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Has anyone tried the native backup option in 4.0.3?

I'm a noob looking to start flashing roms and kernels and generally screw with my stock NS running 4.0.3.
Looks like the first step is to do a backup so I don't lose my app data, etc. when I do the required wipe.
I realize I could use different methods/apps like Astro, etc. but I notice under system settings/backup & reset there's what looks like auto (cloud?) backup and restore options.
Wondering if anyone has tested this and can vouch for it (or not) as a functional backup solution?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA

heccubusxda said:
I'm a noob looking to start flashing roms and kernels and generally screw with my stock NS running 4.0.3.
Looks like the first step is to do a backup so I don't lose my app data, etc. when I do the required wipe.
I realize I could use different methods/apps like Astro, etc. but I notice under system settings/backup & reset there's what looks like auto (cloud?) backup and restore options.
Wondering if anyone has tested this and can vouch for it (or not) as a functional backup solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been doing this since before ICS. What this refers to, really, is synching Google apps with their online counterparts (Contacts, Calendar, etc.) and storing settings for Google apps on Google servers. It won't help with any non-Google apps.

I can't upload a screenshot but there is an option-
"Back up my data: back up app data, wifi passwords and other settings to google servers"
And further down one that says: "Auto Restore: when reinstalling an app restore backed up settings and data"
So this is just referring to google's stuff and not to Market apps?
Thanks for your response btw.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA

heccubusxda said:
I can't upload a screenshot but there is an option-
"Back up my data: back up app data, wifi passwords and other settings to google servers"
And further down one that says: "Auto Restore: when reinstalling an app restore backed up settings and data"
So this is just referring to google's stuff and not to Market apps?
Thanks for your response btw.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In general it will restore your Android settings (wifi passwords, wallpaper, etc). And it will re-download all the market apps you had installed. But you will lose all the data and settings from the market apps.

heccubusxda said:
I'm a noob looking to start flashing roms and kernels and generally screw with my stock NS running 4.0.3.
Looks like the first step is to do a backup so I don't lose my app data, etc. when I do the required wipe.
I realize I could use different methods/apps like Astro, etc. but I notice under system settings/backup & reset there's what looks like auto (cloud?) backup and restore options.
Wondering if anyone has tested this and can vouch for it (or not) as a functional backup solution?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say it's not very functional. Like Bozzy said it won't restore your app settings. It will redownload all your apps but you'll usually find that to be more of an annoyance than anything. I'd recommend investing in Titanium Backup. Or if you're strapped for funds you can download MyBackup Root for free but Titanium Backup is well worth every penny. When I rooted my wife's phone I actually bought Titanium again even though I could've used my license key because it's such an awesome app.

I have Ti Backup downloaded and ready to go but that app requires root.
I guess I'll go with Astro, back up to SD card, and transfer to pc via USB.
If I'm understanding things correctly?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA

heccubusxda said:
I have Ti Backup downloaded and ready to go but that app requires root.
I guess I'll go with Astro, back up to SD card, and transfer to pc via USB.
If I'm understanding things correctly?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should clarify. Without root you won't be able to backup app data. Titanium will be your best friend once you are rooted but prior you'll just be able backup the .apks, saving you from having to redownload them. So, yes you are on the right track with Astro.

Just to update.
Digging in the forums here I found a method of getting root without wiping my phone.
I was able to root my phone by running a batch file on my PC- doesn't touch the bootloader. Used titanium to back everything up before I start flashing.
Very cool.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA

How do YOU restore your apps and settings?

I am currently using titanium backup which I'm assuming most of you do as well, however its a quite tedious process restoring all my apps, it asks me individually to install every app which takes a very long time depending on how many apps you are restoring.
With the developing section constantly streaming new updates and roms, how does one keep up with the restoring? I must be missing something here, do you guys all have to install your restored apps one by one?
There must be a simpler way right? I know that if you dont do a full wipe that your apps and settings stay but i find myself switching roms alot which do require full wipes.

If your rooted and buy titanium it will reinstall your apps without going one by one.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium

runderekrun said:
If your rooted and buy titanium it will reinstall your apps without going one by one.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick response, I did not know that I will get the paid version asap!

I have had Titanium Pro for a couple years. When you backup apps do you just choose non system apps?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium

I've been using Titanium and as a complete system that backs up settings for apps as well as the app itself, it's pretty awesome.
However there are times (like immediately after flashing a new rom) when you have nothing extra installed but a file manager and you want to install just the app of something from your sdcard without having to re-download from Google Play. For this, I have used and app available on Google Play called "Android Assistant" that has a reasonably simple back up that will backup just the apks of installed apps. It installs it in a directory "AndroidAssistant_appbackup" in the root directory of the sdcard. Using a File Manager you can easily go into there and install backed up apps.
If you use Titanium, you seem to have to use Titanium itself to restore stuff.

