For you flash-a-holics, what do you use to restore all your configs (not apps)? Ti? - EVO 4G General

Just about all the ROMs recommend a full wipe before flashing. It is easy enough to restore the apps with Titanium bacukp, but what about all the OS configs?
I know Ti can restore some of that, but ROM to ROM, it doesn't always work.
Is it simply a requirement to go back and configure all the default and ROM-based apps each time you flash? Examples: Turn off default messaging notification (using Handcent), screen timeout, screen brightness, check USB debug, ringtones, volume levels, GPS, text input, etc.
It is a pain because every time I flash, I have to restore apps/related settings, then go and reset all the other settings. Is there a better or easier way?

snovvman said:
Just about all the ROMs recommend a full wipe before flashing. It is easy enough to restore the apps with Titanium bacukp, but what about all the OS configs?
I know Ti can restore some of that, but ROM to ROM, it doesn't always work.
Is it simply a requirement to go back and configure all the default and ROM-based apps each time you flash? Examples: Turn off default messaging notification (using Handcent), screen timeout, screen brightness, check USB debug, ringtones, volume levels, GPS, text input, etc.
It is a pain because every time I flash, I have to restore apps/related settings, then go and reset all the other settings. Is there a better or easier way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
perhaps this will help... I've never used titanium, but I have heard that Titanium backup helps the most. just restore apps and app data
also, it seems there is an app called SMS Backup or something that backs up SMS to gmail?

titanium has always wreaked havoc on my phone every time tried it. I use MyBackup pro, it save apps plus data(the app will be in the exact state when you restore it), also all the system settings and all. Clean and easy UI, there's a 30 day trial, try it out.

bjmingle said:
perhaps this will help... I've never used titanium, but I have heard that Titanium backup helps the most. just restore apps and app data
also, it seems there is an app called SMS Backup or something that backs up SMS to gmail?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Ti-Backup, it works well and backs up almost everything. With it, you don't need a seperate SMS backup, unless you want to archive SMS for other purposes.
My real issue are with the system and ROM-based app settings. They don't always transfer over properly. With all the people flashing all the time, I was just wondering if there is a shortcut I don't know about.

phatmanxxl said:
titanium has always wreaked havoc on my phone every time tried it. I use MyBackup pro, it save apps plus data, also all the system settings and all. Clean and easy UI, there's a 30 day trial, try it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have MyBackup Pro, used it when I wasn't rooted. Then switched over to Ti. With Ti, so long as you don't restore everything (system/ROM stuff from the previous phone/ROM), things work fine.
My issue with MyBackup Pro was that it didn't give me the granular control and didn't backup settings for every application.
Do you have any problems going from one ROM to another using MyBackup Pro?

I also use my back up pro. Great app does it all.

snovvman said:
I have MyBackup Pro, used it when I wasn't rooted. Then switched over to Ti. With Ti, so long as you don't restore everything (system/ROM stuff from the previous phone/ROM), things work fine.
My issue with MyBackup Pro was that it didn't give me the granular control and didn't backup settings for every application.
Do you have any problems going from one ROM to another using MyBackup Pro?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only had a problem once, I had something going wrong with my ROM lagging real bad and sd errors, I did a backup using MBP,
I wipeed and reflashed, ran the restore and the data was corrupt. I had an older backup on my pc and I put that folder on my sd and everything loaded fine.
Besides that I never had any problems with that app. Like I said simple, clean, reliable.

phatmanxxl said:
titanium has always wreaked havoc on my phone every time tried it. I use MyBackup pro, it save apps plus data(the app will be in the exact state when you restore it), also all the system settings and all. Clean and easy UI, there's a 30 day trial, try it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No here Ti backup has always worked like a champ for me but I only use the app backup feature. I don't really care about have text backed up.

Related

[Q] Best rooted back-up option?

