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User Guide

Everything you need to set up SecondDisk, back up your photos, contacts, and files to your email, and find them again later.

1. Install & open SecondDisk

1

Get the app

Download SecondDisk directly as an APK file, install it on your Android phone, then open it. Google Play availability is coming soon.

2

Open the Data Backup Center

SecondDisk opens to the Data Backup Center, with a card for each backup type — Photo Backup, Contacts Backup, and File Backup — plus a Backup Records button and a settings gear in the top corner.

SecondDisk Data Backup Center home screen with Photo, Contacts and File Backup cards
The Data Backup Center home screen.

2. Set up your backup email

Before your first email backup, tell SecondDisk which account to use. Tap the settings gear on the home screen, add an email under Email Configuration, then choose either OAuth Login or an app password authorization code.

1

Enter your sender email

Type the address SecondDisk should use for backup delivery in Sender Email.

2

Sign in with OAuth

If your provider supports OAuth, tap OAuth Login, choose your Google account, then tap continue on the permission screen. When the notice says OAuth authorization successful, tap OK.

3

Or use an authorization code

In Authorization Code, paste the app password your email provider generates (often a 16-character code) — not your normal login password.

4

Test, then Save

Use Send Test / Receive Test to confirm it works, set the Attachment Size if you wish, then tap Save.

Email Configuration screen with Sender Email, Authorization Code and Save
Email Configuration: sender email + authorization code.
Email Configuration screen with OAuth Login button
Tap OAuth Login after entering your email.
Google account selector for SecondDisk OAuth login
Choose the account to continue.
Google OAuth permission screen with continue button
Review the prompt and tap continue.
SecondDisk notice that OAuth authorization was successful
OAuth authorization successful.

OAuth vs. authorization code: use OAuth when it is available. If you use an authorization code instead, most providers (Gmail, Outlook, QQ, 163…) require an app password generated in your account’s security settings.

3. Allow access when asked

The first time you open Photo Backup or Contacts Backup, Android asks permission to read that data. Tap Allow so SecondDisk can include it — it only reads what you choose to back up.

Android permission dialog allowing SecondDisk to access photos and media
Allow access to photos & media.
Android permission dialog allowing SecondDisk to access contacts
Allow access to contacts.

4. Back up photos, contacts & files

Open a backup type from the home screen, choose what to include, and tap Back Up to Email. Each screen shows the selected size against your email’s attachment limit, then displays Archiving to email… while it sends.

1

Photos

In Photo Backup, narrow the range with Select start date / Select end date if you like, tick the photos you want, then tap Back Up to Email.

2

Contacts

In Contacts Backup, tick individual names or use the header checkbox to select all, then tap Back Up to Email.

3

Files

In File Backup, tap Select File to attach documents, then tap Back Up to Email.

Photo Backup screen selecting photos, showing selected size versus email limit
Pick photos (with a date filter).
Contacts Backup screen selecting contacts to back up
Pick contacts, or select all.
File Backup screen with a selected file ready to back up
Attach files to back up.
Backing up progress screen showing Archiving to email
“Archiving to email…”

Mind the attachment limit: backups are sent as email attachments, so each one must fit under your email’s limit (SecondDisk shows Selected… / Email limit…). If a photo set is too big, shorten the date range or select fewer items.

5. Check your backup records

1

Open the Email Log

Tap Backup Records on the home screen to open the Email Log. Each entry shows the backup type, how many items, the email it was sent to, and the date.

2

View, download or delete

Use View to preview a backup, Download to save it back to your phone, or Delete to remove the record.

Email Log showing a photo backup record with View, Download and Delete buttons
The Email Log, with View / Download / Delete.

6. Back up to a USB drive

Prefer a local copy you keep in hand? Connect a USB drive to your phone and back it up there too — no internet or email needed. Pick what to include, tap Back Up to USB, then choose the destination folder on the connected drive.

1

Choose photos, contacts, or files

Open Photo Backup, Contacts Backup, or File Backup, select the items you want to copy, then tap Back Up to USB.

2

Select the USB destination

Android opens the file picker for your USB drive. Choose the folder where the backup should be saved, then tap SELECT.

3

Confirm the backup

SecondDisk shows a success notice when the selected photos, contacts, or files have been copied to the USB drive.

Photo Backup screen selecting photos to copy to a connected USB drive
Pick photos for the USB drive.
Contacts Backup screen selecting contacts to copy to a connected USB drive
Pick contacts for the USB drive.
File Backup screen with a file selected to copy to a connected USB drive
Attach files for the USB drive.
Android file picker showing a USB drive and Select button
Choose the USB backup location.
SecondDisk notice that selected photos backed up successfully
SecondDisk confirms the copy.
USB storage file list showing backed up photos and contacts
View the copied files on the USB drive.

7. Get your data back

1

Download from your email or the Email Log

Open the email SecondDisk sent and download the attachment, or tap Download on any entry in the in-app Email Log.

2

Import your contacts

Contact backups are saved in a standard format, so you can open the file and import it straight into your phone’s Contacts app.

8. Tips & troubleshooting

  • Use an app password. For the Authorization Code, generate an app-specific password in your email account’s security settings — your normal login password usually won’t work.
  • Keep backups under the email limit. If a backup is too large to send, shorten the photo date range or select fewer items so it fits the attachment limit.
  • Backup didn’t arrive? Check your email’s spam folder, then use Send Test in Email Configuration to confirm your settings.
  • Allow the permission prompts. SecondDisk needs photo and contact access to include that data; if you tapped Deny, re-enable it in Android Settings → Apps → SecondDisk.
  • Can’t find a past backup? Open Backup Records (Email Log) to view, re-download, or delete any backup you’ve sent.
  • Still stuck? Email us at support@seconddisk.com and we’ll help.