Mobile OSs Android System Backup and Restore Question

[strausd]

So I have been having a couple weird hiccups on my nexus 4 and want to try a system reset. But of course, that will wipe all my data. The problem is that I have a lot of stuff already done the way I want.

I was wondering if there is an easy way to backup all my apps along with their data and settings. Then after I do a reset, I could just restore everything.

Does android have something built in for this? Do I need a specific app? Do I need to make some sort of disc image of the phone on my computer?

I am also interested as I may decide to root my phone in the next week or two and from what I have read, unlocking the bootloader will wipe everything.

 

[Scrub175]

If rooted titanium back is a great option.

Apps will restore from google play ups on reset, but data will be gone.

Astro file app might have some non rooted backup and restore options.

You can also make a back up of the files to a computer via USB, but might still lose some app data.

 

[strausd]

If rooted titanium back is a great option.

Apps will restore from google play ups on reset, but data will be gone.

Astro file app might have some non rooted backup and restore options.

You can also make a back up of the files to a computer via USB, but might still lose some app data.

I am not rooted yet.

So Android doesn't have anything like this built in?

 

[onthecouchagain]

I was able to restore my phone from my Gmail backup when switching to the Nexus 4. All my apps downloaded, my old wallpaper was there, my contacts were restored, etc.

All from Google account. No root, no nothing. It wasn't perfect though, for example, my home screen widgets didn't reappear. To me, not a big deal since I set things up a bit differently because it's a new phone.

Hope that helps. If not, you'll just have to do it the long way. Take screen caps of your home screens, etc, and just model it after that after you restore.

 

[3bs]

I was able to restore my phone from my Gmail backup when switching to the Nexus 4. All my apps downloaded, my old wallpaper was there, my contacts were restored, etc.

All from Google account. No root, no nothing. It wasn't perfect though, for example, my home screen widgets didn't reappear. To me, not a big deal since I set things up a bit differently because it's a new phone.

Hope that helps. If not, you'll just have to do it the long way. Take screen caps of your home screens, etc, and just model it after that after you restore.

No app data though right?

 

[onthecouchagain]

No app data though right?

Nope.

Luckily, I'm able to back up certain things via the app itself. For example, Simple Calendar and SlideNotes allowed me to back up my settings for each of those things. It was a matter of restoring them and I got all my old notes and settings back.

Takes some work.

Google backup and restore can definitely stand to be more immersive.

 

[3bs]

Nope.

Luckily, I'm able to back up certain things via the app itself. For example, Simple Calendar and SlideNotes allowed me to back up my settings for each of those things. It was a matter of restoring them and I got all my old notes and settings back.

Takes some work.

Google backup and restore can definitely stand to be more immersive.

Why don't you root? You can stay on the stock ROM so you don't have to worry about performance issues.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Why don't you root? You can stay on the stock ROM so you don't have to worry about performance issues.

I'm on a Mac. It's a bit harder to do.

What advantages are there to rooting other than titanium backup, which I don't feel I need.

 

[Scrub175]

I'm on a Mac. It's a bit harder to do.

What advantages are there to rooting other than titanium backup, which I don't feel I need.

Roms, radio updates, bootloader updates are some major advantages. Then there are other reasons like tethering. CPU adjustments for battering savings. Color changes, mods, or adding themes. Back in the old days the notification bars were ugly grey and most users wanted a black notification bar. Backing up stock rom, settings, and data via nano droid backup.

Stuff like that.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Roms, radio updates, bootloader updates are some major advantages. Then there are other reasons like tethering. CPU adjustments for battering savings. Color changes, mods, or adding themes. Back in the old days the notification bars were ugly grey and most users wanted a black notification bar. Backing up stock rom, settings, and data via nano droid backup.

Stuff like that.

Dang. Sounds awfully tempting. Any disadvantages to rooting?

 

[Scrub175]

Dang. Sounds awfully tempting. Any disadvantages to rooting?

Voids factory warranty if they find out. There was some discussion the carriers can see rooted devices on the network.

The road to stock may take work some work. Sometimes folks want to go back to stock for major revisions and have to sbf or fast boot back to previous stock files.

Depending on the device no recovery from brick or root if sbf, fast boot, or stock images are not available.

Used to be with the droid X you had to be careful what sbf you used or restored to as this may lock you into only a certain group of roms. This was gingerbread days though on an older device. Not sure if the same scenarios exist today. I've been out of the scene for a while.

Depending in the device you may have a locked and encrypted bootloader that may impact bootloader or some rom changes.

I rooted my thunderbolt within the first few hours of owning it. I've owned and rooted my droid, droid x, thunderbolt, razr, and gnex.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Voids factory warranty if they find out. There was some discussion the carriers can see rooted devices on the network.

The road to stock may take work some work. Sometimes folks want to go back to stock for major revisions and have to sbf or fast boot back to previous stock files.

Depending on the device no recovery from brick or root if sbf, fast boot, or stock images are not available.

Used to be with the droid X you had to be careful what sbf you used or restored to as this may lock you into only a certain group of roms. This was gingerbread days though on an older device. Not sure if the same scenarios exist today. I've been out of the scene for a while.

