Hi everyone,
In the last 6 months I've been going back and forth between phones a lot (mainly because of a temperamental GS6, that got replaced by a GS7 last week). To be honest, I never really cared about backing up anything on my Android devices in the past because I would still use an iPhone as a main device (I know, I know...). Now though, my Android has become my main device and I want to back things up as seamlessly as I can - say what you want about Apple and iOS, but as a Mac user, backup is something they do really well.
I've noticed that even if I checked off everything that I had to, nothing got backed up to my account: no Wifi passwords, no app data, nothing. I did see the devices to restore from when I booted a new phone, but selecting one or another backup only asked me which apps I wanted to re-install; once done, no app data was restored. I mean, I can go to Play and re-install apps myself... the whole point is to recover my DATA in the apps... And as I mentioned, all my passwords needed to be input manually and so on.
I'm not talking about contacts or calendars, those are fine; I'm just interested in app data. Did I miss something? Am I misunderstanding what I can and cannot back up?
Thanks!
PS: I know of and have used things like Titanium, but both my GS6 and GS7 are not rooted, and I can't (because of a stupid rule from Canadian Banks of all things...) so those are not an option. I find it hard to believe there are no solutions in 2016 to back up my app data. All the backup apps I've tried back up the APKs but not the data.
Helium backup doesn't require root, so I recommend trying it out: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.backup it's not as good as titanium backup though.
mosimchah said:
Helium backup doesn't require root, so I recommend trying it out: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.backup it's not as good as titanium backup though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I've tried it but it doesn't keep application data either just the APKs
You will have to have root for this. This is due to the security of the data partition where the apps and data are being restored. Google does back up the info with apps or so they say but I have never seen it work outside of the nexus line due to oem messing with the code.
Related
Okay, after much reading and studying I am preparing to get ready to root.
Wondering if I need to back up at all before unlocking. I manually copied over my pics and vids and have exported my contacts.
If a nandroid is felt to be necessary for safety purposes before unlocking then you can disregard the rest of my post, I will temp root and use Titanium (although I am still curious about how the apps install on Android OS). If it's not really necessary then I have more questions:
As far as apps go...
If I don't care about user settings/data of apps does it matter if I back them up or not? I can always redownload from Market right? Or will flashing a ROM break the market ties? I have apps from Market and from Amazon.
When apps install do they put files in different folders like on Windows or do they stay "whole" as programs used to do on older Macs? Just wondering how the back up/restore will work. I have grabbed a lot of apps to try out and there's many that I will not install again once I get a clean phone. So is there something I can use to make a back up without temp rooting? I know I won't be able to do a nandroid, does that matter?
Or is it better and safer to temp root with CleanTool, back up with Titanium and then restore the apps I want after I unlock and root and flash a ROM and kernel? Doing it this way will save all my user data, correct?
Also, I'm not worried about phone settings like what icons I have on my home page etc... I haven't gotten it exactly how I want it yet anyway. Still deciding how I want to set it all up so that it works best for me.
Thanks for any help.
If you want to make a back up of your apps you will have to temp root. Ti backup or Mr backup are good for doing it just make sure you change where they save to the sd2. They start out saving to the sd card which in this phone is the internal which gets wiped.
sent from my cm7 rooted fire
I went through the same thought process you're going through before I rooted (this past weekend). What I ended up doing was exporting my contacts directly from "People". I then just went directly to unlock and perm root. I was expecting to be able to restore my apps and contacts from the market, but to my surprise, was not able to do so. I imported my contacts back, and then proceeded to re-setup my phone by re-downloading apps from the market. Not really THAT painful, and going forward, I have Nandroid and Titanium backups.
You're aware you can do a native screen capture of your present phone screens by pressing power, then home, aren't you?
I temp rooted and used titanium backup. I like to be able to restore data on 3rd party apps only. I use mybackup pro for sms (I only keep 200 per contact, but nice not to lose them), then use google for contacts, calender, etc.
