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i'm reading through all the posts for people updating to the new firmware and wiping away all their data without a care. how can you afford to do that so easily?
I have lots of data like SMS messages I need to keep around, applications that cant be downloaded anymore (such as hello aim beta, wifi tether), settings, etc.. that I just can't wipe my phone. how are you people keeping this data around?
I personally use apps to Sd card and to backup sms and such I use MyBackup Pro available on market for about $5. It works great. Go try it. You can even back up applications with it.
John5788 said:
i'm reading through all the posts for people updating to the new firmware and wiping away all their data without a care. how can you afford to do that so easily?
I have lots of data like SMS messages I need to keep around, applications that cant be downloaded anymore (such as hello aim beta, wifi tether), settings, etc.. that I just can't wipe my phone. how are you people keeping this data around?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I usually will run a nandroid backup first then i can just flash it back without any trouble after the wipe.
I also have GSCRIPT on the phone and have a script that backs up all my apps to the SD and then I have a SCRIPT that will reinstall all my APPS when it is all said and done if I need it for those times that I am unable to backup first.
John5788 said:
i'm reading through all the posts for people updating to the new firmware and wiping away all their data without a care. how can you afford to do that so easily?
I have lots of data like SMS messages I need to keep around, applications that cant be downloaded anymore (such as hello aim beta, wifi tether), settings, etc.. that I just can't wipe my phone. how are you people keeping this data around?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always make a nandroid backup. As a matter of fact, I make a nandroid backup weekly or before I do anything drastic to my phone like delete all SMS or try something new. Nandroid backup process takes but 5 minutes. Most of the apps can be downloaded over again and most of SMS are of no importance. All my pics and audio and wallpapers are on SD, so that automatically gets moved.
If I ever need to reference to something, I just flash the nandroid backup, look up what I need and then flash back to the other nandroid backup etc. So far that is my game plan, but i've yet to do this as I've never really had the need to go back.
It is tedious process especially for the apps but I have kept a list and it isn't too bad.
there are other wifi tether programs that are probably better than what you had before.
anything and everything is out there apk wise, if you know where to look.
but, there are backup programs and since I don't use them (other than nandroid), hopefully someone can comment on them.
question, i can do a nandroid backup fine without any problems. i believe i am using jf1.42 recovery image, but lets say my phone bricks, whatever nandroid backed up for me, how do i install it back again? n00b question i know but ive searched around and havnt found that answer yet.
I haven't wiped my phone in over a month.
I use MyBackup Pro. Backs up all your Data, Apps, and settings. And, of course, I make a nandroid backup before I flash anything.
madunix said:
question, i can do a nandroid backup fine without any problems. i believe i am using jf1.42 recovery image, but lets say my phone bricks, whatever nandroid backed up for me, how do i install it back again? n00b question i know but ive searched around and havnt found that answer yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a quick and easy explanation: http://androidcommunity.com/forums/168953-post6.html
I've tried the Nandroid back up, but for the life of me I can't get ADB working on my computer. Is there a script to run it through recovery mode or through the terminal emulator?
Thanks
Hi Aim beta is still available in the market (Is it different from hello AIM beta?) and wifi tether for root users is still available at google code. If there was a program that I wanted that was no longer available I would just back it up to SD before wiping. For SMS I use SMS backup. That way SMS streams are available all the time in my gmail (not that I consider my SMS messages all that important)
Settings take me a little while to get back but usually if I am wiping to put on a new ROM my workflow will change a bit so redoing settings from scratch is not a big deal.
Given that contacts calendar and mail are synced with gmail, wiping is less a concern for me than it was with WM. Reloading apps takes a bit of time but it is not a major effort since most things are either on the market or on my SD.
...what everyone else said.
Also, I use fastboot on the computer side (Windows XP) to get Nandroid's backups back on my phone. This only works if you have the engineering bootloader, though (the thing with the three skateboarding androids). First, you'll have to copy "boot.img," "data.img," and "system.img" to whatever folder fastboot's in. Open up your command prompt. The command line you use is this:
cd *whatever directory fastboot's in*
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash userdata data.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use nandroid and mybackup pro.
Heres a question for the ages. If i do a nandroid backup on say...JF's 1.5ADP and then update to Haykuros image, after a wipe, would i have a problem if i was to fastboot flash my data.img file? Would it cause problems? I have yet to try it.