Have a replacement coming tomorrow, had a problem with it not taking a charge. I have several apps (some paid, some not), rooted (z4) and have LauncherPro (pretty sure email still has my license #?).
I rooted for wifi tethering but never deodexed or ran any custom roms so have never had a need to back up. What is the best way to back up everything the way I have it now (settings, apps, contacts, etc) so when I get my replacement I can root (z4 again I would assume) and reload my backup without having to manually chase it all down again?
Thanks in advance.
Titanium backup seems to be the favorite, but it's annoying to use for me and not very intuitive.
I prefer My Backup Pro. You can backup to sdcard OR online. You can backup just the data or the app and the data, etc. Lots of features, and easy to use.
I prefer and use Titanium. I think it is really easy to use and does a great job. Worth the 5 or 6 bucks that it costs.
I use Titanium Backup PRO. It gets the job done.
I like titanium backup pro, works pretty well so far.
I also use Titanium Backup Pro. If you don't plan to run a different ROM, you will be able to restore everything with almost no pain.
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Sent from my Droid X. Powered by Big Red, customized by NATF.
Another vote for Titanium Backup Pro here. What's really nice about it is that it can "freeze" apps in addition to uninstalling them. So I froze all the bloatware apps so they don't run, but they're still on my phone. When Verizon releases an OS update, I unfreeze the apps before doing the OTA update so it's as close to stock as possible. After the OTA, I re-freeze them. Makes for a trouble-free update.
Another feature is that it integrates with Dropbox to back up your phone to the cloud, making it easier to restore to a different phone.
a vote for Droid X Bootstrapper Recovery
i've experienced a problem with the phone dialer and needed to do a number of backup/restore functions. The bootstrapper mentioned not only does a thorough job, but it has an advanced feature that lets you backup/restore separate portions of the phone.
hold on a sec, i'll boot it up and give you the list.
the main screen has a number of options:
- reboot system now
- apply sdcard:update.zip
- wipe data/factory reset
- wipe cache partition
- install zip from sdcard
- backup and restore
- mounts and storage
- advanced
the vol up/down keys are used to highlight an option, and the camera button is used to select it. when you choose backup and restore, you get 3 options:
- backup
- restore
- advanced restore
if you chose advanced restore, you are presented with a dated list of all the backups you've done with the utility. pick one, press the camera button and you get 5 options:
- Restore boot
- Restore system
- Restore data
- Restore cache
- Restore sd-ext.
I have done the restore system several times now experimenting to find a solution to a phone dialer problem. i was bouncing between 2.3.151 and 2.3.340. all my installed applications and data stayed exactly the same each time.
i really like it.
"i'm just saying..."
marvin
Thanks everyone. With Titanium can I essentially back up my old device exactly the way it is to my SD card. Activate the new device, install Titanium, and restore that identical copy from the same card? That seems almost too easy but if it takes into consideration licenses already paid for and such, that is basically what I'm looking for.
DNak206 said:
Thanks everyone. With Titanium can I essentially back up my old device exactly the way it is to my SD card. Activate the new device, install Titanium, and restore that identical copy from the same card? That seems almost too easy but if it takes into consideration licenses already paid for and such, that is basically what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never had a need to replace my Droid, so I personally haven't tried it, but that's what they claim. Some apps may no longer work if it inspects the phone ID for licensing purposes. Tasker is one of them. You'll need to contact the app developer for these cases.
BBJohnnyT said:
I never had a need to replace my Droid, so I personally haven't tried it, but that's what they claim. Some apps may no longer work if it inspects the phone ID for licensing purposes. Tasker is one of them. You'll need to contact the app developer for these cases.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, will give it a whirl then. I have paid for Tasker and Launcher Pro Plus along with a few others, those are my primary concerns. The settings and adding my contacts and emails and such would take a few minutes, but not a big deal.
I just made a backup in cw then restored it on my new dx and had 0 problems. It was like I didn't even switch phones (minus the defect on the old one). It was almost TOO easy lol.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

