We’ve had several students lately who have lost data because they had not correctly setup their backups – and then their iPads were either damaged or “the mysterious someone” reset their passcode.
Right now, while you are thinking about it, check to make sure your data is being backed up:
Settings –> iCloud –> Backups ON. GO ahead and click the button to do a backup RIGHT NOW, since you’re there…….
Drive –> Settings –> Photos. YES, automatically backup your Pix and Vids to Drive. The other settings involved are your call [ they won’t make much difference since we are a Google school].
Notability –> Gear icon, bottom left –> Autobackups –> Google Drive should have a checkmark. If it doesn’t, select it. You’ll be prompted through the signon process.
ONCE MORE OPTIONAL THING YOU CAN DO:
Settings –> iTunes. Sign in. The iPad Guy suggests using your personal AppleID [that way any music you buy will always be yours]. If you will never be buying music through iTunes, then it’s OK to use your MDS AppleID. [AND you can switch accounts later if things change].
There IS an option to NOT have a credit card on the account – but you have to look for it on the screen where Apple asks for your credit card.
This betters the odds of doing a simple restore-from-iCloud if your machine croaks, as opposed to setting up from scratch and having the download all your backups manually.
Here’s what you need to MAKE SURE gets setup after your iPad gets wiped – or better yet, BEFORE something happens to your iPad.
The Short List
iCloud signed in to your MDS email address
iCloud Backup ON
Google Drive – signed in, Pix auto-backup
Notability – backing up to Google Drive
Setup Email
The Detailed List
iCloud
This will make it faster to setup your iPad in case of a disaster.
Settings –> iCloud
Make sure you are signed in. You should see YOUR MDS EMAIL at the top. If you have used a different email address, CHANGE IT NOW. If you want to know why, ask Mr. Rule.
Turn iCloud Backup ON – and start a backup.
Google Drive
Automatically backup your pictures and videos after you take them.
Sign in to Google Drive
Look for the 3 stacked lines, top left. [It’s called a “hamburger menu”].
Click it.
Select Settings…..
Select Photos
Turn ON both sliders at the top [Use Google Photos folder, Autobackup].
Sometimes the “Google Photos” option is grayed out. I don’t know why. Let me know if you figure it out.
Notability
Automatically back up everything in Notability to a folder on Google Drive.
Fire up Notability
Bottom Left corner – click the gear icon [settings]
AutoBackup
Google Drive
Login
Give it permission
Setup Email
Settings –>Email
Add new account
It’s a GOOGLE account
Fill in the fields – should be easy to figure out.
When you get to the screen with 4 sliders – turn all 4 of them green, then hit SAVE
Here’s how to make sure your Notability files and Pix/Videos are backed up.
Notability
Open Google Drive. Look for for the folder “Notability” – nose around to see if that last thing you created is there. If so, things are working.
OR In Notability, create a new note. Scrawl something on there, then exit the note. Look at the bottom left corner – you should see the “Backing Up” circle go. If so, then things are backing up.
If things are NOT working, then call up settings [the Gear icon, bottom left], select AutoBackup. Login to Google Drive. The defaults [/Notability folder, PDF format] work well.
Pix & Vids to Drive
Open up Drive App
Click the “hamburger menu” – the 3 stacked lines, top left
Select Settings–> Photos
Turn “Google Photos Folder” AND “Auto Backup” ON. The WiFi/Cellular settings don’t matter since your iPad does NOT have a cell radio.
You should see a “Google Photos” folder – all of your pix and videos will be there after they finish uploading.
NOTE: Deleting a photo/video on your iPad DOES NOT delete them from Drive.