Does mybackup pro back up paid apps?
I dont really care about my txt i mean i got alot of txt but nothing to much to be save..I use appmanger to save my .apk apps to sd. and contacts are sync to google so yeah thats all i do.
If you have apps to sd it's as easy as following any apps to sd tutorial. All your apps that are already on your sd card will pop right back into your phone. In case anyone didn't know this. I tried and found out that it worked. So PM me for more details. I can't do much right now. But I can let you know what commands to type in adb shell or terminal emu.
Using the apps to sd, once I set the links up, everything is back, although my protected apps show up as the .apk name as with a gear icon. I have to uninstall then re-install those. But I am looking around for ways to remedy that. I think I found one post, but haven't wiped since I found it.
What’s this about?
WhatsApp was driving me nuts the other day! Why? Because it would not restore my message backup without a reason.
When I take the time and read the following will it help me?
Well, maybe. That depends on what you did. I wanted to restore my WhatsApp encrypted backup file (FILE! not Google backup) and it worked out.
When will the following maybe help me?
you have a WhatsApp backup file (encrypted, e.g. crypt12 -> msgstore.db.crypt12)
you wiped your phone’s data
you have a backup of your phone (TWRP or similar) or already have the WhatsApp key
What happened to you?
I changed from stock ROM to custom ROM (CyanogeMod in my case). Because I did a clean flash I made some preparations in advance. I backed up my WhatsApp messages and copied the whole folder to my SD card. I wiped my phone using TWRP (system, data, cache...). After the custom ROM flash I installed WhatsApp and wanted to restore my messages. Didn’t worked out.
What happened?
I did a little bit of research and little did I know the message file was encrypted. Because WhatsApp is super smart it stores the key for the decryption not in the WhatsApp folder (okay, this would really be stupid). As soon as you wipe your data the key will be erased. Good bye key! So, I am not an expert and it could be that there is a way easier method to restore you messages but I didn’t found one. I just want to share my experience so hopefully someone can save a lot of time. I would have been happy if I found something like this earlier or if I would have at least known about the key. Now I know.
NOTE
Without a backup of your phone, to be more specific, of your phone’s data or the WhatsApp key the following will be useless!
NOTE
Your phone can get broken! I am not responsible for that. Everything you do is on your own risk! Also, I’ll try to help but I am not a 24/7 support technician.
NOTE
Read everything first before you start! Maybe I messed something up. So, take a look first!
So, what to do?
1) Retrieve the key from your phone’s data backup.
a) Because we are all smart we do a full backup before we flash crazy stuff on our phone, right?! I did that with TWRP. Any other backup might work as well. You’ll have to find out on your own. The TWRP backup file is something like “data.ext3.win000”, “data.ext3.win001”. Copy it to your computer. Add the extension .tar or .tar.gz (“data.ext3.win000.tar”, “data.ext3.win001.tar”). In my case both worked. If you can already browse your backup file continue with e).
b) Download and Install 7-Zip.
c) With the 7-Zip file manager you can open and search inside the renamed TWRP files.
d) 7-Zip doesn’t recognize if your data is stored in more than one file. I guess if you pick the right file extensions it would. But, like I said, I am not an expert. So, in this case the win000-file has other files in it than the win001-file. If you don’t find the key in the first one, open up the next one.
e) Open the first file. There will be some kind of blank folder. Open it and you’ll see your phones data. Navigate to \data\data\com.whatsapp\files\.
f) There you should see a file named key. If so, start yell “hurray!”. In my case I saw two key files. I don’t know why but every file was doubled (maybe someone can explain that to me).
g) One of the files was about 158 Bytes. That should be it. To be sure extract the first key file. Open it with the windows editor. If there are letters in it that you can read it’s the wrong file.
h) Extract the other one and open it, too. You see some gibberish? Congratulations, this should be your key! Copy the file to your phones SD card or something similar.
