Backing up the Galaxy S22 - and restoring if needed

[GracieAllen]

When my wife asked me about backing up her contacts and messages, I foolishly thought it would be trivial.  It appears not.  All I want to do is take the contacts and messages, and whatever else would be needed if her phone is destroyed, and back it up to an ordinary PC running Windows 10 or 11.

My search in here found LOTS of topics about Smart Switch, but they were all (so far) about what DOESN'T work.  And how NOT to do it.  I haven't found the topic that explains in a simple, **bleep**-proof way how to do a backup/restore from phone to and from PC.

I don't want it in a cloud, or on another phone, or anything crazy, just take her stuff and copy it to a PC.

I figured Smart Switch would do this, but so far, NO.

First, I can't find anything in the Microsoft Store for Samsung Smart Switch.  I found Samsung Book Smart Switch, but that doesn't APPEAR to be the right thing.

On the phone, I found and installed Samsung Smart Switch, and connected the phone to the PC with a normal cable.  And it just sits there.

SO, HOW do I do a SIMPLE backup of data she wants from her phone to the PC.  And HOW do I get the data back ONTO the phone FROM the PC should it be needed?

[Ryan891]

Settings, General Management, Reset... This will allow to back everything up on a flash drive

[GaryB82 · Accepted solution]

 Go to this site and click Microsoft Windows Store it will automatically download to you download folder on your computer open the download folder on your computer and click on the smartswitch file it will then pop up Microsoft store or install anyways - click on install anyways - once installed it will open - now plug your phone into your computer and it will give you the options to backup or restore click Backup and select what you want to backup 

https://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/app/smart-switch

[GracieAllen]

OK.  After an astonishing amount of flailing around I finally got one phone to back up one time.  I had a large number of attempts that ended with a blank white window.  But, eventually after all the fumbling I got a screen that let me backup.

Unfortunately, when I tried to show my wife how it worked, we were never able to get to the backup screen again.  BUT, on the one that worked I saved as csv in addition to whatever format it wanted, so her contacts could be recreated if necessary.  That's what she was most concerned about.

Personally, as a user, the software is problematic.  I'd hat to have to count on this software to backup OR restore anything important on a cell phone.

BTW:  I attempted to accept the previous reply as the solution, but it refused, telling me I don't have those privileges.