Database Info

[Q] How to backup contacts, apps and settings?

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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 ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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}/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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/ ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

Whatsapp data backup with 1 year storage capability

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.

Possible to get the Pixel sms backup on other phones? (Google Drive app data)

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

Backup and restore app with data

my phone is rooted, i need to backup 1 app, just 1 app. is there any way to install apk and data when switching to new rom? Can i install it via twrp? i don't want to root on new rom
Or
When i root to restore and unroot, unroot really clean? (worried about banking app, game not allow root)
Thanks

Google's backup service should be turned on by default after you set up your Android device, but you should double-check that's indeed the case. If you have trouble finding the backup settings by following the steps outlined below, use the search bar in the Settings app to find "backup."
Back up apps, data and settings​To view your backup settings, open the Settings app on your Android device and tap on System > Backup. There should be a switch labeled "Back up to Google Drive." If it's turned off, turn it on. You can select which Google account you want to use to store your backups by tapping on the Accounts option if you are signed into more than one Google account on your phone.
With backup turned on, your phone will automatically back up the following information:
Contacts
Google Calendar events and settings
Wi-Fi networks and passwords
Wallpapers
Gmail settings
Apps
Display settings (brightness and sleep)
Language and input settings
Date and time
Settings and data for apps not made by Google (varies by app)
You'll see a list of data categories under the Active Backups section, along with the last time that information was backed up. Tap a section, such as App Data, to view more information or fine-tune which apps are backed up. For example, if you tap Photos & Videos, the backup settings page for Google Photos app is automatically opened.
If you're switching from one Pixel phone to another, your home screen layout is backed up and restored. However, I've had mixed luck when restoring a back up from a Pixel to, say, a Motorola phone. Your mileage will undoubtedly vary.
At any time, you can visit this section and tap Back Up Now to manually start a backup. Make sure your phone is connected to a strong Wi-Fi network, and plug it into a charger to speed up the process. If you're upgrading phones, you should manually start a backup before setting up your new phone.
Hope this can help you!
Thanks
ProDirectKickz

prodirectkickz said:
Google's backup service should be turned on by default after you set up your Android device, but you should double-check that's indeed the case. If you have trouble finding the backup settings by following the steps outlined below, use the search bar in the Settings app to find "backup."
Back up apps, data and settings​To view your backup settings, open the Settings app on your Android device and tap on System > Backup. There should be a switch labeled "Back up to Google Drive." If it's turned off, turn it on. You can select which Google account you want to use to store your backups by tapping on the Accounts option if you are signed into more than one Google account on your phone.
With backup turned on, your phone will automatically back up the following information:
Contacts
Google Calendar events and settings
Wi-Fi networks and passwords
Wallpapers
Gmail settings
Apps
Display settings (brightness and sleep)
Language and input settings
Date and time
Settings and data for apps not made by Google (varies by app)
You'll see a list of data categories under the Active Backups section, along with the last time that information was backed up. Tap a section, such as App Data, to view more information or fine-tune which apps are backed up. For example, if you tap Photos & Videos, the backup settings page for Google Photos app is automatically opened.
If you're switching from one Pixel phone to another, your home screen layout is backed up and restored. However, I've had mixed luck when restoring a back up from a Pixel to, say, a Motorola phone. Your mileage will undoubtedly vary.
At any time, you can visit this section and tap Back Up Now to manually start a backup. Make sure your phone is connected to a strong Wi-Fi network, and plug it into a charger to speed up the process. If you're upgrading phones, you should manually start a backup before setting up your new phone.
Hope this can help you!
Thanks
ProDirectKickz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
????