2) Restore your backup
a) Install WhatsApp if not already happened. If you already activated the app go to settings, apps, select WhatsApp and erase all data (NOTE! Your own risk! All data will be gone!). This is necessary because WhatsApp will only ask once after the activation if the backup should be restored. Maybe there is another way but I don’t know it.
b) Copy the whole WhatsApp folder to your phone (the backed up one from the SD, see above). Or just put the backup file into \WhatsApp\Databases\. If you have an older backup file like msgstore.db-2016-01-01.crypt12 rename it into msgstore.db.crypt12. As far as I know only the last named file will be restored.
c) Start WhatsApp and activate it.
d) STOP! WhatsApp will ask you if it should restore the backup. Don’t do it! If you did it and it failed start again from a). Just leave the screen like that, don’t do anything. Turn off your phone! Yep, you heard right. WhatsApp will remember the state it’s in.
e) Boot into TWRP. If you have a file manager that can access your phones data you could use that one, too. I think root will be required for that. I just had the limited stock file manager. The latest TWRP has a file manager integrated without restrictions (check for yourself first!). I used that one (complicated maybe, I know!).
f) Open the file manager (Advanced - File Manager) and navigate to your key-file. Tap on it and select copy.
g) Navigate to \data\data\com.whatsapp\files and copy the key-file into this folder (just tap the blue folder at the right bottom of the screen).
h) Reboot you phone. Start WhatsApp. It should open up and directly ask you if you want to restore your backup. Try to restore it. If you’re lucky it’ll work. For me it did! Congratulations.
Endnote
I didn’t know about the key when I erased my phone’s data. Next time that one will be backed up, too. So I can save a lot of time.
This whole thing here might be very complicated and I guess there is a lot better way to do it. But I didn’t found it. So, I just want to at least share my experience. Maybe someone will profit.
Another thing you need to know here;
The file named key should have a UID WhatsApp for user and group permissions.
You can set these using TotalCommander via Properties
and you should set these while whatsapp is killed/down and while the key is already in the /data/data/../files/ dir.
I also had a case where in the last stage, so before the final boot to restore the database, I had to do a Wipe Cache and Dalvik cache. If I did not do that, whatsapp would skip the restore question and continue activation as if it was a new one, and then *overwrite* the key file I had put there, no matter what I tried!
You don't have to do any of this if you haven't changed your cell number!
1) Copy your latest crypt 12 file to /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/
2) Install / Activate WhatsApp
3) WhatsApp will retrieve the key from their server and restore your backup.
This only works if you haven't changed numbers, but it's easy as 1, 2, 3!
I tried this but it didn't work out for me. Thats the reason I wrote this. So far couldn't find another way to restore the backup. Maybe in newer WhatsApp versions this works?!
TripCode said:
You don't have to do any of this if you haven't changed your cell number!
1) Copy your latest crypt 12 file to /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/
2) Install / Activate WhatsApp
3) WhatsApp will retrieve the key from their server and restore your backup.
This only works if you haven't changed numbers, but it's easy as 1, 2, 3!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's actually not true. I followed their instructions to the letter, but they failed. I did not get a Restore prompt, and it actually erased the entire whatsapp cryptxx file.
The official way probably fails when you upgrade from LL to MM, but I'm not so sure about even that, because it also failed a long time ago on my htc desire just changing from rom to rom (with a clean /data/data dir).
jult said:
That's actually not true. I followed their instructions to the letter, but they failed. I did not get a Restore prompt, and it actually erased the entire whatsapp cryptxx file.
The official way probably fails when you upgrade from LL to MM, but I'm not so sure about even that, because it also failed a long time ago on my htc desire just changing from rom to rom (with a clean /data/data dir).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you have had a bad experience. I do a lot of dev work with WhatsApp. I have swapped between several devices as low as API7 to API24. I have never had an issue restoring WhatsApp via the official 3 step method. My devices use a selection of stock / custom roms. As long as you got it working that's the main thing, but I would advise people to try the official restoration procedure before they venture into anything more technical as the official procedure will work most of the time.
Hi, I googled and came to this page.
I hope someone can help in restoring either local .crypt12 backup file or from google drive backup.
It started when my phone got no space and WhatsApp crashed.
For the first time, I clicked restore but it couldn't restore as got no space and WhatsApp closed the app itself.
I was carelessly when starting WhatsApp again and didn't click "restore from previous database" on the 2nd time.
I searched online for the WhatsApp help and deleted some apps to free up space.
Then, I uninstalled WhatsApp and reinstalled again. However, the problem came when after re-installation and needed to authenticate my old WhatsApp number by SMS.