built in backup is worthless

8 days after i got my HTC One, the software broke on the phone... Lockscreen stopped working.
So 12 days after i got i (today) - i decided to Factory Restore the phone.
I made sure that everything on the phone is synced and backed up, using ALL the built in backup/sync options...
2 hours later i deeply regret my decision ... or... let's say i'm much wiser now...
- All Text messages are gone
- All Pictures are gone
- All music is gone
- All app settings are gone
- All contacts are more or less reset to sqare-1
But luckily... The phone remembered the placement of Widgets, Icons, Shortcuts and mostly what apps i had installed... how great...
I don't understand how you Android people can live with this ??
There's alot of 3rd party apps to backup your phone. And personally I really don't use these backups at all in fact nobody can even force me to use it. I just feel uncomfortable putting all my messages, contacts, pictures and whatever stuff to some nobody knows what cloud service they use
And ohh by the way I use android tuner and my computer for my backup needs.
Riyal said:
There's alot of 3rd party apps to backup your phone. And personally I really don't use these backups at all in fact nobody can even force me to use it. I just feel uncomfortable putting all my messages, contacts, pictures and whatever stuff to some nobody knows what cloud service they use
And ohh by the way I use android tuner and my computer for my backup needs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed "Sandisk Memory Zone" which is able to backup 'SOME' of my data to Skydrive, Dropbox and 8 other online services as well as SD-cards.. I did backup some of my stuff using that service... but not all
Yea - when talking to Droid people, they like to setup their own backup plan...
what i dont understand is why they want that ??
With iPhone i synced with iTunes and ALL setting.. i literally mean ALL SETTINGS... was backed up..
If i lost my iPhone, i plugged a new one into iTunes and 1 hour later im off as if nothing happened... i would love to have such a solution with my HTC One...
Montago said:
8 days after i got my HTC One, the software broke on the phone... Lockscreen stopped working.
So 12 days after i got i (today) - i decided to Factory Restore the phone.
I made sure that everything on the phone is synced and backed up, using ALL the built in backup/sync options...
2 hours later i deeply regret my decision ... or... let's say i'm much wiser now...
- All Text messages are gone
- All Pictures are gone
- All music is gone
- All app settings are gone
- All contacts are more or less reset to sqare-1
But luckily... The phone remembered the placement of Widgets, Icons, Shortcuts and mostly what apps i had installed... how great...
I don't understand how you Android people can live with this ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We live with this by reading up on what the backup will backup. You got a new phone and new apps and you didn't bother finding out what they do? I went to HTC's website and found out exactly what it did, and acted accordingly when I used the backup feature. Never lost a single image.
There are plenty of solutions for full and reliable backup on Android phone. If you are rooted, then go for Titanium Backup or MyBackup, really straight forward, no need for PC.
If you are not rooted then go for Helium (formerly known as Carbon). You need the app installed on PC/Mac as well.
If you just want to backup your messages/call logs, go for SMS Backup and Restore; and CallLog Backup and Restore, no need for root.
You do not need to backup your contacts if you are using Google account, you can setup your phone contacts to your Google account.
As for the pictures, Dropbox or Google+ have automatic upload for them.
For audio files, there are even apps which can sync with iTunes.
ArmedandDangerous said:
We live with this by reading up on what the backup will backup. You got a new phone and new apps and you didn't bother finding out what they do? I went to HTC's website and found out exactly what it did, and acted accordingly when I used the backup feature. Never lost a single image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As an IT professional i have no problems doing all that - i just thought i didn't have to... maybe i'm spoiled by Apple / IOS / iTunes...
but what about Mr and Mrs Noobster ... or even the random Joe who got an Android because he dislikes Apple for whatever reason... those people loose everything eventhough their phone says to them that everything is backed up...
Montago said:
As an IT professional i have no problems doing all that - i just thought i didn't have to... maybe i'm spoiled by Apple / IOS / iTunes...
but what about Mr and Mrs Noobster ... or even the random Joe who got an Android because he dislikes Apple for whatever reason... those people loose everything eventhough their phone says to them that everything is backed up...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually the backup and reset feature specifically says "Back up app data, Wi-Fi passwords, and other settings to Google servers", and if you select HTC Account it says "Back up settings, accounts & passwords, bookmarks and apps daily over Wi-Fi".
This is a HTC feature, not an "Android" feature. Apple owns every phone they produce, and thus they can have a unified architecture for their apps and media/backup functions. I'm not defending HTC, or Android. God knows we need a standard backup service that basically copies our whole phone.
encho said:
There are plenty of solutions for full and reliable backup on Android phone. If you are rooted, then go for Titanium Backup or MyBackup, really straight forward, no need for PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will check em out. thanks !
encho said:
If you are not rooted then go for Helium (formerly known as Carbon). You need the app installed on PC/Mac as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nice - but seems like it doesn't backup everything
encho said:
If you just want to backup your messages/call logs, go for SMS Backup and Restore; and CallLog Backup and Restore, no need for root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah - seems like i need a 7th program to backup my SMS/Call logs ... jebus !
encho said:
You do not need to backup your contacts if you are using Google account, you can setup your phone contacts to your Google account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently i do... i DID sync my contacts with Google - but i lost some !?!?
encho said:
As for the pictures, Dropbox or Google+ have automatic upload for them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes -- BUT they don't exactly sync BACK to the phone... they just get uploaded to Dropbox / Google+ where they are kind of 'useless'...
HTC One with Sense5 has features like ZOE - and all my data for creating Zoe's are now gone -- or maybe i can transfer my pictures/albums BACK to my One ??
encho said:
For audio files, there are even apps which can sync with iTunes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC Sync is able to sync FROM itunes to the One ... but doesn't remember my sync options like iTunes... meaning i have to re-do everything manually
Sandisk Memory Zone is able to sync my music to the cloud - but i don't know if it also restore my playlists and stuff like that
all in all i'm not that impressed with Android so far
Those were just the options you have, you don't actually need to use "7th app" for anything. I just showed that if you need to backup ONLY sms/calls that you can do that. Titanium Backup for example can backup everything except the files. For files I suggest you use FolderSync which can backup to any cloud out there, including your own ftp/dav/s3/samba folder.
Or you can go back to iPhone and regret it
The lockscreen stops functioning correctly if you turn on an accessibility option in settings. Example would be turning on the Pebble smartwatch accessibility feature.
mjm128 said:
The lockscreen stops functioning correctly if you turn on an accessibility option in settings. Example would be turning on the Pebble smartwatch accessibility feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is what happened...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2291734
do you think its caused by accessibility ?
This is bad
On my sgs3 with samsung account I can backup phone logs, memos, messages, calendar, bookmarks. I use Spotify so my music/playlists are always there no matter what device I'm using.
Skickat från min GT-I9300 via Tapatalk 2
If you are rooted, I'm surprised no one mentioned Rom Toolbox Pro. Backs up apps and data to internal or external storage, dropbox, box, etc...
More importantly provides a very complete tool set for installing roms, themes, and a host of other utilities to numerous to mention. Anyway, I'm not affiliated in any way, just have been using it for a long time and don't even bother with TiBackup or Rom Manager stuff anymore. Usually this is the first app I load after fresh installs to bring all my apps back.
Either your phone has software defect or you couldn't managed to use it properly. I backed up everything and quite easily.
Also remember to transfer your back ups made titanium back up or my back up pro to dropbox or your computer because when you perform a factory reset I believe it formats your internal sdcard also. So your back up is gone, too.
You shouldnt ever click the button that specifically says that it will delete the entire memory. You only need to do the normal factory reset. Backup your messages to the external storage using the built in backup in messaging and you would have been good.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
The built in backup leaves out a few things. I decided to try it on my last everyday romswap, and most things got back, but without settings, passwords and so on. Imo pretty useless.
Go for helium backup or titanium instead. If they fix it, perfect, exactly what I need
Skickat från min HTC One via Tapatalk 2
What I don't understand is since the introduction of ICS, Android has a built-in backup function accessible via ADB commands even without having to root your phone. This (as far as I'm aware) is available to ALL Android devices running 4.0 ICS or later. Why then are OEM's not including a backup function with their desktop software? If developers here on XDA can create small executable files to run a backup on our devices, then surely it can't be that difficult to integrate a similar function into something like HTC Sync??
With regards HTC Backup one the One, I haven't tried that as I used Helium backup when I reset my phone. Works perfectly even without root.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
altimax98 said:
You shouldnt ever click the button that specifically says that it will delete the entire memory. You only need to do the normal factory reset. Backup your messages to the external storage using the built in backup in messaging and you would have been good.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well.. the scenario is: my phone is destroyed, stolen or lost in the ocean... Question is: WHAT exactly did i loose ?
apparently, using "backup" on the phone, only saves me a list of programs that i downloaded - all userdata is gone !!!!!!
Dharkan said:
Either your phone has software defect or you couldn't managed to use it properly. I backed up everything and quite easily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good for you - now tell us your secret ?!
did you use a 3rd party backup program ?
was rooting necessary ?
did you use more than one program ?
apparently backup / sync is not implemented out of the box on Android...
BTW... YES... i'm new to Android so i'm 100% sure i'm doing things wrong
Montago said:
Well.. the scenario is: my phone is destroyed, stolen or lost in the ocean... Question is: WHAT exactly did i loose ?
apparently, using "backup" on the phone, only saves me a list of programs that i downloaded - all userdata is gone !!!!!!
good for you - now tell us your secret ?!
did you use a 3rd party backup program ?
was rooting necessary ?
did you use more than one program ?
apparently backup / sync is not implemented out of the box on Android...
BTW... YES... i'm new to Android so i'm 100% sure i'm doing things wrong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's what I did basically. I used the built-in SMS backup feature, manually forced a whatsapp backup (only the automatic 4am backup is saved on SD, unless you force a backup) and backed up my contacts with Go Contacts (I just don't know how Google Contacts work, just wasn't ever that reliable to me). With these 3 done, I did the Backup & Reset thing. Then I copied my whole SD to my hard drive. Done

