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How To: Backup Your Apps, Data & Settings BEFORE You Root/Change ROMs on Your Device!

How To: Backup Your Apps, Data & Settings BEFORE You Root/Change ROMs on Your Device!
I recently rooted my Evo 4G and since I had been using it for a while didn't want to lose all of my settings and data and didn't want to sit for hours installing apps and trying to set them each up the way I had them beforehand. None of the root guides that I've found seem to cover this critical first step before they get into the process of rooting the device. So a lot of people root and flash a new ROM and then realize all of their stuff is gone. So, here's how to back everything up before you root or change ROMs:
1) Locate/Download/Install Z4Root to your device. (It appears as though it was removed from the market due to people using it to get temp root in order to use hot spot tethers. The apk can be found in a thread on this forum here)
2) Install Titanium Backup from the market (I recommend the full version because it makes the restore process a one touch option whereas the free one requires you to click 'Install' and then 'confirm' for each individual app which can be a royal PITA if you have lots of apps)
3) Install 'Root Check' from the market
4) Launch Z4 and use to gain temporary root access of your device. Use Root Check to make sure you indeed do have root access.
5) Launch Titanium Backup and grant superuser permissions where necessary
6) Click the center option at the top of the screen after Titanium checks all possible scenarios. Scroll through the options and find the option (usually has the highest number on the right... or real close to it) that backs up all your apps + system data and settings. Allow it to complete this process which can take a bit.
7) Once this is complete back out of Titanium Backup and reboot your device. This will remove the temporary root access from the device. When the device has settled run Root Check one last time to make sure don't have root access.
8) Proceed with your favorite root/ROM process & enjoy not having to waste hours setting up your phone again the way you had it. When you recover make sure you chose the option to recover all missing apps and all data/settings because if you choose to recover ALL apps you can run into issues with the apps it tries to override.
Now, sometimes there are minor issues from ROM to ROM or device to device when you backup from one platform and then recover on another but for the most part it will save you a LOT of time. You can also try a reboot or two after you recover which can help with some settings that don't show up immediately after a recover. I did this before rooting my Evo 4G and it worked flawlessly.
Thanks and hopefully that helps.

Cool. I never thought about backing up while in temp root. Good find.
^_^_^'s tbolt

EEdaesung said:
Cool. I never thought about backing up while in temp root. Good find.
^_^_^'s tbolt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure thing, hopefully it saves others some time & effort.

Newer and better explanation!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1152233
Worked the first time!

Does this work with htc inspire 4g the link u provide
and the initial topic on this thread ?

Just to add, Z4Root will work for few device (older models)
Most of newer android version running on Gingerbread, it won't support.

Downloaded and installed z4 but keeps force closing??? please help. running on stock epic 4g touch

Z4Root
z4root doesn't work anymore on android jeally bean 4.2.2 ........ any ideas ??

does update.zip in cwm functions same

restore issues
if i back up using this app in stock firmware after that suppose a did a customrom. will there be any issue if i restored using this app.
jelly bean to kitkat. custom rom cynmod11.

jeswinjames6 said:
if i back up using this app in stock firmware after that suppose a did a customrom. will there be any issue if i restored using this app.
jelly bean to kitkat. custom rom cynmod11.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should be fine as it's still just app data. I haven't personally tested it to confirm though so proceed at your own risk.

[Q] simple root question

How can I root my HTC one m8 but still have it be the same as when I bought it. For example, I still want to receive updates and I want everything to work the same but I'll be rooted . Basically I just want to remove the bloatware and install cool roms. I don't want anything else to change. Is this possible?
I like everything about this phone so I dont want to change anything

You can't really root and still accept otas. Verizon is without a doubt after the root methods so an OTA will probably break root. You also won't be accepting OTAs when you're on a custom ROM. You can either just root with weak sauce or s off and unlock with fire water.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

you can most def root (very easy Process) and remove the bloatware and keep everything else stock. while you cant update ota, just keep checking on here, somebody will post an updated bloatfree rom that runs as close to stock as possible. The best of both worlds my friend.

psilocybins said:
How can I root my HTC one m8 but still have it be the same as when I bought it. For example, I still want to receive updates and I want everything to work the same but I'll be rooted . Basically I just want to remove the bloatware and install cool roms. I don't want anything else to change. Is this possible?
I like everything about this phone so I dont want to change anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do what I did...First I downloaded WeakSauce.apk directly to my phone, then downloaded SuperSU from the play store. Then I downloaded Titanium Backup and used it deleted the bloatware off of my phone..very easy.
links...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2699089
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup

If you are rooted but haven't changed the contents of \system in any way (i.e. NOT gotten rid of any apps), AND aren't running a custom recovery, the OTA's should take. The OTA's appear to look at the system directory to see if there are any modifications and fail the OTA flash if there are. So, if you are essentially stock everything except for root access, you should be okay.
That having been said, I didn't see anyone post about a successful OTA update after rooting; and most folks once they're rooted just can't help get a custom recovery (how else can you Nandroid?) or make the slightest tweak(s) to the system.
As someone said above, usually when there's an OTA, the devs have put it out as a flashable mod within 24 hours; and as someone ELSE said above, best NOT to take the OTA's because they are notorious for breaking root.
Yeah, OTA's are a nice touch, and that's how I run my Nexus 7, but on my phone they're a pain in the neck --- I want things my way, and I'm not willing to give that up.

cactusone said:
You can do what I did...First I downloaded WeakSauce.apk directly to my phone, then downloaded SuperSU from the play store. Then I downloaded Titanium Backup and used it deleted the bloatware off of my phone..very easy.
links...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2699089
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this but after deleting my apps they just returned after restarting my phone. Please help me! I am rooted with weaksauce
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Free mobile app

psilocybins said:
I tried this but after deleting my apps they just returned after restarting my phone. Please help me! I am rooted with weaksauce
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Your current setup does not permit writing to the \system partition. That's fine. (And that's especially good if you really are determined to take OTA updates and keep it pure stock but rooted.) To "get rid" of the bloatware, or any other system app you don't want to see you can do two things: (1) hide the app in the app drawer (that's done from the menu in the app drawer). And (2) Using app manager from settings, navigate to "all" apps, work your way down the list of apps and each one you want to disable: (a) turn off notifications; and then (b) press "disable." I think one or two just can't be disabled, e.g. Visual Voice Mail, but for the most part, you'll be able to make the bloat seem to "disappear" and you won't have affected your system partition, plus, they'll still be gone when you reboot.

hgoldner said:
Your current setup does not permit writing to the \system partition. That's fine. (And that's especially good if you really are determined to take OTA updates and keep it pure stock but rooted.) To "get rid" of the bloatware, or any other system app you don't want to see you can do two things: (1) hide the app in the app drawer (that's done from the menu in the app drawer). And (2) Using app manager from settings, navigate to "all" apps, work your way down the list of apps and each one you want to disable: (a) turn off notifications; and then (b) press "disable." I think one or two just can't be disabled, e.g. Visual Voice Mail, but for the most part, you'll be able to make the bloat seem to "disappear" and you won't have affected your system partition, plus, they'll still be gone when you reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Free mobile app

How To Backup *Everything*

Okay, I'm not a techie and I want to know how to backup everything on my phone before I attempt to root my OnePlus One using KingRoot.
At first I naively thought that copying all files and folders from my phone to my laptop would work, but 3 things seem to suggest it's not as easy as that:
I get an error message every time I try copying the files in the ColorNote folder
I saw a mention somehwere that to backup something called EFS you need to run a special app
I'm guessing that my contacts and SMS messages will not be backed up just by copying files and folders from my phone.
So my question is how do I backup *everything* (not just those things I have specifically refered to here) just in case something goes wrong when running KingRoot?
I would prefer not to have to upload my data to the cloud to back it up if at all possible.
Thanks fine people!

Reece Pondwell said:
Okay, I'm not a techie and I want to know how to backup everything on my phone before I attempt to root my OnePlus One using KingRoot.
At first I naively thought that copying all files and folders from my phone to my laptop would work, but 3 things seem to suggest it's not as easy as that:
I get an error message every time I try copying the files in the ColorNote folder
I saw a mention somehwere that to backup something called EFS you need to run a special app
I'm guessing that my contacts and SMS messages will not be backed up just by copying files and folders from my phone.
So my question is how do I backup *everything* (not just those things I have specifically refered to here) just in case something goes wrong when running KingRoot?
I would prefer not to have to upload my data to the cloud to back it up if at all possible.
Thanks fine people!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you plan to unlock bootloader and flash custom recovery? If not and you just want root,you can safely skip all of this backup part as kingroot/kingoroot won't do any harm to your device.
Also if you don't like kinguser as default granting roots app,you can change it into SuperSu too.
Here's a great guide by @Nishidh
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ca...ck-switch-kingroot-to-supersu-easily-t3426965