zBackup - APK/Data/OBB Backup & Restore (Split Apps) (Batch Uninstaller)
zBackup helps you quickly query, export (extract) or share locally installed apps. It supports to compress the Data and OBB data in the external storage of the corresponding app into a ZIP format compressed file. Extremely useful for some games...
forum.xda-developers.com

xXx yYy said:
zBackup - APK/Data/OBB Backup & Restore (Split Apps) (Batch Uninstaller)
zBackup helps you quickly query, export (extract) or share locally installed apps. It supports to compress the Data and OBB data in the external storage of the corresponding app into a ZIP format compressed file. Extremely useful for some games...
forum.xda-developers.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im looking backup data/data
Not android/data

Question Backup options for Stock+Unrooted+Locked Pixel 6a

I have a new 6a here, never turned on before. I'm planning to use the stock image without root on this phone, so I can keep receiving OTAs, etc. I want this phone to just work with minimal maintenance effort.
Going forward, what is the best way to back up the data on this phone? I'm mostly trying to protect against hardware failures.
My goal would be to quickly restore the previous state on a new Pixel 6a, if the hardware stops working for whatever reason. (Which happens 1-2 per year in my case, oops.)
My understanding is that the Google Cloud backup would be the most convenient option, but that it's not end-to-end encrypted. Correct? That's a K.O., unfortunately.
EDIT: Seems Google Cloud Backup DOES have E2E? Can someone confirm? The dialog that Android shows is very ambiguous.
Thank you!

What do you mean end-to-end?
I do use the google backup and it's pretty legit. It's not a 100% "image" back up...but does include all your settings, apps, text messages, google photos etc. You can set it up to auto-backup every day or so when charging/on wifi at night...backs up to your Drive app.
When I reset the phone or add a new rom - it's about perfect. The only thing I "lose" or have to move back to the phone that google doesn't cover is data that the app doesn't automatically restore. So like - a stand-alone music library. But all my other apps automatically restore all their data as well.
So if an app uploads/auto-restores the data from their servers, you'll get everything back 100%. If an app only saves to your sdcard, you'll lose that data. I really only have 1 app that does that so not a big deal.

mmead1143 said:
What do you mean end-to-end?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
End-to-end encryption - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Encrypt the backup in a way that only the owner of the device can read it, but not Google or anyone else with access to Google's servers.
iCloud backups are not E2E encrypted, for example, so anyone with access to Apple servers could read your data. Apple just announced that they are going to change that, though, as far as I remember.
QUESTION:
I noticed that there's an option in the Developer options that allows me to set a DESKTOP BACKUP PASSWORD. What software would I then use to create the backup on my computer?
Sounds like iTunes local backup... I liked that option, I don't need it in the cloud.
EDIT: Found something here https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/ics-psa-how-to-full-desktop-backup-no-root-needed.1607254/
Why are people not using / recommending this? Sounds great?
@V0latyle @simplepinoi177

Google say their backups are encrypted:
Where your phone data is stored​Backups are uploaded to Google servers and they're encrypted with your Google Account password. For some data, your phone's screen lock PIN, pattern, or password is also used to encrypt your data so it can be backed up safely.
Back up your device - Android - Google One Help
Where your phone data is stored Backups are uploaded to Google servers and they're encrypted with your Google Account password. For some data, your phone's screen lock
support.google.com

MrUrgit said:
Google say their backups are encrypted:
Where your phone data is stored​Backups are uploaded to Google servers and they're encrypted with your Google Account password. For some data, your phone's screen lock PIN, pattern, or password is also used to encrypt your data so it can be backed up safely.
Back up your device - Android - Google One Help
Where your phone data is stored Backups are uploaded to Google servers and they're encrypted with your Google Account password. For some data, your phone's screen lock
support.google.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's what I saw in Android when I decided not to use it. This suggested to me that some data was ONLY encrypted with my PIN/Pattern, and that didn't seem like strong protection. (Once it's in the cloud, you have to assume it will be there forever... and who knows if my PIN is still considered secure in X years from now.)
I still have to do more research, but so far my sense is that the sensitive data is encrypted at least with my (much more complex) account password.

Try Swift Backup. You need ADB for backing up system apps, but you don't need root lol