Although you can always backup your apps and data using these programs, anytime you flash a new ROM, it's best to install all of the apps fresh and not restore data from a different ROM (such as the stock ROM). Since I know you want to use Ineffabilis, you might want to use Titanium backup or something to just backup the apps, not the data on those apps. Makes things much better.
EDIT: Also, you can't do a Nand backup without a recovery installed, which requires the phone to be unlocked and perm rooted. You can always backup your apps and data with temp root, but a true Nandroid backup is something that you can't do until you have perm root.
WasabiWa83 said:
Although you can always backup your apps and data using these programs, anytime you flash a new ROM, it's best to install all of the apps fresh and not restore data from a different ROM (such as the stock ROM). Since I know you want to use Ineffabilis, you might want to use Titanium backup or something to just backup the apps, not the data on those apps. Makes things much better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anyone happen to know if Words with Friends stores data on my phone or if it's stored on their server since it's between two different people or how I can tell? I'm kicking my bro's ass in a game right now so I DEF don't want to lose that. One day he WILL RESPECT his little sis!
DIncLover said:
I went through the same thought process you're going through before I rooted (this past weekend). What I ended up doing was exporting my contacts directly from "People". I then just went directly to unlock and perm root. I was expecting to be able to restore my apps and contacts from the market, but to my surprise, was not able to do so. I imported my contacts back, and then proceeded to re-setup my phone by re-downloading apps from the market. Not really THAT painful, and going forward, I have Nandroid and Titanium backups.
You're aware you can do a native screen capture of your present phone screens by pressing power, then home, aren't you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Market knows you've bought apps though so it's no problem to re-download paid apps, right? I have this thing about doing everything fresh on computers so I might just do the same on this baby.
Also, I'm not concerned about my phone screens, I haven't set them up enough to care.
feralicious said:
Does anyone happen to know if Words with Friends stores data on my phone or if it's stored on their server since it's between two different people or how I can tell? I'm kicking my bro's ass in a game right now so I DEF don't want to lose that. One day he WILL RESPECT his little sis!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahaa, too funny. I'm pretty sure that's all over the network. I reinstalled the app after flashing Ineffabilis and just had to sign back in to get all my games back. Hence the fact that you can continue games on Facebook and such.
feralicious said:
Market knows you've bought apps though so it's no problem to re-download paid apps, right? I have this thing about doing everything fresh on computers so I might just do the same on this baby.
Also, I'm not concerned about my phone screens, I haven't set them up enough to care.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
paid apps show up on your acct but free ones don't and you have to search for them. If you are looking for just an app backup, app monster pro works well for this and can do apk backup for most apps (some are protected). Just set it up for old style back up, doesn't require root.
WasabiWa83 said:
Although you can always backup your apps and data using these programs, anytime you flash a new ROM, it's best to install all of the apps fresh and not restore data from a different ROM (such as the stock ROM). Since I know you want to use Ineffabilis, you might want to use Titanium backup or something to just backup the apps, not the data on those apps. Makes things much better.
EDIT: Also, you can't do a Nand backup without a recovery installed, which requires the phone to be unlocked and perm rooted. You can always backup your apps and data with temp root, but a true Nandroid backup is something that you can't do until you have perm root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never had any problems restoring data on 3rd party apps. I never restore system apps/data.
nrfitchett4 said:
I've never had any problems restoring data on 3rd party apps. I never restore system apps/data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, touche That's right. I forgot it was just system apps that you want to stay away from regarding data. I just always do a clean install on all apps when I install a new ROM anyway.
I just went from Paranoid Android to CyanogenMod, and expected to have to re-add several apps. If I go from an AOSP ROM back to a TouchWiz ROM, it is treated as a different device, and I get an app list months old. I was pleased to see Android attempting to download my newest set of apps...