Backup & Restore App

I never done a full wipe since I bought my Z1 and after all that upgrades, I started experiencing lower battery lastings, and sometimes the phone doesn't work well so I decided to do a full wipe but I want to backup all my data, including app data, apps, messages, contacts etc. The biggest problem is with app data, since I used Titanium Backup on my old phone but my Z1 is not rooted.
I saw that there is an Backup & Restore app on my Z1, and it looks great. But my question is: does it really backup app data (game progress, app settings, equalizer presets in power amp etc etc) ? And I have another problem: I startet backup with that app but it's stuck for already 15 minutes on 36% GTA: SA Remaining time: 52 seconds. Why it's stuck?
xplod2841 said:
I never done a full wipe since I bought my Z1 and after all that upgrades, I started experiencing lower battery lastings, and sometimes the phone doesn't work well so I decided to do a full wipe but I want to backup all my data, including app data, apps, messages, contacts etc. The biggest problem is with app data, since I used Titanium Backup on my old phone but my Z1 is not rooted.
I saw that there is an Backup & Restore app on my Z1, and it looks great. But my question is: does it really backup app data (game progress, app settings, equalizer presets in power amp etc etc) ? And I have another problem: I startet backup with that app but it's stuck for already 15 minutes on 36% GTA: SA Remaining time: 52 seconds. Why it's stuck?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes it works really well and backups app data no problem, i have used it about 6 times and its saved my bacon . don't worry about it being stuck, if you have a lot of apps, it will take a long time. if it fails just restart and do it again. also don't use the apps whilst its backing up.
henson0115 said:
yes it works really well and backups app data no problem, i have used it about 6 times and its saved my bacon . don't worry about it being stuck, if you have a lot of apps, it will take a long time. if it fails just restart and do it again. also don't use the apps whilst its backing up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I decided to cancel it but it didn't want to cancel so I had to force stop it. Now I'm thinking about another thing: does it backup the app itself too? Because it was stuck on GTA: SA which has a few GB. And this would be a problem because I don't have that much space on my SD card. But before starting, it said that there is around 300 MB for backup.
xplod2841 said:
I decided to cancel it but it didn't want to cancel so I had to force stop it. Now I'm thinking about another thing: does it backup the app itself too? Because it was stuck on GTA: SA which has a few GB. And this would be a problem because I don't have that much space on my SD card. But before starting, it said that there is around 300 MB for backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea it does the apps and data, but you can click the little arrow and deselect apps that you do not want to include.
henson0115 said:
yea it does the apps and data, but you can click the little arrow and deselect apps that you do not want to include.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not really good. I want to backup my progress on that game but not the game itself since I don't have that much space on my SD card. But I think that GTA San Andreas can store progress in their cloud so I will try with this instead of backup the whole app with data.
xplod2841 said:
This is not really good. I want to backup my progress on that game but not the game itself since I don't have that much space on my SD card. But I think that GTA San Andreas can store progress in their cloud so I will try with this instead of backup the whole app with data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Helium. If you just want data, it does that for you
eirikgu said:
Try Helium. If you just want data, it does that for you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw Helium but I don't want those complicated things with PC, I want to be able to do everything with just one click from my phone. I reseted my phone and restored backup but half of apps are not there !?? Do I have to install those apps before proceding with restore? Some of apps are there and their data is there but for example PowerAmp and Dolphin Browser are not there.
EDIT: I figured out where is the problem: I backed up the settings as well and while restoring, when it reachs the Settings, the phone reboots. So it restored only 2-3 apps before settings. Since this retarded app doesn't offer to check what I want to restore, I tried to manually delete the Settings app from the backup folder on my sd card but it didn't help.
How to fix this !??? I can't afford myself to lose contacts, messages and app data!
EDIT: I managed to remove Settings from Restore list by editing the a file where restore list is stored in XML format.
Restore apps
So I have the backup from the Sony app on my PC and there is a file for every app. I assume this file includes the APK as well as the settings.
Does anyone know this format? Is there any way to restore a single app to another phone? I assumed I could restore my backup to a Z3 Compact, but it seems not to work with the Sony Backup & Restore preinstalled on the Z3 Compact