Titanium Backup Pro and SMS Backup and Restore do the trick for me. They are both very quick processes, so once you get the hang of it youll have no hesitations in switching ROMs constantly. Flash ROM, let it boot, go through the setup real quick, connect your google/email/facebook and whatnot, restore apps from TB, and restore texts, all takes less than 10 minutes.
Sent from my Sensation 4G using XDA

whats the simplest option for non rooted phones to back up the entire phone/data ? are there any apps that will create a full image that you can restore at a later date ?

chriskinetic said:
whats the simplest option for non rooted phones to back up the entire phone/data ? are there any apps that will create a full image that you can restore at a later date ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are looking for clockwork mode, backup and restore - but unless you are prepared to root this isn't possible. Why would anyone want to stay rooted? Stock ROM is really, really poor.

I back up my apps using this tool...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1448239
It's free and downloadable right from XDA.
It makes a single flashable zip file with all of your downloaded apps in it. (I don't think it backs up system apps)
When you install a new ROM you simply flash the zip and boom...all your apps are back.
The drawback is that it doesn't save app data. For that I use Titanium free version. Reinstalling data takes about 2 seconds per app instead of 30 seconds per app to reinstall the entire thing.
The whole process of putting apps and data back into a new ROM takes about 10-15 minutes.

I prefer Mybackup Pro, backs up apps and their data, sms & mms. Call log, settings and even how your homescreen setup. Been using it for about a year now and it's awesome.
Google Play Link

Is there a way to backup apps' data on non-rooted system?
Every application witch I saw backups only .apks, none of them saves application's data, I don't even know if it's possible?

WereWolf_PL said:
Is there a way to backup apps' data on non-rooted system?
Every application witch I saw backups only .apks, none of them saves application's data, I don't even know if it's possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many apps have a built in back up system that will let you do this.
For example, Go Launcher lets you back up your Go Launcher settings to a file it stores on the SD Card.
If you have to do a factory reset at some point and need to reinstall Go Launcher from scratch you can install it then simply restore your saved settings. Works like a charm. I'd say about 10% of the apps I use have this feature.
However, if you're talking about being able to back up every app and all its data and restore it....then no. You can't do that when not rooted.
Now if you don't want to root because you like your stock set up the way it is, you should know that you can root your phone without changing anything about the stock interface. You'll just have the ability to do more complete back ups, modifications to settings etc.
(Though fair warning, if you do root it, you won't stop with just doing backups. You'll get carried away like the rest of us and start tweaking EVERYTHING. But that's cool too.)

chrisrj28 said:
I prefer Mybackup Pro, backs up apps and their data, sms & mms. Call log, settings and even how your homescreen setup. Been using it for about a year now and it's awesome.
Google Play Link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just what im looking for , thank you

Skipjacks said:
Many apps have a built in back up system that will let you do this.
For example, Go Launcher lets you back up your Go Launcher settings to a file it stores on the SD Card.
If you have to do a factory reset at some point and need to reinstall Go Launcher from scratch you can install it then simply restore your saved settings. Works like a charm. I'd say about 10% of the apps I use have this feature.
However, if you're talking about being able to back up every app and all its data and restore it....then no. You can't do that when not rooted.
Now if you don't want to root because you like your stock set up the way it is, you should know that you can root your phone without changing anything about the stock interface. You'll just have the ability to do more complete back ups, modifications to settings etc.
(Though fair warning, if you do root it, you won't stop with just doing backups. You'll get carried away like the rest of us and start tweaking EVERYTHING. But that's cool too.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. I know that some applications have backup options, but I was hopping that there's an easier way to backup more important apps, or actually its data.
I also know what rooting means, and I'm not going to end at backups
Actually, I like stock firmware for now, don't need to change that, I just want to root for some more advanced options, additional software that needs root access, and maybe to remove, or at least freeze some unnecessary apps.
P.S. I'm actually a little disappointed about HTCdev web page. I was almost sure, that I can unlock bootloader and root the system without factory reset. I read all the info, and warnings on HTCdev.com, and nowhere, NOWHERE was written that to unlock bootloader you need to factory reset your device.
I went through all the steps, and on the last one, where I had a choice to flash, or to abort, was mentioned that flashing will do factory reset. The worst thing is that the steps shows up one after another, I couldn't even read the last one before sending the unlock code to HTC. So now - even when I didn't unlock my device, they have info that I wanted to do this, and my warranty is voided (or at least partially voided).