However, the sync failed like it does 50% of the time (every app individually fails). Now when I visit the Google Play store, I see my 'new' phone with only a couple of apps installed. I just lost the entire list. Since there's no way to batch install apps with the Play Store, I get to spend a looooong time looking up and reinstalling them by clicking around like an idiot.
Am I missing something? Every element of the story I just described seems like awful design. I'd really not like to resort to AppBrain or something like it. It's incredibly stupid that if the Play Store has some error syncing apps, it makes the new short list the new goal for syncing (so, it won't even try next time).
In short, it would be ideal to have my list of installed apps tied to my account, so that in the event of a problem, I could just push a large "Yes, download ****ing everything" button. Apps that aren't compatible with THIS device can just be skipped I guess. Why is this so hard? Instead I'm going down my 'All' list on my phone, tapping 5 times per app to install them one by ****ing one.
Why don't you just backup apps with titanium and then restore them when you flash a new rom? Titanium has batch commands so it's pretty much one click for each. You can also set up a back up schedule so things are always backed up
Aside from my hesitation to use another app to perform a function that is already supported...
Is Titanium storing the apps themselves, or a list of apps? I really really really do not want to store several MB/GB of data which may or may not be corrupted. If anything, I want to simply store a list of apps, which will all re-download upon restoring the backup.
AndrewZorn said:
Aside from my hesitation to use another app to perform a function that is already supported...
Is Titanium storing the apps themselves, or a list of apps? I really really really do not want to store several MB/GB of data which may or may not be corrupted. If anything, I want to simply store a list of apps, which will all re-download upon restoring the backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea it will store all the apps. But if they are working, they probably aren't corrupt.
Also, I have had a few phones over the years linked to my Google account and the play store is never segmented by phone. All my apps that I have been using since my OG Droid show up on my note 2. The times I have let the play store sync my apps they all downloaded fine as long as your screen doesn't turn off which you can force to stay on in the dev settings
I have been using titanium for 5 years now. And have restored my apps literally hundreds of times. Never once did it not work. Never had a single failure. I also have only had the play store re install my apps once. That was the very first time time I flashed a rom back on my droid. That was the first and only time it did that.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
Simply as a matter of principle, I am not concerned with storing the apps themselves. The entire point of the app sync is to keep track of what I have installed. Backing up the apps themselves strikes me as a different goal entirely.
I've had many successful restores myself, but just as many failures. It isn't that difficult of a task... and if it does fail, when every app for some reason (even if it is a legitimate one) isn't installed , there's no way to retry the process. Your new list of synced apps is now the tiny amount that succeeded, the rest are lost to needing to manually reselect. This is absurd.
Multiple phones are definitely treated as separate app lists. I have 5 devices on my Play Store account; each has its own list of associated apps.
This is because every time you flash your phone, or factory reset for that matter, your phone gets a new device ID. That makes it look like a new device to the play store. This will happen anytime you flash a ROM and wipe data. Dirty flashes do not change the ID.
If you use titanium back up, it automatically stores your device ID, so it will prompt you to revert it back the first time opening it after flashing the ROM. This will allow you to maybe reinstall apps through play store, or at least keep the "app list".
I personally think you are being petty about this. It's not Google's fault you are constantly flashing your phone and creating new app ID's.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
I have had the play store fail upon sync before, but it has never failed to keep the list of all the apps I've installed on any device tied to my google account. Strange that said list got wiped for you.
I'd just install a backup app and call it a day. I use Ultimate Backup Pro, by Jrummy. The newest version will sync your apps (a list, or the data) to Dropbox, Box, or Google Drive.
^^^ +1 for this
nrfitchett4 said:
This is because every time you flash your phone, or factory reset for that matter, your phone gets a new device ID. That makes it look like a new device to the play store. This will happen anytime you flash a ROM and wipe data. Dirty flashes do not change the ID.
If you use titanium back up, it automatically stores your device ID, so it will prompt you to revert it back the first time opening it after flashing the ROM. This will allow you to maybe reinstall apps through play store, or at least keep the "app list".
