On Pixel phones, there's a new backup and restore option which includes sms.
Even though I have Android 7.1 on my Nexus 5X, I don't have this feature. It seems to be a Pixel exclusive for now. However, it should be possible to replicate it somehow I think. Could this be part of Google Play services - or Google Drive, where we lately saw some new backup options in the hamburger menu and settings menu? I'm not rooted, but I still have my hopes up this piece of functionality could be activated on other phones. Did someone look into this?
As an example, we have a backup solution for call history and blocked numbers. It's been there for a few Android versions. The sms functionality seems to be very similar to those. Can't someone find out if it's done through Drive, Play services or some system component, and then begin experimenting?
Otherwise, if we can't replicate the Pixel functionality, then could something similar be built using the Google Drive app data backup? Sms backup apps typically have a solution of their own, such as file export, Gmail import or creating a folder in Google Drive. But what if my sms messages could be backed up as app data instead (from a homemade app, released to the play store for this purpose), using the Google Drive app data backup tool? Could someone write an app for that? Or are there limitations, perhaps the sms container on the phone can't be reached in that way?
I'm curious about what you have to say about this!
EDIT:
To clarify, I know there are many good backup solutions out there. What I'm asking for, is to have that task done as natively as possible in the OS. That's why I'm curious about the things above! Cheers
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Can someone tell me, or point me to a tutorial that explains how to:
1. Backup contacts to PC
2. Backup paid apps to PC(don't want to have to buy it twice...)
3. Backup app data/settings to PC.
Using appbrain will sync your apps with your account on appbrain.com
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
So, there is no way to backup to your SD card, or PC? For windows mobile, I use Sprite, which works great. I was looking for something like that.
Thanks
Never used WinMo, but Titanium Backup might be what you're looking for. You need root to use it though.
I don't mind rooting if that is what it takes, but I can't belive that there is not an easy way to at least backup your contacts.
Backing up Contacts, several ways:
Samsung Kies -- follow the sticky at the top of this forum, it will back them up to your PC.
Export to SD Card, then copy to your PC -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, Import/Export, Export to SD Card.
Copy them to your SIM -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, SIM Management.
Sync them to AT&T's servers, which will do it in real-time when you add/delete them, similar to if you synced to your Gmail contacts .. the other benefit here is that you can log on to your AT&T account via the web to manage your phone contacts and it will sync your changes. Useful if you're mass-adding and want to use a full keyboard for speed. -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, Settings, AT&T Address Book, click Auto Sync contact with online Address Book.
Backing up paid apps: I have not used it, myself, but Titanium Backup might do what you need, as the previous poster said. You can find it in the Market and read up on it.
Backing up app/data settings to a PC. I'm guessing this would be more app-specific than anything, no? I don't think Google imposes or enforces any standards on data/setting storage for apps, so any single backup tool would have to support individual apps one-by-one. Please update this thread if you find anything, because it would be pretty convenient ....
UserNamer said:
Backing up Contacts, several ways:
Samsung Kies -- follow the sticky at the top of this forum, it will back them up to your PC.
Export to SD Card, then copy to your PC -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, Import/Export, Export to SD Card.
Copy them to your SIM -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, SIM Management.
Sync them to AT&T's servers, which will do it in real-time when you add/delete them, similar to if you synced to your Gmail contacts .. the other benefit here is that you can log on to your AT&T account via the web to manage your phone contacts and it will sync your changes. Useful if you're mass-adding and want to use a full keyboard for speed. -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, Settings, AT&T Address Book, click Auto Sync contact with online Address Book.
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Awesome. Sounds like backing up the contacts won't be a problem.
Backing up paid apps: I have not used it, myself, but Titanium Backup might do what you need, as the previous poster said. You can find it in the Market and read up on it.
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Will look into it. What would really be nice would be if google would do this for us. Seems like it would be pretty easy for google to remember which apps I have purchased, and not charge me next time I try to download it. Perhaps the marketplace already does this? I just don't want to buy an app and then remove it to find out....actually I will not pay for any apps until I can figure out how to back them up. I don't mind spending $5 on an app, but I do mind spending $5 for each app every time the phone gets reset...
Backing up app/data settings to a PC. I'm guessing this would be more app-specific than anything, no? I don't think Google imposes or enforces any standards on data/setting storage for apps, so any single backup tool would have to support individual apps one-by-one. Please update this thread if you find anything, because it would be pretty convenient ....
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Again, I don't know, this is my first android phone. But with Ubuntu Linux, pretty much all apps store their settings in a hidden folder in /home/{your-username}/ (i.e. firefox would store it's data in /home/{your-username}/.firefox/ ) All you have to do to backup all of your settings is to backup the /home/{your-username}/ folder. It is common for people to place /home/ on a different disk/partition, so that you can reinstall the OS and not loose any of your data/settings...
