[DISCUSSION] Root safety, phone migration solutions & alternatives to Titanium Backup
So, I've finally received a shiny and new S8 (Exynos).
And quickly enough, I searched XDA & Google to see if there's a stable root solution.
The main reasons I'd like root (& TWRP recovery) for are:
Topmost priority: to properly migrate my apps & data from my current phone (S6) using Titanium backup, so I can start using the new one as my main device.
Giving me the option to choose a custom ROM, when/if I'll find the right one for me.
You can never know when you'll need an app that requires root access.
Having the option to always have a full image backup of the entire device (TWRP).
Debloating the device by freezing/removing unwanted apps (freezing them with Titanium Backup)
I remember that I had to root my device in order to record phone calls (which is very important for me) - I'm not even sure what its like with the S8, but this could also be a reason to root.
After reading, and watching several videos, I understand that there are quite a few things to be worried about:
The chance of bricking your device, as the current rooting solution is immature (Is it? this one scares me the most)
Losing secure folders/Samsung Pay/Samsung Health, etc. (I'd hate to lose Secure Folders - but I'm sure that I can find alternative solutions, I'd prefer not to lose Samsung Pay & Samsung health, but I can live without them).
Losing warranty - not even sure if that's true, read here: https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/...iphone-rooting-android-does-not-void-warranty (Although I can live without the warranty, always rooted my phones while knowing I'll lose warranty).
I also read this discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS8/comments/6bgu7n/psa_do_not_attempt_to_root_your_s8s8/
Since I really want to migrate to the new phone, I've looked for options to safely copy the data without having root:
CloneIT: Didnt migrate the apps' data.
Helium: Apps were backuped, but couldnt restore them. many of my apps are not supported by Helium.
Smart Switch: Not even sure if it can migrate apps' data or not, but unfortunately - it didnt even run properly on my S6, once installed - there's a splash screen coming up, that vanishes after couple of seconds. I've read posts of other users complaining about this very same behavior. couldn't find a solution to make it run. it works find on the S8.
I googled, and found that there are a bunch of companies that sell complete migration tools (that require PC/Mac), did anyone check any of these, and can share a honest review?
None of them is free for use/download.
Here are some that I've found (there are more out there):
https://www.phonetransfer.org/
https://www.recovery-android.com/android-data-backup-restore.html
https://www.coolmuster.com/mobile-transfer.html
https://www.gihosoft.com/mobile-phone-transfer.html
https://www.android-data-recovery.org/phone-transfer
https://mobiletrans.wondershare.com/
I've always rooted my phones, so being root-less is a bit new to me. should I just take the chance and root it?
Both Android and TouchWiz are quite mature now, allowing us to enjoy a smooth and slick operation - when combined with the powerful hardware the S8 is equipped with, right out of the box.
What are your reasons for rooting?
How did all of your migrate your phones? started everything from scratch?
If not - how did you migrate from your previous phone?
Is the current rooting solution safe enough? And if its not - and we'll wait until a 'safe' rooting solution is out - how can we keep our apps & data continuously (in my case: S6--> Non rooted S8 --> Rooted S8)?
Does any of the paid solutions I listed above really work?
Would love to hear your thoughts and advises.
I rooted my phone because I would like to customize my own phone as it is mine. DriveDroid, FolderMount, Titanium Backup, smartdisk, and so on. It doesn't matter how good a phone is without root, for me, it is garbage if I cannot customize it. Get a unrootable phone just as powerful as the desktop PC, and I'll find it garbage regardless of smoothness.
Well put me down for wondering if any of these without root will restore app data....
Related
just rooted note pro 12.2. is there a list of apps safe to freeze/uninstall after rooting this tablet?
No running list no.
My advice is freeze and test as opposed to uninstalling; and don't go hog wild trying to disable things that are obviously system applications or else you risk running into trouble that you may not be able to fix other than doing factory resets and starting all over again. IMO I will not be trying to do system level changes until we have a custom recovery from which I can make nandroid backups that I can fall back onto.
Thus far other than the Knox apps I've only frozen the extra applications that i dont use like the Cisco app or the remote PC app etc.
Customizing my Android phone, I've learned some things along the way that I thought other newbies like myself would be interested to know. This information can be found all over the web, but I thought speaking about these key points would be helpful...