[Q] Backup & Restore

How did you guys restore apps and data along with sms/mms, call history and bookmarks from your previous phone? I am coming from a rooted gs3 and would like to figure this out before I make the leap to the gs5. I have always used and loved titanium backup but know it won't work without root.
rotzy said:
How did you guys restore apps and data along with sms/mms, call history and bookmarks from your previous phone? I am coming from a rooted gs3 and would like to figure this out before I make the leap to the gs5. I have always used and loved titanium backup but know it won't work without root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also migrated from rooted s3, no luck on app data (had to reenter some), apps that sync to cloud (i.e. google apps) restored data fine. Used samsung smart switch app to migrate call logs, sms, bookmarks, etc..see play store, worked well.
Really? Nobody saves and imports their app data when they switch phones or is it so simple to do that no one wants to tell me how to do it!?
rotzy said:
How did you guys restore apps and data along with sms/mms, call history and bookmarks from your previous phone? I am coming from a rooted gs3 and would like to figure this out before I make the leap to the gs5. I have always used and loved titanium backup but know it won't work without root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use SMS Backup+ for SMS/MMS and call log. Apps and data I didn't really bring with, I started over, except for a couple with their own backup and restore functions, like Llama and Nova Launcher.
I prepared to restore more data using Koush's Helium, but decided against it so that none of the "issues" from my old phone would follow me to the new one...
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
You can use Helium (on the app store) by Clockworkmod to back up the app data on unrooted phones (you need to plug into computer first and download a Helium app on the computer). It can backup app data on rooted phones without any issues. Note that saving the backups to external SD card and then transferring the SD card will not work - I don't think Helium has been updated to work with external SDs in KitKat yet. Therefore, use the cloud save or simply sync between your two devices.
I have run into some issues with game saves - for example, restoring a Plants vs Zombie save ended up causing a force close on the program (while PvZ 2 works fine). A couple other games refuse to back up (oddly enough, I never ran into this issue while my GS3 was on Jelly Bean 4.2, only after I updated to 4.3 and went to backup in prep for a move to the GS5). I also generally have bad luck restoring data to apps that have associated "accounts" - i.e. facebook and linkedin, so I take care to avoid restoring those and just login with my new information.
You can also use ADB on your computer to do a manual backup (Helium actually does this technically, it just spoofs your phone into thinking its still plugged in). Apparently this backup solution is a built in part of Android, just never utilized. Its not easy to use, and cannot selectively backup and restore apps unless you know the specific "com.android.xyz" app name. Google "ADB backup android" and you should find some tutorials - there is one on the Nexus forums here on XDA that walks through some of the flags and settings. Be careful to not backup system apps if you do that, you are asking for trouble.
Personally it bugs the crap out of me that there is no app data migration built into Android - yes contacts, calendar, etc can all be stored in the cloud, but why not app data? For all its rhetoric about the cloud and keeping information synced up, its a glaring oversight on Google's part. I think android theoretically restores app data on certain apps (if developers code it the right way) when the initial restore is performed after initially setting up a device, but I have yet to see that work correctly. Plus that initial restore process is full of holes - lots of apps don't re-download. You would think that, in order to sell more phones, at the very least manufacturers would want to make backup/restore as easy as possible. Samsung does have Smart Switch, but it doesn't backup app data and really only restores those items that are likely in the cloud or on SD cards anyway (pictures and contacts).
Even early 2000s blackberries had backup and restore functionality, as did old palm pilots from the 90s.
Thanks Rlin5741.
I've read such contradictory reviews about Helium that I didn't want to try it without hearing from someone here. Are you saying it is possible to plug my rooted GS3 into the computer and backup apps and data with Helium and then restore them onto the new phone OR would I need to plug both phones in and transfer directly?