As I just kept using the old WhatsApp number that was originally from a prepaid SIM card which I bought years ago and I didn't top up the stored value for a few years back, so I couldn't receive voice and SMS from that old WhatsApp number as it was properly become a dormant mobile number .
Is that a way I can restore from, for I made a copy of the crypt12 database before uninstalling WhatsApp (I didn't copy the key before uninstalling & reinstalling, and I am not sure if I had a copy of the key before, that I tried to backup using windows explorer to copy to my computer long ago.
Many thanks.
TripCode said:
Sounds like you have had a bad experience. I do a lot of dev work with WhatsApp. I have swapped between several devices as low as API7 to API24. I have never had an issue restoring WhatsApp via the official 3 step method. My devices use a selection of stock / custom roms. As long as you got it working that's the main thing, but I would advise people to try the official restoration procedure before they venture into anything more technical as the official procedure will work most of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi i used yowhatsapp and try to use the original whatsapp app i get messages back but cant see old pictures and cant here old voice messages they were imported somehow to the new package named com.yowhatsapp istead.
could someone point me in the right direction on how i can restore whatsapp with mediafiles`? my mediafiles are all there but just working with yowhatsapp
lycca said:
Hi, I googled and came to this page.
I hope someone can help in restoring either local .crypt12 backup file or from google drive backup.
It started when my phone got no space and WhatsApp crashed.
For the first time, I clicked restore but it couldn't restore as got no space and WhatsApp closed the app itself.
I was carelessly when starting WhatsApp again and didn't click "restore from previous database" on the 2nd time.
I searched online for the WhatsApp help and deleted some apps to free up space.
Then, I uninstalled WhatsApp and reinstalled again. However, the problem came when after re-installation and needed to authenticate my old WhatsApp number by SMS.
As I just kept using the old WhatsApp number that was originally from a prepaid SIM card which I bought years ago and I didn't top up the stored value for a few years back, so I couldn't receive voice and SMS from that old WhatsApp number as it was properly become a dormant mobile number .
Is that a way I can restore from, for I made a copy of the crypt12 database before uninstalling WhatsApp (I didn't copy the key before uninstalling & reinstalling, and I am not sure if I had a copy of the key before, that I tried to backup using windows explorer to copy to my computer long ago.
Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did this yesterday but this will only work if your number has not changed, first uninstall whatsapp, if you have a copy of your latest. msgstore.db .crypt12 file, (found on your Whatsapp folder in your SD card under Databases) copy it from there to your internal memory Whatsapp Database folder. Please note that any existing msgstore.db .crypt12 file must first be deleted. Go to your SD card whatsapp folder named backup and copy the backup crypt file as well to the internal memory whatsapp folder only after deleting the existing folder. Install whatsapp and authenticate the install , do not accept the backup prompt. Once installed go to Chats and run a backup to google drive. Your key is in the DB files and will be uploaded to google drive along with all backuped data. Uninstall Whatsapp and reinstall, this time accept the backup prompt. Verify that the two files that you copied still exist in both the SD and internal memory, allow a normal backup to occur at 4am and check in the morning. All files should be recovered and the old key should be reinstalled.
Thank you very much for your guide. I upgraded a phone to a custom rom and even though I made a recent in-app backup and never used another phone number/sim card, Whatsapp was not able to restore the data.
Glad I made a complete NAND backup just to be safe....
@sexler (what a name )
THX a lot for your guide!
I changed from Android 7 (LineageOS) to Android 8.1 (CarbonRom) without using Google-Apps anymore. So no Backup from the cloud would be possible.
Only the "c) Start WhatsApp and activate it." was not possible with my Whatsapp. But I just did the activation later and after that he noticed that there where a backup.
Your guide helped out of my 7 days quest
THX THX THX!
Greetings by Idijt
@I_did_it_just_tmrrow
You're welcome!
It’s very nice to know that almost three years later the instructions can help someone. Thank you for your feedback.
Have a nice weekend.
Is the method still working?
timenewroman said:
Is the method still working?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not, the crypt is the same and there are some tools on versioning sites like github/gitlab who offer de-crypter.
Should work. Give it a try and tell us.