1. If you're interested in rooting your phone, I've found the Towelroot method to be easiest. You can download the apk file for free and it makes the rooting process easy.
2. I have a method of disabling apps to improve performance that has never resulted in me crashing my phone. If you are not rooted, this probably won't be helpful. First off, get Greenify Pro and the Xposed framework, along with the ROM Toolbox. For apps that you know can be frozen safely, use ROM toolbox to freeze them, along with killing startup receivers of apps that you can safely disable from stsrtup, but can't freeze because you want to use them. Then use Greenify to hibernate apps you choose not to disable, but don't want running. I've found this method most efficient.
3. Many root their phones to remove apps that are pre-installed from your service provider, like my AT&T apps for example. I've come to realize that removing apps will not give you back usable storage space, so unless you are sure it's garbage, freezing apps is safest. Also, if you remove an app, it would be wise to backup the apk file first, just in case you need it later.
4. Since I'm a newbie, I have stayed away from custom ROMS and the sort. I've come to realize that this process is for skilled users only and many bad things can occur if this process goes awry. Always make full backups before attempting this at minimum.
5. Certain launchers, such as TouchWiz cannot be removed from Android easily, so I'd suggest you add your launcher of choice and leave the factory installed Launcher alone....
I hope this was helpful to all you newbies, good luck!!!!
So, these two seem to be the two most well known backup apps, and I just wanted people's opinions on them. Especially since I will likely purchase the pro/full version of the one I decide to go with.
Is any particular one better if you don't have root?
What about if you do have root?
Any difference in the amount of content they can back up?
Is there anything any of them still can't backup if you have root? I am particularly interested in app settings/data (not the apks themselves, but the actual data the apps write). I assume backing up contacts, sms, and photos/videos are a given and I wouldn't even need to ask this.
Does any particular one have better features in term of storing your backup on the cloud/google drive?
What about if you need to restore the backup to a different phone?
Any other suggestions or comments about these two? Or even other backup apps?
Cyber Akuma said:
So, these two seem to be the two most well known backup apps, and I just wanted people's opinions on them. Especially since I will likely purchase the pro/full version of the one I decide to go with.
I've never used Helium, soon can't really say much about it, other than the fact that it doesn't require root. My experience is with Titanium (TBu) only.
> Is any particular one better if you don't have root?
Helium is the only choice of the two in this case.
> Any difference in the amount of content they can back up?
Cannot speak to that, for the reason mentioned above.
> I am particularly interested in app settings/data (not the apks themselves, but the actual data the apps write).
TBu does this.
> I assume backing up contacts, sms, and photos/videos are a given and I wouldn't even need to ask this.
I would presume so.
> Does any particular one have better features in term of storing your backup on the cloud/google drive?
TBu will do this no problem.
> What about if you need to restore the backup to a different phone?
When app data is to be restored, it depends on how similar the two phones are, in terms of the ROM / firmware (fw) running on them. If the same fw is run on both, then your chances are pretty good that you could restore a backup from the other phone. But the scenario changes when the two phones are running different Roms. The same thing applies when you try to restore a backup to a device after moving to a different ROM on that device, especially if the newer fw is not just an updated version of the fw of the backed up device.
> Any other suggestions or comments about these two? Or even other backup apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ES file manager is also capable of creating a back up of an app (no data).
Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk
Hello everyone,
i searched for this topic and found several threads without an answer, but all of them were years old, so heres my hope that things have changed over the years (And that Android finally catches up with what i would consider basic functionality and damn, even iPhones can do it...)
Im looking for a backupsolution directly to my PC. A tool for either my PC (Both Windows of Linux would be fine) or my phone (which is a rooted LG G4 with the last, and therefore very old, official Lineage OS (i intend to upgrade to something newer.) I want to backup every app including appdata, my contacs, sms and mediafiles.
I dont have a lot of space left on my phone which rules out any backupsolution that backs up to my phone. Which means Titanium Backup (which besides looking ugly and not very userfriendly by my usual standards for a user interface but the Pro version can apparently otherwise do everything i want) or Nandroidbackups (assuming that they dont fully backup my phone including the rom and therefore would be unusuable for migration to a new Rom) are out. Also the need to manually copy this over after the backup smacks me as slighly cobbled together, but well that might be just me.
I also dont want to use any internetbased solution. Both for ideological and paranoia reasons. Its my data and i dont intend to giving it to others. Therefore any cloudbased services are out.