Android is also linux so I would think it would be similar...
cypho said:
Seems like it would be pretty easy for google to remember which apps I have purchased, and not charge me next time I try to download it. Perhaps the marketplace already does this?
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I am not sure how most app developers currently handle this, but I think Google made it easier a few weeks ago with the announcement of their new "licensing service for android applications". Plug that into your favorite search site (minus the quotation marks) and a post from Eric Chu explaining it on the Android Developers Blog should be up top.
But with Ubuntu Linux, pretty much all apps store their settings in a hidden folder in /home/{your-username}/
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Home directories are great. =) I haven't used Ubuntu in a long time, so I'm not sure if you're saying that the system enforces it or if it's still just up to the individual developers to follow convention and store their settings in /home/ ... but I'm looking through my internal SD card and it seems like most of the apps I have installed (including the Google ones) each created their own data directory at the root level. :\
Titanium also backs up your contacts, paid apps, and free apps. The pros of rooting outway the cons. You can always un root if you need to send your phone in. I am also a newb and I've been wondering if I had to return my phone and get a new one will my paid apps carry over to a new device. I have the my license key for Titanium so I am thinking that I will be good in the event of such emergency. All of my paid apps are backed up there and I wiped my phone to factory settings the other night, I didn't un root, I was trouble shooting an issue caused by AT&. I did a reinstall of Titanium and it recognized my device because it installed donated version and I restored everything with ease.
UserNamer said:
I haven't used Ubuntu in a long time, so I'm not sure if you're saying that the system enforces it or if it's still just up to the individual developers to follow convention and store their settings in /home/ ...
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I don't know, as I'm not a developer. But I would think that it would cause problems if a program tried to save data outside of /home/ The user would probably be prompted for their password every time the app tried to write a file...since sudo is required to gain write access to anything outside of home.
I am well aware that none of my apps will be portable unless somebody made an Android version that I can re-download, and that I obviously cannot carry over any of my settings either.... but does anyone have any suggestions on what would be the best way to port over contacts, documents (and convert them into whatever Android uses for it's equivalent of Office, if necessary) and other such data if one wants to make the switch from Windows Mobile to android? Either re-flashing their phone to run Android or just buying a new Android phone?
Embracing the Google account is the best thing. Adding everything to the 'cloud' gives you a permanent storage solution with the benefit of being able to sync it all to your device when you need it.
Contacts to Gmail Contacts
Pictures to Picasa
Documents and random files to Google Docs
Calender to Google Calender
..and so on.
What apps are you looking for Android versions of?
Sorry for taking a while to reply.
So then how would I go the Google route? Its a shame I will lose my call and IM logs but its not like I would expect such data to work between different operating systems.
Photos aren't an issue since I store those on MicroSDHC, I mostly cared about all my contact information and switching my MS Office Mobile formatted documents to whatever Android uses in it's place, even though those are on MicroSD too. The only real data I keep on the phone itself is installed apps and contacts.
And don't worry about my apps, at this point there really isn't any Windows Mobile app I care about anymore.
Just create a Google account and sign into that account on your Android phone. If you've added your contacts through the contacts section in Gmail they will automatically be synced to your phone.
Any settings, browser bookmarks etc, on your phone will sync and be backed up to your Google account.
The contacts were all added through my phone or though backups apps, none were added through Google, will it still back them all up?
I need a software which can provide the following services:
1. Store backup data of at least past 1 year of whatsapp.
2. Formatting of entire whatapp in a couple of minutes on my phone Samsung Galaxy Note 4
3. Better usage of sending messages without any freezing issue.
If any 1 can provide me these 3 options in a software I would be really grateful and I am even ready to make the payment if some 1 has already made any software as such and I can purchase it after seeing. Note: I don't want to root my phone. I want to use this software without rooting my phone. So suggest me only if it doesn't need rooting
WhatsApp users on Android will soon be able to backup their messages, images and videos on Google Drive. This feature was in testing for months and was only available on certain WhatsApp versions. Just yesterday, Google announced the integration of WhatsApp with its cloud storage service on Google Drive Blog.
I had a moment of doubt whether I'm on the wrong page of the forum when reading OP and the above reply. Not sure if it differs from country to country, but Google Drive backup for Whatsapp has been available for over a year, and as far as I've noticed, it does not occupy your default Google Drive storage capacities and does not have a said limit for media files. For messages, Whatsapp backups always contain the entirety of your message history, no matter since how many years ago. They exist both on your local backup (/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases) and Google Drive backup, if enabled.