I'm trying to use this method to restore old 2015-16 WhatsApp chats to a BlueStacks virtual Android machine. I haven't had much luck.
NB though I did copy over both the key file and the msgstore.db to the com.whatsapp folder (as well as having the crypt12 file available)- I'm gonna try now while just copying over the key, once Whatsapp decides I'm not a robot and sends me verification again
EDIT: tried again, with msgstore.db.crypt12 and key only. Followed the procedure closely, and used BSTweaker to copy over the key file at the appropriate stage into BlueStacks. No luck. Failed to restore. I noticed that the permissions on the key file are different (RW for Owner, Group and Others).
Can anyone help me figure this out? Do I need to change the permissions or something? Any help would be appreciated!
EDIT2: SOLVED!!!!! Praise God! I managed to transfer my old conversations, profile pictures and media using this method: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/whatsapp-reencryption-crypt12-backup-t3779487
TL;DR - I copied over, from one Bluestacks Android VM (v0.8 - ancient, from 2015), to antother Bluestacks Android VM (v4.180.0.1005 - latest as of writing) the following files/folders:
/data/data/com.whatsapp/databases/msgstore.db << (unencrypted database - requires ROOT)
/data/data/com.whatsapp/files/Avatars/[a couple of files that were obviously un-named jpg profile pictures] << (profile pics - requires ROOT)
/storage/emulated/0/Whatsapp/ << (Whatsapp media folder)
I didn't need my encryption key or crypt12 database at all; all the methods I'd tried to restore using these failed miserably (including the one in the Original Post here). Whatsapp "detected a problem" on reloading the app, and restored my old conversations from years ago - so happy!
i wanna share my experience when Whatsapp refused to restore using .crypt12 file. There's like 10 of the .crypt file in my phone, but all seems corrupted. So restoring using CRYPT12 file is out of question here.
all this happen when i'm trying to move my Whatsapp from old OP3T to new OP5. I thought it wont take more that 1 hour to complete. I was wayyyyyy wrong.
Please note that I'm using custom ROM based on Android 10 (Q).
I already have some Titanium Backup of my Whatsapp. So what I do is extract msgstore.db from the Titanium Backup .tar file (data/data/com.whatsapp/databases). What important is the SELINUX permission/setting on that msgstore.db file. Use any file manager that allows SELINUX context changes, such as Root Explorer.
The key file from /data/data/com.whatsapp/files also important, because I have 2 of it (one from my old OP3T, the other from OP5). The key from OP3T can be used to restore msgstore.db on my OP5.
Its really painful lesson to me, as I can't use Whatsapp from May 1st until today (May 10). That's 10 freaking day without Whatsapp!!
I could just continue using Whatsapp fresh like new, but the old chat messages is really valuable to me.
To those who having any kind of issue, don't stop trying. Never quit! There's always solution, sooner or later.
This is also a useful link for understanding how whatsapp
files function
Hi, I am having the same problem as with restoring my Whatsapp history and wondered if any kind soul can help me to restore my Whatsapp history?
What I had done :
I had my S8 rooted. The whole phone was wipe when it was rooted. I hope this step is correct.
My encrypted backup (crypt12 and crypt14) was saved already before I rooted and I also need a backup of my phone (just not the application data because the Dr Fone software mentioned that my S8 needed to be rooted before I can backup my application data)
But I couldnt find the folders you mentioned here :
/data/data/com.whatsapp/databases/msgstore.db << (unencrypted database - requires ROOT)
/data/data/com.whatsapp/files/Avatars/[a couple of files that were obviously un-named jpg profile pictures] << (profile pics - requires ROOT)
/storage/emulated/0/Whatsapp/ << (Whatsapp media folder)
Can anyone guide me pls?
Hey guys need your help actually i mistakenly deleted a chat for that i thought I would delete my WhatsApp and reinstall it and use the backup of last night and restore it..
But it turned out while installing it asked for Google drive but i haved created any backup file on my Google drive and only had it on my internal storage but WhatsApp didn't got the local file and said no backup found after that all my chat was deleted.
It rewrite all my WhatsApp folder and now it is showing just one encrypt file and all other data and backup got deleted.
I also checked com.whatsapp file in Android > media > com.whatsApp but it is deleted from there as well.
Those msgs were really important any help would be appreciated.
Thank you
Hello guys, about this subject.