Mr.Ak said:
Do you plan to unlock bootloader and flash custom recovery? If not and you just want root,you can safely skip all of this backup part as kingroot/kingoroot won't do any harm to your device.
Also if you don't like kinguser as default granting roots app,you can change it into SuperSu too.
Here's a great guide by @Nishidh
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ca...ck-switch-kingroot-to-supersu-easily-t3426965
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi and thanks for your reply.
I don't plan to unlock the bootloader. I also wasn't planning on flashing a custom recovery (tbh I don't even know what "flashing" means), however I was thinking of using the KingRoot desktop version and their website states that "the desktop KingRoot version can only be flashed using recovery custom tools". I'm guessing that means that when I run KingRoot it will automatically flash a custom recovery.
BUT if doing that means that my data is wiped then I will stick to the android version even though at the moment I am trying to write an absolute minimum of data to my phone. (My reason for wanting to root is to have one last attempt to recover a load of data that I lost off my phone using a file recovery program that requires root access).
I know that if I run KingRoot just to root it is not supposed to delete any data, but I thought that it was generally thought to be good practice to backup your data before the process anyway just in case something untoward happens (in fact I *think* I read a reccommendation to do that on the official KingRoot website).
Thanks for the video link & tip and, of course, your advice!

Reece Pondwell said:
Hi and thanks for your reply.
I don't plan to unlock the bootloader. I also wasn't planning on flashing a custom recovery (tbh I don't even know what "flashing" means), however I was thinking of using the KingRoot desktop version and their website states that "the desktop KingRoot version can only be flashed using recovery custom tools". I'm guessing that means that when I run KingRoot it will automatically flash a custom recovery.
BUT if doing that means that my data is wiped then I will stick to the android version even though at the moment I am trying to write an absolute minimum of data to my phone. (My reason for wanting to root is to have one last attempt to recover a load of data that I lost off my phone using a file recovery program that requires root access).
I know that if I run KingRoot just to root it is not supposed to delete any data, but I thought that it was generally thought to be good practice to backup your data before the process anyway just in case something untoward happens (in fact I *think* I read a reccommendation to do that on the official KingRoot website).
Thanks for the video link & tip and, of course, your advice!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No don't use the desktop version.Use the mobile version and make sure you've fast net connection.Kingroot doesn't install recovery.It just roots,though,ofc not as good as rooting from recovery but still enough for daily tasks.

Mr.Ak said:
No don't use the desktop version.Use the mobile version and make sure you've fast net connection.Kingroot doesn't install recovery.It just roots,though,ofc not as good as rooting from recovery but still enough for daily tasks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that. I've tried running KingRoot app, but having some problems as reported here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-one/help/kingroot-app-t3573101

Reece Pondwell said:
Thanks for that. I've tried running KingRoot app, but having some problems as reported here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-one/help/kingroot-app-t3573101
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes,its totally safe to quit the app.
You can try Kingoroot too.

Mr.Ak said:
Yes,its totally safe to quit the app.
You can try Kingoroot too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Mr Ak!

Help rooting and cleaning kingroot traces (root failed) Smartphone550

Hi everyone,
I have a Master Smartphone550 with android 4.4.2. On this device the on board memory is easily filled, so, was trying a way to move almost everything in the sd. I tried with adb(but without sdk tool, only adb)(pm set-install-location 2) but it won't let me move the apps even if the change i've done seems to be ok. So I tried to root the phone and, according to a 3rd I found on xda, I tried with iroot...of course it failed but, more then that, my phone was full of s**t installed with that software.... I proceded then with a factory reset, but it didn't remove that s**t...so the only thing i've been able to do is deactivate kingroot and a sort of crap software called settings that opens like 6-7 processes that open ads every 5 sec...the phone is now apparently clean (but apps are still there) but the end of the story is that my situation is worse than the beginning...
Now, honestly I don't know how to proceed. Of course I don't have a backup of the rom before installing kingroot.
The question is, especially now with those bad softwares on the phone, is there a chance to root it? How can I do that?
According to antutu it seems to have a MTK 6582 as processor.
If you need any information I'll do all I can to give it to you.
P.S. I'm sorry for the long post and thanks if you arrived here.
P.S.S. I'm really sorry if there are errors in the 3d but English isn't my first language, I hope it is clear and understandable.
Thanks to everyone.