[Q] "adb restore" leaves stuff out

I am trying to restore files back to my reset OnePlus One using "adb restore <file>" but while the restore happens without error, some files/folders are not restored. I have checked the backup file and the files and folders are present in the backup file, yet adb restore does not restore them
My backup is created with this command:
adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -obb -shared -all -system
And I try to restore with this:
adb restore backup.ab
Especially in the /sdcard/Android/data are a lot of files and folders missing and apps are not getting restored to their working state.
How do I restore the backup properly? Do I have to push every single file/folder to the phone manually?

Never mind. I just noticed that the backup files did not care to backup the /sdcard/Android folder and I have lost all files.
Why is it so impossible to make a proper backup on Android?
I am so close to ditching android just because I cannot get a working backup/restore to work!
And no, my phone is not rooted as rooting erases my files. Chicken and egg problem. I really hate android here.

"adb restore" didn't restore any of my accounts! I am so very pissed about android right now. Such a "mature" platform and no working backup/restore.
Plenty of tools offering to make backup/restore, but the all require me to erase all data (root) making the backup moot. And those tools that do not require root cannot backup anything besides what "adb backup" offers to back up (which is more miss than hit).
I am really envious of Apple users here. They have perfect (so it seems) working backup and restore.

... and I cannot add the missing accounts because they are already created. So, none of my accounts were restored and even though all accounts are actually there, none of them can synchronize as they are not there.
And all this trouble just to fix non-working MMS which turned out not to work after a reset anyway. I hate really hate android. So f...... unreliable.

I seriously cannot recommend anyone to use adb backup/restore. This will totally mess up your phone. Copy files manually and write down all your accounts (type/username/password/all settings) create them manually afterwards. "adb restore" cannot restore accounts.

If everything is lost at this point might as well root now and use titanium backup or parcel in the future? Not sure if parcel can backup accounts, titanium backup can though
Sent From Lollipopified Bacon Goodness!

ek69 said:
If everything is lost at this point might as well root now and use titanium backup or parcel in the future? Not sure if parcel can backup accounts, titanium backup can though
Sent From Lollipopified Bacon Goodness!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed

galmok said:
And no, my phone is not rooted as rooting erases my files. Chicken and egg problem. I really hate android here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why didn't you just connect to your PC and copy your files across? Or at least research the phone before you bought it or started using it? If you unlock the bootloader when you receive the device the wiping that occurs during the unlocking process is a non-event.
There's no reason to "hate Android" because of this situation. There are several ways to make backups on an Android device, you just failed to unlock your device at the correct time. Just trying to put it into perspective a bit here.
Transmitted via Bacon

timmaaa said:
Why didn't you just connect to your PC and copy your files across? Or at least research the phone before you bought it or started using it? If you unlock the bootloader when you receive the device the wiping that occurs during the unlocking process is a non-event.
There's no reason to "hate Android" because of this situation. There are several ways to make backups on an Android device, you just failed to unlock your device at the correct time. Just trying to put it into perspective a bit here.
Transmitted via Bacon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cannot copy everything to my pc. Accounts for instance cannot be copied. Same with system settings, Wi-Fi passwords and some apps do not survive the adb backup/restore (like Waze that enters a crash loop) and other apps just vanish. This system is not user friendly. There is no way I could make anyone I know accept this phone if they knew they couldn't back it up. They know nothing about rooting but they will not accept a non-working backup.
I at least tried (hard) to make a backup and restored it back and that was a horrible experience. I cannot help wondering why Google hasn't arranged android to have working backups. Apple has it and it seems near perfect compared to android.

galmok said:
I cannot copy everything to my pc. Accounts for instance cannot be copied. Same with system settings, Wi-Fi passwords and some apps do not survive the adb backup/restore (like Waze that enters a crash loop) and other apps just vanish. This system is not user friendly. There is no way I could make anyone I know accept this phone if they knew they couldn't back it up. They know nothing about rooting but they will not accept a non-working backup.
I at least tried (hard) to make a backup and restored it back and that was a horrible experience. I cannot help wondering why Google hasn't arranged android to have working backups. Apple has it and it seems near perfect compared to android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google does have backups, in the settings menu. Most of the system settings are backed up (and even if they weren't it should only take a total of ten mins to set them up again). Apps are backed up and downloaded again on a fresh install. It all works perfectly if you know what you're doing.
Transmitted via Bacon