I personally think you are being petty about this. It's not Google's fault you are constantly flashing your phone and creating new app ID's.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to agree that it is petty, or believe the terms of the problem as you describe them.
It isn't petty that a feature is not working correctly. Flashing a phone gives a new device ID, but so does losing it, or replacing it. You're passing off the lack of harmony as my mistake.
The mere fact none of us can find a way to retry the app sync proves my point; this argument alone brings me a bit of closure, because at least I am not the only one with the issue. If you are all happy with backing up actual program data instead of realizing the power of a synced list, fine. To suggest this behavior is the intention of Google, however, is nonsense.
...and one last word: if it were as simple as getting a new device ID upon each flash, surely I'd be able to log in to the Play Store and view the list of apps on my 'old' device, right? How does Google know that device no longer exists? How are the two ideas of "syncing apps, but not across different devices" and "getting a new ID upon flash, then attempting to sync" both able to exist?
Perhaps I'm wrong about all of this, but can you really say using 3rd party software to remedy a failed sync is not noteworthy? I specifically remember myself mocking the idea of avoiding 3rd party software when a user wanted to solve a problem... this is much different. This is a legitimate issue with an existing feature.
AndrewZorn said:
If you are all happy with backing up actual program data instead of realizing the power of a synced list, fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one said you should backup/restore app data, just the app itself. The app data is actually frowned upon for the most part. Although I have done it numerous times and have never had an issue, but that's a whole different can of worms
But in the end, you do what you want to do.
You are tilting at windmills.
There is a reason everyone uses an app backup program like Titanium or My Backup Pro (those are the two I use). It's the easiest/fastest way to restore apps. Google backup and restore was not intended for 'us' who root. No amount of believing its wrong the way it works is going to change that.
There are apps that will only backup the market link (to your storage) but the only one I know of does not have a one button restore. But it's called App List Backup if you want to check it out.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
I love titanium backup. The fact that I can backup all of my apps and restore them plus restore data, such as the music that's already buffered on Google play music is great. Is a time saver! Imop
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
I still feel like you guys are misunderstanding me (mostly, yes, I've tried App List Backup, and it's alright, "Google should already do this better" aside)...
Backing up programs themselves to create some huge file is a completely different thing than maintaining a list of installed apps on Google's servers. Completely different things. You may be willing to say they accomplish the same goal, something I disagree with. Let's stop talking about rooting and flashing, and start considering the idea of a lost/broken/corrupted phone. If the Google app sync worked better (in terms of reliability or feature set), it would be a painless task to have a new phone redownload all apps installed on the old one.
Please read forum rules before posting
Questions and help issues go in Q&A
Thread moved
Thank you for your cooperation
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
AndrewZorn said:
I still feel like you guys are misunderstanding me (mostly, yes, I've tried App List Backup, and it's alright, "Google should already do this better" aside)...
Backing up programs themselves to create some huge file is a completely different thing than maintaining a list of installed apps on Google's servers. Completely different things. You may be willing to say they accomplish the same goal, something I disagree with. Let's stop talking about rooting and flashing, and start considering the idea of a lost/broken/corrupted phone. If the Google app sync worked better (in terms of reliability or feature set), it would be a painless task to have a new phone redownload all apps installed on the old one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You like to find problems instead of solutions. Sure it's a little bit of work to go down the Google Play list and install the one you want but how often are you planning to break/lose/corrupt your phone?
Backup file size. Backup to dropbox. Backup to your SDCard. Move your backup file to your PC.
Restoring a device to the way it was. Do a nandroid. Use your extSDCard. Root the new phone and restore. Boom exactly the way you left it.
I think you already mentioned that you didn't want to use AppBrain. But that is another potential solution.
I realize you want a perfect native Google solution but we are not the ones who can solve that for you. It would be a nice feature, but I still wouldn't use it. App backup gives me more control with really no downside. And nandroid is a perfect system restore with data intact.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
Silly question...