Which leaves me with backing up directly to my PC. When i started looking for such a soltion i thought that would be easyly solved since it is such a basic usecase. But oh boy how wrong i was.
What i have found so far:
Syncdroid: Cant backup Apps+Appdata.
Helium: endless spinning wheel while checking root (even though i triplechecked, helium HAS root) and without root i cant backup two thirds of the apps i want to backup like all my instant messaging apps). Apparently the issues with root are known but the Devs are silent.
Apowersoft ApowerManager: Is supposedly able to do what i want BUT doesnt have a trial so i could test it (the free version only allows backups but no restore or anything which comes down to a trust issue) and its simply to expensive (20$ per month with the current superduperspecialpricejustforyouandjustnowoffer) to just buy blindfolded. Also again Trustissues for a tool this expensive without a way to fully try before...
So in conclusion: Do i have to throw away my LG G4 and switch to an iPhone to get this basic functionality or did i just overlook something (maybe a hidden feature in Titanium Backup)?
Bonuspoints if this works over wifi and can be automated (like PC is running, PC suite pings phone, finds phone and updates the backup)
Hello friends,
I have a Galaxy Note 5 from Verizon; Over the years, I've used this phone extensively for sending SMS messages ("texting") and now would like to gain access to the data files/database backing Verizon's Message+ app. As far as I can tell, none of the App binaries and their associated data are accessible via the standard [non-rooted] Phone-->USB-->PC interface?
A couple questions:
1) Can you confirm that Rooting a Galaxy Note 5 WILL NOT wipe the data that is currently on the device?
(I assume the Root process will not require the device to revert to a factory state, wiping the data files I seek to preserve?)
2) Can you confirm that rooting the device is necessary to access the App binaries & their associated data files?
3) Years ago I read that rooting the Galaxy Note 5 would permanently break the "KNOX" security mechanism as some type of tamper fuse would be blown. I assume this is still the case?
(This phone is no longer my primary phone so while I seek not to damage the phone any more than I have to, I'm now willing to bulldoze the KNOX functionality, if it means I can access the data I want)
(I'm aware the messaging data is likely stored in a proprietary data format, though I have heard rumors Sqlite is used. Regardless, the data format is not a concern provided I can access it)
Thank you in advance for your help!
bump
bump
Bump
SMS Backup & Restore – Apps on Google Play
A simple app that backs up and restores SMS & MMS messages and call logs.
play.google.com
Whoa, there is life out there! Thanks for the response
I'll definitely check out the app, but would definitely be interested in gaining access to a low-level filesystem copy of the messaging data directly from my device.
Can you confirm whether rooting an Android device generally leaves pre-exisisting data (before the root) in place?
it depends what root method you use
if you use magisk or supersu via twrp, you need to unlock bootloader which when you unlock bootlaoder it wipes all data (bootloader is safekeeper to phone partitions, so they can be edited)
but if you use some one clikck root (like kingroot) you wont lose data.
and with root, even if you do access database in /data folder, it will be in sqlite database, and a lot, and completely unsorted.
you can copy it to pc, and create app which can read and sort from database, but otherwise is not usable other than archive, you cant use it in any other app again
but with app without root, you gain same thing, even if you cant use in any app again, you can keep it as archive, as it exctracts (without root)
but with app i think you would be able to recover and use again, depends on device, (like, you wont be able to use those messages from samsung to lg messagess app)
Awesome, thank you for the info. At some point, I would like to explore all of the various ways to root a device, but in this particular case where I want to backup all SMS conversation data (text, pictures, etc.) from the existing (non-rooted) device, it sounds like the one click approach is definitely what I need (vs. unlocking the bootloader)
Your comments about using an App (without root) are also very intriguing. Is there an Android app that can give me access to all the data (or at least all the data that the SMS app would have access to) on the phone without rooting it? (Can you recommend one?) The SMS Backup & Restore App you mentioned earlier seems interesting, but I'd like to get something that will generally allow me to get data from the internal filesystem.
Ideally, I just need some way (ssh/ftp/other) to transfer data from the phone to my PC. I'm fully expecting that I'll have to do some reverse engineering on the database/data files that I copy from the device and alsi do some custom coding to extract the messages (including embedded pictures/ movies) that I wish to preserve.
Thank you again for any other advice or suggestions you can offer!