rotzy said:
Thanks Rlin5741.
I've read such contradictory reviews about Helium that I didn't want to try it without hearing from someone here. Are you saying it is possible to plug my rooted GS3 into the computer and backup apps and data with Helium and then restore them onto the new phone OR would I need to plug both phones in and transfer directly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooted GS3 can back up to Drive without a PC. New GS5 will need to be connected to a PC to restore.
You don't have to have both at once.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
JohnKuczek said:
Rooted GS3 can back up to Drive without a PC. New GS5 will need to be connected to a PC to restore.
You don't have to have both at once.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
JohnKuczek said:
Rooted GS3 can back up to Drive without a PC. New GS5 will need to be connected to a PC to restore.
You don't have to have both at once.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've generally done very selective backups - game saves, etc, and perhaps call logs and SMS/MMS. I generally do not back up system apps (especially if you are moving to a different model phone), any app that has an associated "account" (email, facebook, linkedin) because those apps have deeper integration with the system. If you do not backup system apps, and selectively backup others, if you still run into issues you can clear app data through the app manager; that should clear out any restores.
Since Helium uses Android's built in, hidden backup functionality, it actually refuses to back up certain apps - such as Google Authenticator. I think app developers can flag their apps to prohibit backups for security reasons.
More on Android's built in backup solution (http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-nexus/general/guide-phone-backup-unlock-root-t1420351). I DO NOT recommend doing the full backup from your old phone and restoring it on your GS5 - the full backup will hit all apps. At the very least, use the flag to avoid system files.
Rlin5741 said:
I've generaly done very selective backups - game saves, etc, and perhaps call logs and SMS/Mook marks nerally do not back up system apps (especially if you are moving to a different model phone), any app that has an associated "account" (email, facebook, linkedin) because those apps have deeper integration with the system. If you do not backup system apps, and selectively backup others, if you still run into issues you can clear app data through the app manager; that should clear out any restores.
Since Helium uses Android's built in, hidden backup functionality, it actually refuses to back up certain apps - such as Google Authenticator. I think app developers can flag their apps to prohibit backups for security reasons.
More on Android's built in backup solution (http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-nexus/general/guide-phone-backup-unlock-root-t1420351). I DO NOT recommend doing the full backup from your old phone and restoring it on your GS5 - the full backup will hit all apps. At the very least, use the flag to avoid system files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I definately don't want system apps or anything you can log into. I'm only looking to restore call logs, sms/mms, bookmarks and game data. I'll give helium a try when I'm ready to switch.

Android backup

Hey,
I just recently switched from iphone to android. On iphone if you format the phone you can restore all your apps/texts/ and data. Well i thought android would have this built in by now but when i went back to stock(from rooted and twrp), it deleted all this information but then offered to recover from backup. So i did that and it downloaded all my apps again but it didnt have the data for the apps. It was as if i just installed them. Also texts werent saved. Is this normal? Am i required to use an external app?
Yes, this is normal since Android doesn't have a good built-in backup system in place yet. Apparently, this is supposed to improve in Android N.
For the time being in Lollipop, some app settings are backed up to your Google Drive. You can check to see which ones support this by opening up the Drive app, go to settings, and then click on Manage backups. However, this too is inconsistent because the author of the app decides what kind of settings the app will back up.
For the time being, it can be best to use third party apps. Titanium Backup is a popular one but it requires root for certain functions. SMS backup & Restore is a good app for texts.
Thank you for the clarification
Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA-Developers mobile app
You can use Titanium

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