Backup Guide

Back up your data before you ship it in.

Any repair, upgrade, or build carries some risk of data loss — it's rare, but it happens, and once it does there's often no way to get files back. Before you ship your device to us, take a few minutes to back up anything that matters. Here's how, in plain language, whichever way you'd rather do it.

What to back up

Documents
Anything in your Documents folder — school or work files, PDFs, tax records.
Desktop
Files people save straight to the desktop are easy to forget — check there specifically.
Pictures & videos
Photos, home videos, and anything in your camera roll or Pictures folder.
Downloads
Anything you downloaded that you don't have a copy of anywhere else.
Browser bookmarks & passwords
Most browsers can export these to a file — check your browser's settings menu.
Game saves & other app data
Often tucked away in a folder the game or app creates on its own — check that program's settings for a backup or export option.

Three ways to back up

Method 1 — Copy files to an external drive

The simplest option if you already have a USB flash drive or external hard drive. No accounts, no waiting for an upload.

1
Plug the external drive into your computer and wait a few seconds for it to show up.
2
Open File Explorer (Windows key + E), and find the folders listed above — Documents, Desktop, Pictures, and so on.
3
Select a folder, then drag it onto the external drive's icon in the sidebar — or copy it (Ctrl+C) and paste it (Ctrl+V) into the drive.
4
Repeat for each folder you want to keep, then safely eject the drive before unplugging it (right-click its icon and choose "Eject").

Method 2 — Turn on Windows' built-in backup

Windows can back up your files automatically, on a schedule, once you turn it on and point it at a drive.

1
Plug in an external drive with enough free space for your files.
2
Open Settings, then look for "Backup" (Windows 11: Accounts > Windows Backup; Windows 10: Update & Security > Backup).
3
Choose "Add a drive" and select your external drive, then switch the backup toggle on.
4
Windows will back up your main folders automatically from then on — check back after a few minutes to confirm it says it's up to date.

Method 3 — Back up to the cloud

Services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox keep a copy of your files online, so you can get to them from any device — useful if you'd rather not deal with a physical drive.

1
Open the cloud service's app (OneDrive comes built into Windows; Google Drive and Dropbox can be downloaded from their websites).
2
Sign in, then either drag your folders into the app's window, or turn on "back up this folder" for Documents, Desktop, and Pictures if it offers that option.
3
Wait for the upload to finish — most apps show a small progress icon or a checkmark once everything is synced.
4
Open the service's website on your phone or another device and confirm you can see your files there too.

Before you ship your device

Open a file or two from your backup to confirm it actually worked — don't just trust that it did
Sign out of anything you'd rather we not see logged in, or note down any temporary credentials we'll need for the service you ordered
Remove or change any especially sensitive saved passwords, per Section IX of our Consumer User Agreement

Once you're backed up, you're ready to start your order.