Photo: Marki Williams

By Brittney Ho

To me, the “cloud” has always been something utterly unknowable. I think my stuff’s safe, but am I doing this whole “backing-up” thing right at all? What do I do when I run out of storage space? And am I supposed to be treating the contents of my computer any differently from my phone? Are they really backed up?

The idea that my important files and favorite photos live in purgatory—and are subject to the whims of Apple—has always been a stressor passively looming over me.

After commiserating with my fellow newsletter editors (seriously, you’ve never seen four more bewildered women on a video call), we decided it was time to call in the experts, Wirecutter’s senior tech editor Caitlin McGarry and senior staff writer Max Eddy. They assured me there are really only three things I need to be doing for peace of mind and digital hygiene. They made me feel instantly better. And now, I bestow their advice unto you. Take it away, Max and Caitlin:

Back up your phone. Most smartphones automatically back themselves up to the cloud when they’re charging and connected to Wi-Fi. You can check to make sure your device is backed up properly by opening the Settings app and searching for “backup.” If you find yourself running out of space on the cloud, both Apple and Google have tools and advice for managing the size of your backup, or you can purchase more space for a few dollars a month.

Back up your photos. Most of us keep our photo collections on our phones with either Apple Photos or Google Photos. Both of these services automatically upload your photos to the cloud and can remove backed up photos from your phone to save space. To keep your photos manageable, we recommend regularly cleaning up your library.

Read the guide
How to clean up your camera roll→

Back up your important files. The most important documents on your computer need to be treated a little differently: The cloud alone isn’t enough. Ideally, they should be backed up in two places: a physical external hard drive that you keep in your home and another backup away from your home. For the second one, you could use an online backup service—but most of us would be just fine uploading our files to a cloud storage service, like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox.

Read the guide
The best external hard drive→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

Microplastics are everywhere Here’s what you need to know, and how to avoid eating them→

No, you don’t have to turn off the lights when you leave a room Lightbulbs have come a long way→

Buying a new TV can be overwhelming. We can help. Our guide will explain all the jargon and answer the important questions→

Should you recycle shredded paper? It’s complicated→

Photo: Michael Murtaugh

Since the weather has dropped, not a week has gone by where I haven’t lit at least one scented candle. Our experts have tested over 50 to find favorites that suit a variety of preferences. Personally? This P.F. Candle Co. one that smells like amber and moss is my go-to for a chilly fall evening spent under a blanket.

The best scented candles→

Thanks for reading.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

Was this email kindly forwarded to you? Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Recommendation from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Recommendation, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request.

Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app

Connect with us on:

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018