timmaaa said:
Google does have backups, in the settings menu. Most of the system settings are backed up (and even if they weren't it should only take a total of ten mins to set them up again). Apps are backed up and downloaded again on a fresh install. It all works perfectly if you know what you're doing.
Transmitted via Bacon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except I have apps that are not on Google Play. I cannot backup my Wi-Fi passwords and am forced to let Google keep a copy. And there are so many settings that 10 minutes is far from enough to find them all and fix them. And the point is, I shouldn't have to. I should be able to make a backup, preferably compartmentalized, and restore the sections I want, if not all. And it should be 1 tool.
Also, following a reset, the phone will begin reinstalling apps from Google Play and what happens if I begin adb restore at the same time? I didn't want to find out and let it install. But when some games use 1.5GB of storage, that takes a long time. Would be much faster if I knew I could use adb restore.
Oh well, I will have to accept the horrible backup/restore solution for this phone, but I really am envious of the backup/restore for iOS devices.

google prey or similar apps to be installed as system app

i would like to install google prey or similar apps as an system app, or default app so when you factory reset the device it is already installed with the user and configuration, are the tutorials "installing app as system app" the ones that will work?
any tips for where to go or what to do? thanks

jvds said:
i would like to install google prey or similar apps as an system app, or default app so when you factory reset the device it is already installed with the user and configuration, are the tutorials "installing app as system app" the ones that will work?
any tips for where to go or what to do? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're rooted you can use Titanium Backup to convert it to a system app or you can use ES File Explorer with root explorer enabled to manually push it to your /system/app folder then boot to recovery and wipe cache and Dalvik/Art cache then reboot to system.
You can also use adb to adb push it to /system/app folder.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Droidriven said:
If you're rooted you can use Titanium Backup to convert it to a system app or you can use ES File Explorer with root explorer enabled to manually push it to your /system/app folder then boot to recovery and wipe cache and Dalvik/Art cache then reboot to system.
You can also use adb to adb push it to /system/app folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, i tried it with airdroid, but factory reset still delete the settings, the app stays like intended but configurations and login to app is all gone. any tips?

jvds said:
will factory reset still delete it or delete the settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It won't delete the app but it will delete the settings but you can also use Titanium Backup to backup and restore the app data for that app, you can also backup the app data to google and you can restore it from Google.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Droidriven said:
It won't delete the app but it will delete the settings but you can also use Titanium Backup to backup and restore the app data for that app, you can also backup the app data to google and you can restore it from Google.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but will titanium backup survive factory reset?
do any one know if you can also move the settings to specific locations to avoid them being deleted? for airdroid, or google prey or any other app that can track?
for airdroid the apk and the lib files hat to be moved to system folders and it stays after a factory reset, but anything that looses the settings over a factory reset is pretty much useless for stolen devices, the first step a thief takes is factory reset and format the device. all aps on play store is as good as nothing when it comes to recovering a stolen device. :silly:

jvds said:
but will titanium backup survive factory reset?
do any one know if you can also move the settings to specific locations to avoid them being deleted? for airdroid, or google prey or any other app that can track?
for airdroid the apk and the lib files hat to be moved to system folders and it stays after a factory reset, but anything that looses the settings over a factory reset is pretty much useless for stolen devices, the first step a thief takes is factory reset and format the device. all aps on play store is as good as nothing when it comes to recovering a stolen device. :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium Backup will back up whatever apps, app data and settings that you want it to.
You can use Titanium Backup to make itself a system app, it won't get removed by the factory reset, then just use it to restore everything that you backed up.
There is plenty of information about all of this all over XDA and all over the internet if you'll just take the time to do some searching. Get off your butt and get to looking and you'll see.
As for the device being stolen, there are apps that you can install on the device that can be used to lock the device or wipe the device or even track the device to its location or last known location, whichever of those apps you use to secure your device can also be made into system apps using Titanium Backup. Then if its stolen and wiped the apps will still be there.
It isn't rocket science, why are you over thinking and complicating it?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Droidriven said:
Titanium Backup will back up whatever apps, app data and settings that you want it to.
It isn't rocket science, why are you over thinking and complicating it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi, i'm not trying to over complicating it, the thing is that i tried moving aps like google prey and airdroid that can locate a device to the system folders but when i factory reset the device, the apps are there but the configuration of the aps is gone, i want the configuration to stay alive with the aps, because thieves just factory reset the device at the moment they steal it and then you kiss your device good bye, at least if i can get the configuration to stay alive then i have a 50% chance against thieves, at the moment the chance is next to none.
the reason i ask is to not waste time testing things that some one already know, i searched but don't find good tutorials on that, and i'm not sure if Titanium Backup will work for that, i was expecting some one knowing the software like Titanium Backup can tel me that if i do convert an app to a system app with Titanium, that the system app and its configuration will sirvive a reset and not just the app.
i will test Titanium Backup later today when i have some free time, thanks