Depending in the device you may have a locked and encrypted bootloader that may impact bootloader or some rom changes.

I rooted my thunderbolt within the first few hours of owning it. I've owned and rooted my droid, droid x, thunderbolt, razr, and gnex.

Thanks. All very informative.

 

[ReanimationN]

I am not rooted yet.

So Android doesn't have anything like this built in?

It doesn't, unfortunately. I was in the same situation as you with my Nexus 7, I lost all app data. There's no app out there that can make a full backup of a non-rooted Jelly Bean device, nor can you make a Nandroid backup without your device being rooted.

 

[3bs]

I'm on a Mac. It's a bit harder to do.

What advantages are there to rooting other than titanium backup, which I don't feel I need.

Trust me I did it and it was pretty simple and I am by no means an expert. I don't even really know how to use Terminal but it's as simple as copying and pasting a few commands. I used this guide http://forums.androidcentral.com/nexus-4-rooting-roms-hacks/224861-guide-nexus-4-unlock-root.html

Well one which people always like is AdAway which basically removes most if not all ads from your phone.

I actually can't think of many reasons besides flashing custom ROMs which you don't seem to be interested in?

 

[strausd]

I am mainly concerned with app data and game progress along with specific app settings. Would this do the trick without requiring me to root?
http://www.wondershare.com/mobile-phone/android-backup-and-restore.html

 

[3bs]

I am mainly concerned with app data and game progress along with specific app settings. Would this do the trick without requiring me to root?
http://www.wondershare.com/mobile-phone/android-backup-and-restore.html

I haven't tried it but I wouldn't bet on it unless someone can verify. It might just restore the apps without their data because there's no mention of app data on that page.

Edit: their website doesn't say it's supported on Jelly Bean so who knows. http://www.wondershare.com/mac-android-manager/reference.html

 

[strausd]

I haven't tried it but I wouldn't bet on it unless someone can verify. It might just restore the apps without their data because there's no mention of app data on that page.

Edit: their website doesn't say it's supported on Jelly Bean so who knows. http://www.wondershare.com/mac-android-manager/reference.html

Looks like I will just have to deal with it. I'll probably try it just in case. If it doesn't work I'll be in the same situation I'm in now.

 

[3bs]

Looks like I will just have to deal with it. I'll probably try it just in case. If it doesn't work I'll be in the same situation I'm in now.

Well let us know because if it does then I'm sure a lot of people will be glad they have a solution and I could always use a decent app that does all the work.

 

[tbayrgs]

Looks like I will just have to deal with it. I'll probably try it just in case. If it doesn't work I'll be in the same situation I'm in now.

Why not go ahead and root now. Doing so is going to wipe your Nexus 4 anyway and this way you can install a backup solution (FWIW, I use Titanium Backup on my Nexus 7) for future resets.

There are great toolkits out for Windows or Mac that make it pretty easy. I use info found on Android Central or XDA--Google will lead you in the right direction.

And, if you ever need to go back to locked boot loader and uprooted, the toolkits will work in reverse as well--did it on my N7 to return to stock from Paranoid Android so I could get the 4.2 update.

 

[strausd]

Why not go ahead and root now. Doing so is going to wipe your Nexus 4 anyway and this way you can install a backup solution (FWIW, I use Titanium Backup on my Nexus 7) for future resets.

There are great toolkits out for Windows or Mac that make it pretty easy. I use info found on Android Central or XDA--Google will lead you in the right direction.

And, if you ever need to go back to locked boot loader and uprooted, the toolkits will work in reverse as well--did it on my N7 to return to stock from Paranoid Android so I could get the 4.2 update.

You are totally missing the point.

Rooting now WILL, like you said, wipe everything. But the problem is I want to backup everything, but there is no way to do that. That is the whole point. I want to back up everything without having to root. It should be a simple thing that every smartphone should be able to do.

 

[Dmunjal]

http://www.addictivetips.com/android/backup-android-devices-to-pc-without-root-or-bootloader-unlock/

 

[strausd]

http://www.addictivetips.com/android/backup-android-devices-to-pc-without-root-or-bootloader-unlock/

I just ran into nearly the same thing inside this toolkit:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1995688

 

[tbayrgs]

You are totally missing the point.

Rooting now WILL, like you said, wipe everything. But the problem is I want to backup everything, but there is no way to do that. That is the whole point. I want to back up everything without having to root. It should be a simple thing that every smartphone should be able to do.

I completely understand your point and as many have already told you, there is no backup solution available that will fit your needs until you root. My point was just get on with restoring and get root access now so that you won't have this problem in the future.

 

[Scrub175]

I've seen one click root apps that don't wipe your phone. Not sure what the procedure if for the nexus 4.

 

[bairdedwiin]

In almost every newer Android phone, there are two settings that are enabled by default, and shown to you when you first set up the phone: enabling automatic backup and restore through Google. In theory, a company like Google, that has servers and storage to throw at just about any problem on Earth, should be able to make moving from one Android device to another dead simple. They've got all the apps, data, settings, and other peripheral information from your Android life; whatever phone you use is just a choice of a thin client, so to speak.