I've tried a few stuff but i can't restore it like in the pass.
My s10e, it's clean, no custom rom, only default. When i did (like in the past without knowing about the key stuff) was to copy manually all my media photos/stickers/etc., and the conversations, all those crypt files. So now i have 2 clean crypt file with my last conversations. I really want to recover all of it.
Please tell me there's a way without rooting , i've read and see so many videos but i can't find a good way to restore it.
I was thinking maybe using an old phone, put the crypt files on the sd card, change the chip, try to restore it with and old whatsapp version(?).
I really need my conversations back. It's really important. Any ideas?
Hi
Recently I decided that my almost rusty galaxy note 2 is running too slow and I installed cyagenomod14. I backed up all my data using Wondershare Tunesgo and installed new OS. Everything went great until i tried to restore my contacts. TunesGo asked me to pay 35$ for getting my info back! I have no memory of warnings that i can not restore data without buying full version (if it were i'd get different program, or hell even just written contacts down and put them back in manually). Tunesgo created .bak file that can be opened with no problem by 7-zip, though i can't extract anything becouse it is password protected. Is there any way i can get through it? I know this password have to be somewhere in the program, I'd guess maybe i could read it from memory after selecting bak file (it then scans and shows how many files are in backup). I don't need this program to restore my data, i just want to get to it.
I'd appreciate any guidence/tips!
Kelnozz said:
Hi
Recently I decided that my almost rusty galaxy note 2 is running too slow and I installed cyagenomod14. I backed up all my data using Wondershare Tunesgo and installed new OS. Everything went great until i tried to restore my contacts. TunesGo asked me to pay 35$ for getting my info back! I have no memory of warnings that i can not restore data without buying full version (if it were i'd get different program, or hell even just written contacts down and put them back in manually). Tunesgo created .bak file that can be opened with no problem by 7-zip, though i can't extract anything becouse it is password protected. Is there any way i can get through it? I know this password have to be somewhere in the program, I'd guess maybe i could read it from memory after selecting bak file (it then scans and shows how many files are in backup). I don't need this program to restore my data, i just want to get to it.
I'd appreciate any guidence/tips!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Greetings and welcome to assist. Unfortunately we can't help you with password cracking as that would be illegal. Have you checked to see if your contacts are backed up with your google account ? Whatever contacts you add to your google account are automatically restored on any device you sign into. There are also free apps like SMS backup&restore that will back up calls/sms/contacts and restore for free
Good Luck
Sawdoctor
Hi,
I've just upgraded from latest OnePlus stock ROM of Android 11 to LineageOS 19.1. I've made backups before formatting everything, a full NANDroid with TWRP, one using the Migrate app, one with Oandbackupx of all apps. Also Google's way, but that doesn't back this app up, which seems to be quiet bad...
After trying to restore from all the mentioned sources, Google Authenticator can't seem to be restored. It always ends up empty. Is there a a specific protection for that data? I've similar issue with Dropbox as an example, it asks me to login after a restore. Whereas other apps preserved their logins...
Would be great to restore it, as I had like 30+ MFA codes added. Any suggestions?
Thank you!
There is only one way to transfer codes to another phone in the case of Google Authenticator.
Perhaps there is an analogy with the Dropbox access application. You'll have to check it out for yourself.
Hi,
Ok, thanks for the info. This is just sad to hear.
Going back to the original system with restoring the NANDroid backup go get this code might not work either?
Thank you.
I can't seem to find a solution. So I'm switching to Authy and in the same time I'll add it to KeePassXC, which can also do it... This can't happen again, I have to reset 2FA on 30+ sites
antivirtel said:
I can't seem to find a solution. So I'm switching to Authy and in the same time I'll add it to KeePassXC, which can also do it... This can't happen again, I have to reset 2FA on 30+ sites
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
whats stopping you from flashing your nandroid backup back to regain access? Isn't the whole beauty of nandroid backups the fact that they're more like system snapshots?
We currently are running into the same problem (although different phone, different situation but same effective result. We already came from a custom rom but forgot to get the transfer QRs from the Auth app.)