jvds said:
hi, i'm not trying to over complicating it, the thing is that i tried moving aps like google prey and airdroid that can locate a device to the system folders but when i factory reset the device, the apps are there but the configuration of the aps is gone, i want the configuration to stay alive with the aps, because thieves just factory reset the device at the moment they steal it and then you kiss your device good bye, at least if i can get the configuration to stay alive then i have a 50% chance against thieves, at the moment the chance is next to none.
the reason i ask is to not waste time testing things that some one already know, i searched but don't find good tutorials on that, and i'm not sure if Titanium Backup will work for that, i was expecting some one knowing the software like Titanium Backup can tel me that if i do convert an app to a system app with Titanium, that the system app and its configuration will sirvive a reset and not just the app.
i will test Titanium Backup later today when i have some free time, thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset removes all data and settings when you factory reset even for system apps, there is no way to protect that data from a factory reset. You can back it up and restore it but you can't prevent it from being wiped.
There is an alternative though, you can remove the recovery, then turn USB debugging off then password/PIN protect your system settings app.
Removing recovery ensures that they can't use recovery to factory reset.
Turning off USB debugging ensures that they can't flash the device with PC or use adb/fastboot because PC won't recognise the device.
Password/PIN protecting your system settings app prevents them from getting into your system settings so they can't factory reset from settings.
The one issue with this setup is that if your device encounters an issue where it won't boot or bootloops then even YOU won't be able to fix it because you won't have recovery and you won't be able to connect to PC because you won't be able to get into settings to turn USB debugging back on to be able to flash it.
Research these things to verify its safe to do on your device because all devices are different and things are different depending on the device in question.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

thank you

I'm interested in this topic, since nobody seems care that much to write up a friendly method to do that...

Not friendly
These guys claim to know these things but fail to even give a link to a tutorial on how to do it. Its infuriating. They tell us to research but asking here on XDA is part of research. Pls give a valid tutorial on how to secure prey data so it doesn't get deleted.

[Help] How do I recover permanently deleted files from Android Mobile phone?

Recently, I have permanently deleted files from my Android device after factory reset and I didn't take any backup. Is there have any possibility to recover my important data without having any backup?

Try EaseUS MobiSaver app.

You can definitely check the local backup of your phone if you have take backup regularly then, you have enabled to restore data from mobile. Sometimes, files have an automatic backup on Google account. So, you can check your Google backup. In case, if you didn't get back lost after the factory reset then, you may also try the Android data recovery tool. There is no guarantee for data recovery by using any program. But if it will possible to recover files then, it will show the preview of deleted data during the free trial edition.

To be honest, the chances of it would entirely depend on how long you have performed the factory reset. If it has not been so long, then you can actually get your data back. Pick a recovery tool that supports your device, it will let you preview the data and restore them.

Sorry for the delayed reply. For the ones who have the same problem, usually it's difficult to recover them back. You can ask for help from pro shop. Pro shop like Dr.fone, EaseUS MobiSaver, Coolmuster Lab.Fone for Android, etc. I am not sure they can work well or not. Before that, you need to stop using your phone. Cause data can not be recovered if they are overwritten by new data. And do remember to take backup of your phone usually. It's easy and safe.

I'm in the same seat and I also managed to flash an original rom on a Galaxy S8 on top of that.
Tried trial versions of all the mentioned and some others but they aren't able to detect anything relevant.
At the moment I'm wondering whether to take the loss or hand it in to a professional.
Can they do anything more that the different recovery softwares can't?
(I thought my phone was synced through a cloud app but it turns out it wasn't.)

I have used an app Named "DiskDigger" it worked perfect for me for recovering Pictures.
Have NonRoot-Method and Root Methood

dashti.95 said:
I have used an app Named "DiskDigger" it worked perfect for me for recovering Pictures.
Have NonRoot-Method and Root Methood
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how do i do it?

Sahurley78 said:
how do i do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its easy just download diskdigger on your android device and it have a button to start recovery

I just found this thread on google, I would like to know if anyone knows a way to recover a deleted application data folder inside the "Android/data" folder in the internal storage, either by adb, usb debugging or with some software since they are important data and I have not gotten any solution .
Thanks in advance.