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And that’s even if you offload most of your media to the cloud.

This has actually gotten me into quite a bit of trouble in the past.

cloud backup taking place on a phone

Like an idiot, everything on my phone was saved to my phone and absolutely nowhere else.

Sifting through files and folders to delete junk files, or stuff you dont need anymore is tedious work.

at any rate, CCleaner ended up erasing almost my entire photo reel.

A photograph of a person using a laptop with a digital drawing of files being put into a folder hovering above the laptop

Or at least, everything that hadnt already been organized into different folders.

These things take time, but it wasnt all that difficult.

Anyone who knows anything about how rig storage works, knows that deleted doesnt actually mean its gone.

Google Photos app on a smartphone screen

But until that actually happens, you could still recover them with some software help.

Admittedly, some images couldnt be recovered, which is annoying.

The only major consequence of this is that myGoogle Photostimeline is completely out of sync.

Google One on Android device

All 909 photos and videos.

MeanwhileGooglePhotos has just 873 files from the previous 12 months.

But at least they are still accessible and werent lost forever.

Google Pixel 9 5G (128GB,…

It forced me to kick myself into gear and stop being so cavalier about the proper backup etiquette.

I religiously backup everything now

I like to think that I can learn from my mistakes.

For starters, CCleaner was banished from my phone, never to return.

Google Pixel 9 256 GB

If that extra time means I dont accidentally erase important files, then so be it.

Id always resisted this, because I was too cheap to pay for the subscription.

Whether you have an iPhone or an Android, dont make the same mistakes I did.

Verizon

We have guides onhow to backup your iPhoneandhow to backup your Android gadget.

That way you wont ever end up making the same series of stupid mistakes as me.

Google Pixel 9

Apple iPhone 16 held in the hand.

mobile security

Person checking photos on camera before uploading to laptop

Google Photos� homepage

iPhone 16 colors hands-on.

Motorola Razr 2024 Review.

Recipes in the food section of Apple News Plus on an iPhone

iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Max in one hand

iPhone 17 Pro renders.

iOS 16 Fitness app on an iPhone 12

Using an under-desk elliptical while working seated at a desk

Michael B. Jordan as Smoke in "Sinners" movie

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti

Left to right: Billy Magnussen, Osy Ikhile, Paul G. Raymond, Cristin Milioti, Milanka Brooks in Black Mirror season 7