I have a few Android devices and I play around with them quite a bit - flashing ROMs, etc. - and there's one thing that tends to irk me: When setting up my Google account on the device, there's the following checkbox:
Bring apps, settings and other data that you previously backup up to your Google account
Is there any way to limit this to settings and other data? I've used a TON of Android apps, and there are many, free and paid, that I have no desire to use again.
I know a more robust solution (Titanium Backup, etc.) is better, but I'm not always running with root and I'm not looking for extremely-fine-grain control. I simply want to skip installing apps I haven't used in months!
I know I could simply uninstall the apps, but there are a ton.
I'm willing to uncheck the box if I can get a clear understanding of what I'll be missing if I don't sync. I don't have much time to experiment with it at the moment. For example, I don't remember if known wi-fi networks are synced (compare to Windows 8, which does - if I remember correctly - along with tons of other data)
shawngmc said:
Is there any way to limit this to settings and other data? I've used a TON of Android apps, and there are many, free and paid, that I have no desire to use again.
For example, I don't remember if known wi-fi networks are synced (compare to Windows 8, which does - if I remember correctly - along with tons of other data)[/LIST]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As for the first point, backup doesn't bring back all the apps you ever downloaded, but -- if all goes well -- just the ones you had on your last install.
Regarding your second point, wi-fi networks; yes, they are backed up.
lyrois said:
As for the first point, backup doesn't bring back all the apps you ever downloaded, but -- if all goes well -- just the ones you had on your last install.
Regarding your second point, wi-fi networks; yes, they are backed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... that doesn't quite seem to be my experience, but it probably doesn't help that I have multiple android devices active at any given time.
Either way, yeah, still need to figure out if there's a good way to make it selective.
Hi there.
I currently have a Galaxy S7 Edge (rooted) and am moving to a Mate 20 Pro, which will not have root (at least initially)
What's the best solution to copy app data across from the S7? Will Huawei's Phone Clone app copy all app data?
If not, is there a better solution?
Also, does the Phone Clone app transfer data locally via wifi, or does it bounce everything to an external server?
Cheers.
Minotaur said:
Hi there.
I currently have a Galaxy S7 Edge (rooted) and am moving to a Mate 20 Pro, which will not have root (at least initially)
What's the best solution to copy app data across from the S7? Will Huawei's Phone Clone app copy all app data?
If not, is there a better solution?
Also, does the Phone Clone app transfer data locally via wifi, or does it bounce everything to an external server?
Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In Android there is limited option to copy over the apps data unless the phone is rooted. Generally speaking you need to set up your apps again on the M20 Pro.
I have used Huawei's own backup and restore all to migrate over apps from my old Sony phone, they worked but some apps had some issues, so I finally ended up wiping the phone and start fresh, and the problems disappeared.
So probably is best to bite the bullet and set up all your apps from scratch. I know it's not ideal, all my previous phones were rooted and used Titanium Backup to restore apps and data, which without root is not possible.
beta199 said:
In Android there is limited option to copy over the apps data unless the phone is rooted. Generally speaking you need to set up your apps again on the M20 Pro.
I have used Huawei's own backup and restore all to migrate over apps from my old Sony phone, they worked but some apps had some issues, so I finally ended up wiping the phone and start fresh, and the problems disappeared.
So probably is best to bite the bullet and set up all your apps from scratch. I know it's not ideal, all my previous phones were rooted and used Titanium Backup to restore apps and data, which without root is not possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, yeah I ended up not using Phone Clone as it crashed on my S7 when trying to connect to my new M20P.
I used Googles restore process which got most of the app data down, still had to set a few things up from scratch though.
Hello,
So I just transfered my Data throught Smart Switch, wich was basically a good thing.
However on one part Iam really not so happy and need a better way.
