to force backup your Android

Another way is to use ADB command line that allows force Android backup. ADB or Android Debug Bridge is a client server program, which uses command-lines that helps your device to communicate while connecting the phone to computer, transferring files or installing/ uninstalling apps and so on.

The method may appear intimidating to a non-technical user, but is a more credible solution than the previous one.

Here is the procedure to activate Google Drive Backup on Android phone using ABD command line: (Source: XDA Developers)

I. What you need

• Device specific drivers
• Download ADB installer on Windows PC from here
• Turn on USB Debugging to establish an ADB connection between your Android phone and PC.

Below are the steps to enable USB debugging on Android 9.0 (Pie)

• On your Android phone, follow Settings> System> Advanced > Developer option
• Scroll to the Debugging and turn on the ‘USB debugging‘ toggle

• On prompt of ‘Allow USB debugging?’ message, tap OK. USB Debugging on Android Pie is now turned on.

II. Steps to insert AMD commands to activate Google Drive Backup

1. Connect the phone to the PC
2. Open Command prompt – CMD
3. Type in console

Code:

4. If error “Backup finished with result: Backup Cancelled” pops up, type in console

Code:

and then, Code:

5. When it’s finished reboot your phone, ‘Backup Now’ button should be blue and functional.

How to recover Android data lost after the Google Drive ‘Backup Now’ button greyed out & shows ‘Waiting to Backup’?

Automatic Google Drive Backup stops on your Android phone without intimating. By the time you realize the whammy, many important photos, videos, documents, call history, etc., might’ve been already deleted from the mobile device!

But no need to panic. Such situations can be handled.

For recovery from phone memory

Get an Android Data Recovery software, such as Stellar Data Recovery for Android. The software restores lost or deleted photos, videos, call history, contacts, messages, documents, WhatsApp chats & media, on your Android phone. You can recover data from any Android phone including those from Samsung, LG, Motorola, Google, Huawei, and OnePlus, that report the Google Backup issue. The software works on latest Android versions and is a free tool.

For recovery from SD card

If your photos, videos, or audio files are lost from a Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Galaxy Note, LG, or other Android SD card, try the SD card recovery software — Stellar Photo Recovery to get back the lost files.

Recommended: First, go for the free demo version of the recovery software. Only when you see the required Android data after scanning in the demo, opt for the licensed key to save the found photos, videos, call history, etc.

Note: Recover Android data as soon as you realize the problem to avoid further overwriting, which diminishes recovery chances.

Go for an alternative Android backup solution

Even when you disable your phone’s security lock or apply the AMD command line, the problem isn’t over yet. These can be temporary solutions unless Google or Android brings in some updates to fix this bug. Till then you can opt for alternative Android data backup solutions such as Dropbox, Backup Your Mobile, Acronis Mobile Backup, and others.

Finally

Android backup is an indispensable requirement. Android users around the world trust Google Drive for it.

However, you cannot afford to lose data, especially when it’s your personal photos, videos, contacts, Notes, messages, etc., on your mobile device.

Disabling authentication locks on phones or AMD command lines is just a temporary fix. Thus, Google is expected to come up with a solution to fix this problem.

In the meantime, recoup anything lost due to Google Drive ‘Backup Now’ breakdown on Android with the help of Android Data Recovery software such as Stellar Data Recovery for Android or Stellar Photo Recovery software.

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About The Author

Sumona Chatterjee

Sumona is a tech blogger, avid photographer, & technogeek with vast experience in writing about media file recovery tips and tutorials. She has over 10 years of experience in media file recovery/media file repair technology. She is passionate about Photography, Creative Designing, Music, and Exploring lesser-known destinations.