As I understand, only KingRoot was able to root your phone, and now you whant it to be replaced by non-adware-root-supersu
If so, follow this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/a310/general/how-to-remove-replace-kingroot-kinguser-t3308989
If the script doesn't remove all of KingRoot, simply search for files named *king* and decide, if they belog to KingRoot, and delete if they do.
If it doesn't work, try replacing every "rm" command in the script with "rm-Rf" and maybe add a "sync"-command here and there…

kai-dj said:
As I understand, only KingRoot was able to root your phone, and now you whant it to be replaced by non-adware-root-supersu
If so, follow this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/a310/general/how-to-remove-replace-kingroot-kinguser-t3308989
If the script doesn't remove all of KingRoot, simply search for files named *king* and decide, if they belog to KingRoot, and delete if they do.
If it doesn't work, try replacing every "rm" command in the script with "rm-Rf" and maybe add a "sync"-command here and there…
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, but the problem is that the phone is NOT rooted(kingroot failed on everything except installing his s**t in my phone) and the only way I have to delete everything is root the phone...the point is how can I do that this point?
EDITK, I've done it. The phone is rooted... king root is installed and using titanium backup I managed to delete the ads app. I've frozen app here and there and phone seems to be ok. Any advice of things I can delete? Do you think it is really necessary to change kingroot for SU? Can it stay...let's say...clean?

porcd said:
Thanks for the reply, but the problem is that the phone is NOT rooted(kingroot failed on everything except installing his s**t in my phone) and the only way I have to delete everything is root the phone...the point is how can I do that this point?
EDITK, I've done it. The phone is rooted... king root is installed and using titanium backup I managed to delete the ads app. I've frozen app here and there and phone seems to be ok. Any advice of things I can delete? Do you think it is really necessary to change kingroot for SU? Can it stay...let's say...clean?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd replace it, because TitaniumBackup sais that su-version could cause mistakes - and replacing isn't that hard. But if you don't run into trouble, root-access still works and you really got rid of the bold adds from KingRoot – you might as well keep it as it is ^^

Do phone carriers have access to system files?

Good day to you all. i'm the owner of a virgin mobile venture phone. (version 2.3.5) i recently upgraded to a new device, but on the venture i have very important memos that are saved in the system folder called: "com.m7.juke.memo"
i tried to root on my own to gain access to that folder using "baiduroot" but supersu fails to install on all versions. im new to rooting so have no idea why it doesnt work.
i tried the fixes that i found online, like downloading the 2.79 version etc. but nothing works. i'm also confused on weather im actually rooted or not, because while an app in the play store called "fast root checker" says i am, many more apps including "root checker basic" says im not.
i'm a writer and my full manuscript is in that memo folder, and at this time an agent wants to see the full manuscript. so im really in a depressed/panic state right now.
i'm not tech savvy at all, and at this point i really dont have time to try to figure out how to get in that folder.
so what i want to know is: if this rooting thing doesnt work which it looks like it's not. then does the phone carrier have access to those system files incase of emergency?
at this time i dont have access to pc to try to root from there.
any help you can provide me will really be appreciated, thanks.

I don't really understand the problem. If you still have your old phone there should be no problems getting the data by just using that memo app, or what did I miss?
Sent from my Moto G5 using Tapatalk

tys0n said:
I don't really understand the problem. If you still have your old phone there should be no problems getting the data by just using that memo app, or what did I miss?
Sent from my Moto G5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply. Well actually the data is in a system file folder. It's a stock memo app that came preinstalled on the phone. And it has no backup or sync option. The phone doesn't either, its very old. Basically I actually had to do a factory reset last month because of a boot loop problem, and I was gonna try to use recovering software to try to recover the data, but after further investigation I found the memo app in the system folder and the date it shows on the app is the same date I made edits to my manuscript, so I figured it might be a chance it was never deleted. So I want to get in there and see if it was still there before using recovery software.

Oh ok, now I see your problem.
I'm sorry to say that all your work got wiped in the factory reset unless you can find it with some data rescue app. Unfortunately this will become very hard if the phone have also been used after that, cause there's a chance it's been overwritten.
You won't find any data in system partition. All app data, even for system apps is written to data partition because system is always read only unless you have root and change things in system.
A factory reset wipes data and cache, but does not touch system because it's never supposed to change (read only).
Sent from my Moto G5 using Tapatalk

O ok. Well if that's the case I hope you can help me figure out this root problem so I can try a couple of rescue apps. I rooted with baiduroot the other day, but SuperSU is not installing on my phone after. What could be the problem? I want to root so I can try a couple of Android based recovering apps. Of course I would just connect to PC and download a recovery app from there, but Unfortunately I don't have access to my PC right now, so I'm hoping to root and use an android based recovering app.