Backup your apps/settings in preparation for S-OFF - Verizon HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE

I've been toying around with android backups for a while now. With the apparent impending release of an S-OFF tool I thought I'd share a simple script I use to backup each 3rd party APK and it's settings.
Code:
for i in `adb shell pm list packages -3 | sed 's/package://g'| sed 's/^M//g'`; do adb logcat -c; echo Backing up $i; (adb backup -f $i.ab -apk $i &); sleep 1; adb shell input keyevent 61; adb shell input keyevent 61; adb shell input keyevent 66; adb logcat | grep -m 1 "Full backup processing complete" > /dev/null; sleep 2; done; echo Backup of 3rd party APKs is complete.
This can be run from a linux shell and will backup each 3rd party APK including the settings to a file named <package_name>.ab. I'm not sure if the CTRL+M will survive a cut-paste from the forum. If it doesn't, you'd need to delete the "^M" and replace it by typing CTRL+V CTRL+M.
Sorry for making it one long line instead of a more readable form. I'm lazy.
To restore any of the backed-up files just run:
Code:
adb restore <package_name>.ab
The cool thing about this is that it restores the app back to the state it was when it was backed up. It's especially helpful for those like me who frequently reset to factory. I can have all my apps back up and running including ALL the configuration in just a matter of minutes.
I haven't had a lot of luck with system apps (but I haven't tried too hard either). But if you want to give system apps a go just remove the "-3".
Of course, once we have root then Titanium Backup is the go-to tool for this. But, in the meantime there's this.
FWIW, you can restore any backed-up files to a different device too.
-xdadevelopers-user

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Not to steal your thunder, I appreciate your effort, but the Ultimate Backup Tool works amazingly well for Android 4.0+ devices which aren't rooted, and there are Windows, Mac, and Linux versions of it, though the Windows is the only one actively being updated. It works on my Dinc 4G, so it should work on everyone else's.
The only things I'll mention about the restore process are that it sometimes hangs on random things, like Bluetooth, which I never use so it shouldn't have much, if any, data. Also, depending on which settings you choose, you may lose your contact pictures, but not the contact information, but you can just reload that from Google, assuming they're synced there. Read the thread, if you come across any weird happenstances on using it, like having to reset your home screens, it's the backup process, not the tool, unless you chose the wrong setting to back up. I recommend 'backup all without system apps'. It might take a while, but it's worth it not having to download everything again. You can also back up only settings and data, or just specific apps and data. You can make multiple backups if you want, and restore each individually.
I only mention this because it was just yesterday or the day before we were discussing virtualization and how not everyone using this phone is tech savvy and some don't even know what Linux is, much less where to get it or how to use it, and your script only works on Linux, leaving out the other two camps. I could convert your loop to make it usable on Windows, it wouldn't be hard, but with this tool, that's hardly necessary.

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IceDragon59 said:
Not to steal your thunder, I appreciate your effort, but the Ultimate Backup Tool works amazingly well for Android 4.0+ devices which aren't rooted, and there are Windows, Mac, and Linux versions of it, though the Windows is the only one actively being updated. It works on my Dinc 4G, so it should work on everyone else's.
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Very cool thanks for the link. I'm always glad to learn. Unfortunately, for me, the Linux version of the Ultimate Backup Tool script doesn't work at all.
One key difference with my script is that it creates a separate .ab file for each APK. This allows me to be able to selectively restore any app without having to restore them all. It also doesn't require any user interaction on the device. And it detects when the backup is complete.
Of course, it's not very user friendly but like I said, I'm lazy.
-xdadevelopers-user

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xdadevelopers-user said:
Very cool thanks for the link. I'm always glad to learn. Unfortunately, for me, the Linux version of the Ultimate Backup Tool script doesn't work at all.
One key difference with my script is that it creates a separate .ab file for each APK. This allows me to be able to selectively restore any app without having to restore them all. It also doesn't require any user interaction on the device. And it detects when the backup is complete.
Of course, it's not very user friendly but like I said, I'm lazy.
-xdadevelopers-user
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Click to collapse
lol. That's useful, though. I just might get around to doing that loop conversion. The backup specific app function of the tool requires you to know the name of the apk file you want to back up, and you have to type in each manually. Your automated script saving each of the apps and its settings in individual backup files may well be worth it for those who only need a few select apps.
And there's nothing wrong with being lazy, or not user friendly, as long as it gets the job done.

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I use appmonster pro....it works very well also
Sent from my ADR6410LVW using xda premium

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xdadevelopers-user said:
Unfortunately, for me, the Linux version of the Ultimate Backup Tool script doesn't work at all.
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Click to collapse
UBT doesn't work for me either under Windows. They list the One series has problematic, so I wonder if this device suffers from the same issues?
I'll set up a virtualbox tonight and see how your quick script works, thanks for posting it.

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jwt98 said:
I use appmonster pro....it works very well also
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Click to collapse
Getting someone to purchase an app to keep their data before unlocking is problematic, especially if they've already purchased Titanium Backup.
mdmower said:
UBT doesn't work for me either under Windows. They list the One series has problematic, so I wonder if this device suffers from the same issues?
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Click to collapse
I backed up and restored data from it without a problem using their most recent Windows version, 1.3.1. USB Debugging has to be enabled on your phone, and it requires you to have a desktop backup password to work. Did you have one? Also, was the problem in backing it up or restoring it? More than likely backing it up, due to those two things, but I should ask anyway.

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IceDragon59 said:
requires you to have a desktop backup password
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That was the problem. Option 5 "Backup apps" still doesn't work, but option 2 "Backup all without system data" does work (still processing).

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mdmower said:
That was the problem. Option 5 "Backup apps" still doesn't work, but option 2 "Backup all without system data" does work (still processing).
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Number two is the one I tested and recommended, as it is the most logical. It backs up system and app data, as well as downloaded APKs. I don't need to reinstall system apps when they're already there.