As suggested by @damponting44, there was a Google Drive Blog post about it, but instead of yesterday, it was posted on October 7 2015.
To "format" Whatsapp, I assume you mean clearing of data completely. You can already accomplish this on Android and an app is unnecessary.
To reset the app's data, go to the Settings app of your phone -> Apps menu -> Find Whatsapp -> Press Clear Data and confirm.
To clear other data such as voice, media and local backups, use a File Manager and delete the entire /Whatsapp/ folder.
Lag or freezing issues rely on the app itself and the capabilities of your phone. Using one app over another usually only results in increased resource usage and would not solve the mentioned problem. That usage scenario is often only selected for feature / customisation enhancements, such as bots or themes. It's best to check if you have issues in your system, if there are too many background apps occupying RAM, etc. to make your foreground app, i.e. Whatsapp run smoother.
An app is unnecessary for all 3 requests you brought up, and it is unlikely one would be developed for those purposes.
Scenario: My Galaxy S8 died completely about a month ago, I got an iPhone - still getting used to it, spent incredible amount of time tuning and tweaking the settings.
Today I've noticed I still have the backup from my Galaxy S8 in my Google Drive account and it seems I still should be able to import that data to my new phone. There are some valuable information for me, especially contacts (in call history, not synced with Google), text messages, whatsapp messages etc.
I however don't have another Android phone to sync it and then somehow export it, also I probably won't be able to do it on my iPhone - I am logged in to that account but somehow can't find a way to import such data. (All of my Google synced contacts for example got imported automatically, but not the rest).
Is there a way to somehow manually download that backup data from Google Drive to PC and "unpack" it?
Thanks.
TinoArts said:
Scenario: My Galaxy S8 died completely about a month ago, I got an iPhone - still getting used to it, spent incredible amount of time tuning and tweaking the settings.
Today I've noticed I still have the backup from my Galaxy S8 in my Google Drive account and it seems I still should be able to import that data to my new phone. There are some valuable information for me, especially contacts (in call history, not synced with Google), text messages, whatsapp messages etc.
I however don't have another Android phone to sync it and then somehow export it, also I probably won't be able to do it on my iPhone - I am logged in to that account but somehow can't find a way to import such data. (All of my Google synced contacts for example got imported automatically, but not the rest).
Is there a way to somehow manually download that backup data from Google Drive to PC and "unpack" it?
Thanks.
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This might help if you can use the import option to import your backup directly from Google drive then transfer it to iOS. Or maybe you can transfer the backup from Google drive then use 7zip or similar software to extract the backup into its separate parts and import/transfer them from your PC to iOS.
How to Transfer Data from Android to iPhone - [2023]
Want to transfer data from Android to iPhone 14 or iPhone 13/12/11/XS/X/8/8 Plus? Here are some easy and free ways to transfer data from Android to iPhone.
mobiletrans.wondershare.com
The various tools in that software may help you but you may not be able to do it all in with "one shot", you may have to attack from different angles using more than one option, function or tool provided by this software.
Or, another possible option is to install an android emulator on your PC, install Android in it, then sign into your Google account in the android running in the emulator, restore the backup from Google drive in the Android running in the emulator then see if you can transfer the data from the emulated android to iOS
@TinoArts
take note that whenever you backup Android phone to Google, all your data is safely stored in an encrypted backup file over your Google Drive account.
I am confused about inconsistences between Device Backup on two different Pixel phones:
On my old Pixel phone, the Backup app says the backup will use Google One storage, so I do not have it turned on.
On my new Pixel phone, the Backup app doesn't mention Google One. In fact, it explicitly states that the device backup will not count towards "Drive" storage.
I'm not sure the new Pixel phone is fully patched (just took it out of the box) so it's possible the software hasn't been updated to reflect the Google One service.
I have the following questions:
Does the device backup count towards a Google storage quota or not?
Is there a difference between Google One and Google Drive?
On both devices, the device backup states that the information is encrypted before being uploaded, but it is not clear whether the backup is inaccessible by Google (can Google decrypt the backup)?
The device backup states that it will backup: apps, app data, call history, contacts, device settings (including Wifi passwords) and SMS & MMS messages. How do I restore these things on the new phone if I back them up on the old phone first?
Can I selectively restore apps and app data for only a few apps? There are some apps that are device-specific (e.g. Syncthing) where I don't want to necessarily restore the settings and app data associated with that app, because my shared folders will be located in a different place on the new phone. I would rather set up from scratch and establish my new folder locations, then allow the files to sync through Syncthing.
Thanks for any answers you can provide to these questions.
I would also welcome links to resources that explain how this works, especially vis-à-vis the new Google One branding.
With regards to "Is there a difference between Google One and Google Drive?" look inside here