Because if you want to transfer your Accounts as well (check this Option), you get forced to activate WIFI & Internet - for everything else you don't need to.
Why? Probably because Smart Switch wants to send your accounts to the samsung servers, wich is done pretty fast, because the accounts are basically just text.
I don't want to send my accounts around and I bet you don't want to as well. Except you do sync everything... then its too late anyway.
So my Question is:
Is there a good workaround or another tool, wich lets you transfer your main accounts - without sending them to samsung or anyone?
What is your experience? And do you know a workaround?
Please let me/us know
|||||
Never trust SmartSwitch with critical data.
Make backups for contacts and all apps the allow you export/import settings/data. Use ApkExport to make installable copies of all your apps and updates.
All critical data like images, music, vids should be backed up as folder and should already be redundantly backed up to at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other and the PC.
When going to a different model it's best not to use SmartSwitch. For the same device I use it to transfer homepage settings only.
A clean load yields best results... and can last years with minimal maintenance if you don't do stupid stuff including firmware updates and upgrades.
Yeah, I think so as well.
However APK Export is from 2018. I don't think It can be trusted either. Especially with Android 12 etc
Also I didn't give SmartSwitch Internetaccess, because of AFwall, so Iam ok with that.
Problem is now, how to transfer all the accounts? I don't like to do it all manually.
It doesn't let me do it without an Internetconnection, wich can't be trusted. I don't want to send all my accounts to samsung, lol. That seems to be the only purpose, why there needs to be an Internet Connection with the Accounts.
Before Titanium Backup was great and also it took all the Accountdata with it (whatsapp etc).
Now there seems to be Swift Backup, but I need to test it first.. it doesn't seem to be that powerful.
||||| said:
Yeah, I think so as well.
However APK Export is from 2018. I don't think It can be trusted either. Especially with Android 12 etc
Also I didn't give SmartSwitch Internetaccess, because of AFwall, so Iam ok with that.
Problem is now, how to transfer all the accounts? I don't like to do it all manually.
It doesn't let me do it without an Internetconnection, wich can't be trusted. I don't want to send all my accounts to samsung, lol. That seems to be the only purpose, why there needs to be an Internet Connection with the Accounts.
Before Titanium Backup was great and also it took all the Accountdata with it (whatsapp etc).
Now there seems to be Swift Backup, but I need to test it first.. it doesn't seem to be that powerful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm running Android 9 and 10, deliberately.
The ApkExport is clean freeware.
It either will work with 12 or not.
Easy enough to test.
Now Iam also searching for another Alternative.
So basically to have the Function like Smart Switch, but for any Phone, so you can at least quickly transfer contacts etc. - any Ideas?
Edit: maybe found some ways here:
https://mobiletrans.wondershare.com/samsung-transfer/alternatives-for-samsung-smart-switch.html
Edit2:
they are all not as good as Smart Switch so far... damn.
Edit3: Here is Smart-Switch and many Alternatives - wich need to be tested..
smart switch - Android Apps on Google Play
Enjoy millions of the latest Android apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines & more. Anytime, anywhere, across your devices.
play.google.com
But Iam still searching for a good way to also transfer the accounts savely to an S22U.
Damn a Smart-Switch Mod would be awesome.
||||| said:
But Iam still searching for a good way to also transfer the accounts savely to an S22U.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Backup as a text or wdoc so you can cut/paste.
You need to redundantly backup critical data by tried and proven methods or you risk getting your data splattered like a NYC crime scene.
Ok, now I have an S21 Ultra ^^
But still I had this Problem... and some apps didn't had their app data.
I have both rooted phones. Isn't there a better alternative?
Edit again:
Before I always used Titanium Backup in this Case, wich worked great, but sadly does not work on Android 11/12 properly and now it seems to be abandonware.
However here I found a possible solution/alternative:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=swift+backup
But I wonder again, why you have to login to your google account with this tool...
And here are some solutions as well:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=backup+app+data+android+12