Okay so let me update you on my findings. If you have a back-up of Authenticators data (made before the update Google pushed out earlier this month*) you could fish out the database file (called database, without any file extention, stored in the folder database (full path to the file in a TWRP backup would be /data/data/com.google.android.apps.authenticator2/database/database)) and just read out the table accounts using any sqlite3 tool. This table has a column called secrets which contains the keys. There even is a free (linux/cygwin) set of scripts that can generate QRs for you if you do not feel like punching in the keys manually.
Theoretically placing the database file into the database folder of the app (overwriting the empty one) or using something like Titanium Backup should work too if you have not updated the app on your old device/installation yet.
*With the last update Google started encrypting the secrets before writing them to the database and nobody has been able to find the key which they used for that (yet)
screen said:
whats stopping you from flashing your nandroid backup back to regain access? Isn't the whole beauty of nandroid backups the fact that they're more like system snapshots?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm now on Android 12, and since TWRP doesn't support the new encryption, I can't just take a NANDroid backup of the current one and flash the old one in (without losing much of the current one, which I don't want). Unless there's something new around this, that won't be too much of a help.
I can think of restoring the NANDroid backup to an Android emulator, but it doesn't seem to be possible:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/k7v4c/_/c2i5l9g
(unless it has changed in the last 11 years).
screen said:
Okay so let me update you on my findings. If you have a back-up of Authenticators data (made before the update Google pushed out earlier this month*) you could fish out the database file (called database, without any file extention, stored in the folder database (full path to the file in a TWRP backup would be /data/data/com.google.android.apps.authenticator2/database/database)) and just read out the table accounts using any sqlite3 tool. This table has a column called secrets which contains the keys. There even is a free (linux/cygwin) set of scripts that can generate QRs for you if you do not feel like punching in the keys manually.
Theoretically placing the database file into the database folder of the app (overwriting the empty one) or using something like Titanium Backup should work too if you have not updated the app on your old device/installation yet.
*With the last update Google started encrypting the secrets before writing them to the database and nobody has been able to find the key which they used for that (yet)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I already checked that file, it's encrypted in there, I was using the latest versions of the apps when I made the backup, didn't think that won't be enough. The weird thing is that restoring it won't restore the data. So it must use some device related key or it just detects that it's a different device... Annoying, backing it up doesn't actually do any good...
Do you have any other idea? Thank you!
antivirtel said:
I'm now on Android 12, and since TWRP doesn't support the new encryption, I can't just take a NANDroid backup of the current one and flash the old one in (without losing much of the current one, which I don't want). Unless there's something new around this, that won't be too much of a help.
I can think of restoring the NANDroid backup to an Android emulator, but it doesn't seem to be possible:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/k7v4c/_/c2i5l9g
(unless it has changed in the last 11 years).
Yeah, I already checked that file, it's encrypted in there, I was using the latest versions of the apps when I made the backup, didn't think that won't be enough. The weird thing is that restoring it won't restore the data. So it must use some device related key or it just detects that it's a different device... Annoying, backing it up doesn't actually do any good...
Do you have any other idea? Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if Authenticator doesn't pick up on databases from other installations that would sugest that Authenticator has a way to link a database to an Authenticator installation. Meaning, the only way you could possibly have a chance to retrieve the data is to restore your nandroid backup (and use the Authenticator in there to make your transfer QR codes), count your losses as far as your current installation goes and reinstall a 12 rom from scratch. (Or find a way to get the key used to encrypt the secrets, if you have the key you just decrypt them and punch them in manually (or use the earlier scripts for QR code gen))
screen said:
Well, if Authenticator doesn't pick up on databases from other installations that would sugest that Authenticator has a way to link a database to an Authenticator installation. Meaning, the only way you could possibly have a chance to retrieve the data is to restore your nandroid backup (and use the Authenticator in there to make your transfer QR codes), count your losses as far as your current installation goes and reinstall a 12 rom from scratch. (Or find a way to get the key used to encrypt the secrets, if you have the key you just decrypt them and punch them in manually (or use the earlier scripts for QR code gen))
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's sad that nobody seems to have the keys to decrypt the secrets.
Wish I had a nandroid backup or just an earlier backup of the app's data before they started to encrypt their db.
I'm losing many accounts here.
shokolatha said:
It's sad that nobody seems to have the keys to decrypt the secrets.
Wish I had a nandroid backup or just an earlier backup of the app's data before they started to encrypt their db.
