Backup guide
Free up phone storage with a local archive
Make room on your phone without losing your story. Learn how to copy, verify and export personal memories before removing anything from a device.
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Prerequisites
- A Windows PC or Mac with enough free disk space
- A supported phone or an existing backup, plus any required passwords
- A separate storage device for a second copy of important files
- 1
Decide what you want to preserve
List the photos, conversations, contacts and documents you want to keep. Check compatibility for your device and data types first. A backup may not contain everything you can see on a phone; check cloud-only files and individual apps separately.
- 2
Create or import a local copy
Use the supported backup or import workflow in the desktop app. Choose a destination with enough space, let the operation finish, and retain the original backup. Creating an archive does not itself free space on the phone.
- 3
Open and check your memories
Browse the archive and open several older and newer items. Check photos at full size, play important videos, and read conversations with their attachments. Confirm that the dates and data you expected are present. A completed progress indicator is not a substitute for checking the content.
- 4
Export and make a second copy
Export important items in a supported format and open the exports outside the app. Keep a separate copy on another storage device. Preserve the original backup too, especially if you might later need a device restore.
- 5
Review what can leave the phone
Only after verifying your independent copies should you consider removing selected items using the phone or source app. Check its cloud-sync and deletion rules first. This is a manual decision: the website does not connect to your phone or remove data.
Notes
A full phone should not force you to choose which memories matter. A local archive gives you another place to keep and revisit them. The useful sequence is copy, verify, keep a second copy, then review phone storage.
A backup, an archive and an export serve different purposes
A backup preserves data for the workflows supported by the original device or application. An archive makes supported content easier to browse. Memora Keep currently supports search within an open WhatsApp conversation. An export creates files you can open elsewhere. Keep the original backup alongside the readable archive when possible; one does not guarantee all the capabilities of the other.
Keep the handover understandable
For a family archive, give folders meaningful names and keep a short inventory: what is included, when it was copied, where the second copy lives, and which software opens it. Share access deliberately. MemoraKeep’s controlled digital legacy handover is planned; it should not be relied on as an available feature.
Start with a small collection
Try one backup or one set of memories first. Verify the result and its exports before expanding to other devices. See the compatibility guide for supported sources and the feature directory for availability.
Frequently asked questions
Does backing up automatically free phone storage?
No. A backup creates a copy. Phone storage changes only when you remove local content or use the storage-management options offered by your device or apps. Verify an independent archive before doing so.
Is a readable export the same as a phone restore?
No. A PDF, HTML conversation or folder of photos is intended for reading and preservation. Importing data back into a phone is a separate workflow whose availability depends on the data type, device and app version.
Can I archive files from every cloud service?
No. Direct import from iCloud and Google Drive is planned but is not available yet. See the compatibility guide for current import sources.
Need help with a step?
The support center answers the common questions, and you can tell us where you got stuck.