World Backup Day is just around the corner on March 31, and it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we’re preserving our most cherished memories. In the digital age, our memories are often stored on a variety of devices or platforms and as physical items. But are we taking the necessary steps to ensure those memories will last? Below we share different ways to back up your memories, so you’re ready to celebrate World Backup Day with peace of mind knowing your memories are safe and secure.

1. Back Up Your Digital Files

We store so much of our lives digitally these days—photos of family vacations, important documents, videos of milestones, and much more. But what would happen if your computer crashed or your phone was lost? It’s vital to back up all your digital files from your computers, SD cards, flash drives, phones, and other devices to ensure these precious memories are safe. Make sure to back up all your digital files in multiple locations for extra protection. Using a cloud-based provider like FOREVER Storage® gives you the ability to access your memories anytime, from anywhere, and ensures they’re safe from unexpected device failures. If you have a large number of digital files or don’t want to spend hours uploading everything manually, FOREVER Valet is a great solution. This service helps you quickly and easily upload your files to FOREVER's secure cloud storage, ensuring your memories are organized and protected without the hassle.

Tip: Audio files, including voicemails, are wonderful snippets of a person's life to store. Save voicemails on your iPhone by clicking the icon in your voicemail app that allows you to share or upload it directly to your FOREVER app. Alternatively for Android, you can save the voicemail to your phone, navigate to the file, press and hold the file to select it, then tap Share to upload it to your FOREVER app. Uploading these file types into your FOREVER account ensures they’re securely stored and accessible whenever you want to hear those cherished words again. Whether it's a birthday wish or a heartfelt message, these voicemails become timeless treasures you can hold onto forever.

2. Back Up Physical Memories with FOREVER Digitization

Physical items like home videos, photos, letters, and recorded audio are priceless, but they’re vulnerable to wear and tear over time. Digitizing these physical memories is a great way to ensure they are preserved for future generations. At FOREVER, we offer digitization services to convert your physical items—such as old photographs, VHS tapes, and film reels—into high-quality digital formats. Once digitized, you can choose to safely store these files in FOREVER’s secure cloud, protecting them for a lifetime and beyond—guaranteed.

Tip: Start by digitizing the most irreplaceable items—family photos, old VHS tapes, or that letter from a loved one that you can’t afford to lose. Once they’re backed up digitally, they’ll be safe FOREVER.

3. Back Up Stories to Keep Family Memories Alive

A photo is worth a thousand words, but what if you could capture those words along with your images? Adding descriptions and stories to your photos and videos enhances their meaning and ensures that the memories behind them are preserved too. With FOREVER, you can add descriptions directly in the Lightbox of each file, making it easy to recall the details behind the photo, video, document, or audio file.

Tip: Use the speech-to-text feature on your phone to quickly add stories or descriptions to your photos. Simply tap the microphone tool in your phone's keyboard to speak your memories, and let your phone transcribe them for you! It’s an easy way to add context to your files without taking up too much time.

4. Back Up Non-Traditional Items

Not all memories fit neatly into a photo album or digital file. But that doesn’t mean they’re any less important. You can back up your non-traditional items—like antiques, artwork, clothing, or other bulky items—by taking a high-quality photo or video and uploading it to FOREVER. Adding a description or story to each item will help you preserve the memories attached to them, making it easy to reminisce even if you choose to downsize or move.

Tip: When photographing or recording these non-traditional items, make sure to include details in the description that tell the story—such as a date, its origin, or why it’s meaningful. This extra context will make the memory even more special.

5. Back Up Further by Sharing with Friends & Family

One of the best ways to back up your memories is to share them with the people who matter most. With FOREVER, you can share albums with friends and family through Share Links, Connections, Groups, or Collaborative Albums. This way, everyone can enjoy or contribute to the collection of memories, ensuring that the stories you’ve preserved are never forgotten.

Tip: When you share albums with others and check “Allow anyone with the link to upload,” encourage them to upload their own photos or videos with descriptive stories of the same event or family member. It’s a great way to make your memories even more collaborative and personal.

Why FOREVER Is So Important for Backing Up Memories

As you prepare for World Backup Day, it’s important to remember that memories are more than just photos—they’re the stories behind them. FOREVER offers a unique, comprehensive way to back up all types of memories: from digital files to physical items, and from stories to collaborative family albums. By using FOREVER, you’re not only protecting your memories, but you're ensuring they’ll be accessible for future generations—guaranteed.

So, as we count down to World Backup Day on March 31, take a few minutes each day to back up your memories in a secure, easy-to-access place. Start today with digital files, then order a FOREVER Digitization Box for your physical memories, and keep building your archive of stories and photos that will last forever. Your memories deserve to be protected—and FOREVER makes it easy.