I'm losing many accounts here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To prevent exactly this from happening (again) I've switched to Authy like @antivirtel suggested earlier. Authy saves your secrets to your authy-account, and a big plus they actually have a desktop program too so I don't have to use my phone per se (I often just leave it home not needing my phone _untill_ I need 2FA somewhere lol). I'm sorry for your losses but at least take this as a learning oppertunity and switch to an 2FA/MFA application that does cloud
Exporting a QR code from google authenticator then taking a screenshot\pic of it and saving that for future phones has served me well so far..
I think if I read correctly, TWRP just released their new version with Android 12 decryption support, so I can go and extract it now from my nandroid backup. https://twrp.me/site/update/2022/10/10/3.7.0-released.html - did someone test this?
BTW, I also saved the 2FA codes to KeePassXC/DX, works brilliantly there too, has nice integration both on desktop and Android.
Hi,
I've finally found a way to save my current ROM and go back to my old backup of stock A11 (restore a NANDroid backup), and try to access G Auth, but it was empty straight away. Tried a restore with Neo Backup, no change. Unfortunately it seems like it's all gone. At least I have the DB file, it has a list of accounts, so I at least know where I had MFA...
Unless someone else has a clue how to restore it, someone?
Given it's finally getting cloud sync feature, Google should release a way to restore it. Google please do!
Thanks!
[Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) Android OS 8.0]
Hi, I backed up my phone to both Samsung backup and to Google Drive. I did a factory reset but it never restored. I was about to leave on a cruise and was kind of SOL.
The Samsung backup seems to be toast. Unless it keeps old backups and there's a way to access then, that way won't work as it's overwritten the backup with the newly reset phone.
I also backed up to Google Drive. I can even look at the files in the drive and there are 2 files that start with "takeout" and if you open them you see android files inside.
I just don't know how to restore from these. The file has the date on it, which is 2022, which is before my cruise. (Why am I so late asking? Caught covy and then got long haul..)
All I really care about is my text messages. My contacts would be great too, but I may have that on my PC. If the Google Drive backup doesn't work out I did save a bunch of my phones data to my PC manually. I know much of the OS folders show 0 files, but in some cases if I dug through some of the folders I would find files. I just have no idea if one of them would be my text messages.
I don't really understand what it is that I'm not getting. The instructions say to just go to the backup and click on it to restore it. Uhh no, that isn't working. :/
Thanks, I really hope I'm not SOL here.
A Factory Reset ( AKA Hard Reset ) only affects user data ( included apps ) , means all those added to phone since its 1st startup gets deleted / removed. That always works well on all Android phones.
Wondering why you want to play back the bad backups made?
I really only need the text messages and the contacts if I don't actually have a csv (sp?) file of them.
For the backup, I told it not to save the photos or programs. I have a list of the apps I didn't uninstall, and the photos on my PC. I think the reset, plus no apps saved will fix things.
Can I just restore the texts? Or, is it possible that one of the files I saved has them?
Thanks
jwoegerbauer said:
A Factory Reset ( AKA Hard Reset ) only affects user data ( included apps ) , means all those added to phone since its 1st startup gets deleted / removed. That always works well on all Android phones.
Wondering why you want to play back the bad backups made?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know I would be able to do what I mentioned in the post above this one? Still stuck.
Thanks
Hi, sorry to post again but I'm hoping the forum tells you that I'm replying to your message as I can't DM you.
[Added info] As I said above, I didn't backup the apps, just the texts and such, so a reset and restore should help. Even if it doesn't at least I can save the texts and contact list.
I still haven't found a solution to this. The Google app shows a restore that's also after the reset, BUT, I also have what is clearly a restore from before the reset. I don't care what jankcraft magic I have to do. How can I restore to that restore point? I have a copy on my PC. Can I tell the phone that I'm transferring data from a different phone on to this phone? Same phone of course.
The file on Google Drive starts with the word takeout and then has the date and time and is in a zip.
Nobody is posting any response to this but you, and someone else who pointed me to this section of XDA.
[Minor Edit] The files are "takeout1" and takeout2" with the date and times after them. The "takeout2" is the one from after the reset. Takeout1 is from before. If I delete "takeout2" will Google Restore see "takeout1?"
I'm dying here.
Thanks
DM