Related
Just a quick guide for those of you who are unaware. It assumes no previous knowledge and you are running the program for the first time.
Contents
General Setup (Titanium Backup)
Backup Program Settings
Backup System + Program Settings
Restore Program/System Settings
SMS Backup + Restore - coming soon
Backup ROM (Nandroid)
Restore ROM (Nandroid)
General Setup
This will need to be done before wiping (for backup) and after installing the new ROM (for restore)
1. Download Titanium Backup from the market
2. Open Titanium Backup & wait
3. Select "Always Allow" when the SU request pops up
4. Press OK until you reach the main screen "Overview"
5. Select the "Backup/Restore" tab
Backup Program Settings
For those who don't want to save system settings (simpler).
1. Press Menu & Select Batch
2. Click "Run" next to "Backup all user apps"
3. Select the apps you wish to be backed up, and deselect any you don't use
4. Click "Run the batch operation" from the top of the screen
5. Mount your SD card and backup the "TitaniumBackup" folder onto your computer (just in case).
Backup System + Program Settings
For those who want to save system settings as well as your programs (more complex).
1. Press Menu & Select Batch
2. Click "Run" next to "Backup all user apps + system data"
3. Select the apps + data you wish to be backed up:
The green ones are things like calandar notes, sms messages, system settings etc
The red ones are generally crap and don't need to be backed up
The white ones are your programs
4. Click "Run the batch operation" from the top of the screen
5. Mount your SD card and backup the "TitaniumBackup" folder onto your computer (just in case).
Restore Program/System Settings
1. Press Menu & Select Batch
2. Click "Run" next to:
"Restore missing apps + all system data" (for System + Program settings)
"Restore missing apps with data" (for just Program settings)
3. Select the apps you wish to be restored, and deselect any you don't really want
4. Click "Run the batch operation" from the top of the screen
5. OK and Done on any confirmation screens.
Backup ROM (Nandroid)
1. Turn off your phone
2. Hold Home + Power to turn it on into Recovery Mode
3. Press the following:
Backup/Restore
Nand Backup
Home
4. Wait until you see the confirmation message: "Backup Complete!"
Restore ROM (Nandroid)
1. Turn off your phone
2. Hold Home + Power to turn it on into Recovery Mode
3. Press the following:
Backup/Restore
Nand Restore
4. Select the folder and then the latest backup (date is backwards in the name). Press Home to confirm and wait for confirmation message: "Restore Complete!"
Thanks for the guide! One question.. Backup all your apps + system data, what's that do? Is that backing the actual ROM up?
scouzer said:
Thanks for the guide! One question.. Backup all your apps + system data, what's that do? Is that backing the actual ROM up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, to backup the ROM use Nandroid. I'll add that section to the guide, though it's pretty self explanatory.
To be quite honest i don't know the differences between the backup processes. If you want to do it with the system data to go for it, i'll try n research the differences.
Edit: updated with newer details, hopefully this should clarify things!
Great guide, but i want to add other 2 backups that i always do: sms and call log...for the contacts google does prefeclty its work!
for sms i use Sms Backup and Restore
for call log details i use Android backup tool...with this tool you can also backup bookmarks and dictionary info and sms, but i don't suggest you use this tool for the sms because it never woked for me
bookmarks
thanks never used titanium will try it.
Does it backup Bookmarks?
Google chrome allows you to sync bookmarks, any way to enable this on android?
magokh said:
Great guide, but i want to add other 2 backups that i always do: sms and call log...for the contacts google does prefeclty its work!
for sms i use Sms Backup and Restore
for call log details i use Android backup tool...with this tool you can also backup bookmarks and dictionary info and sms, but i don't suggest you use this tool for the sms because it never woked for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll check that out. I think Titanium Does that too, but i've never tested it properly.
blueflash said:
thanks never used titanium will try it.
Does it backup Bookmarks?
Google chrome allows you to sync bookmarks, any way to enable this on android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possibly, i've never tried.
I normally do a Nandroid + Ext back-up. That way I can wipe my Ext partition between roms
I additionally use "SMS Backup & Restore" from the market.
It exports all SMS into an XML file on the sd-card and can re-import them again on every ROM. So you can even switch from 1.5 to 2.1 without loosing any sms.
paul9619 said:
I normally do a Nandroid + Ext back-up. That way I can wipe my Ext partition between roms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have only just started using Ext, i'll add this section to the guide in the future (once I have added the A2SD section in my other guide )
androcheck said:
I additionally use "SMS Backup & Restore" from the market.
It exports all SMS into an XML file on the sd-card and can re-import them again on every ROM. So you can even switch from 1.5 to 2.1 without loosing any sms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There seems to be a lot of support for this. I'll add a section in when I get the chance to test it.
non-rooted backup
Titanium needs root. But I just want to root my phone first time. So Titanium doesn't work
How can I backup all my apps, sms, contacts, phone history, bookmarks, etc... ?
Try SMS Backup & Restore for messages
Contacts - sync with google automatically & you can manually sync others with htc sync
Apps - write them down... (purchased ones will show up automatically)
Bookmarks - not sure
Phone History - (like calls?) not sure
I'm still working on finding a program which will do them all.
zxcat said:
Titanium needs root. But I just want to root my phone first time. So Titanium doesn't work
How can I backup all my apps, sms, contacts, phone history, bookmarks, etc... ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
backup apps using astro backup function.
smsbackup for sms
google for contacts and bookmarks
There is a much easier way.
Most of what you need is kept in /data/data, subdivided by applications/classes
Just do a tar to your sdcard for example, and that's it.
Just remember to preserve file permissions.
This comes in handy when you're changing roms often, for example. like I do when testing new versions of my rom. Especially changes pertaining to framework, which most of the time require re-odexing.
Just do a tar cpf /sdcard/data.tar to backup and tar xpf /sdcard/data.tar to restore.
If your tar supports gzip, you can also pass it through gzip via tar czpf / xzpf.
You don't need any additional programs. Just adb access.
btdag, poddo, adwinp thank you!
I've tried something from the Market, but there is much really useless "backup" software. Now I'll check this. ASTRO is good, I see.
But I don't remember Google pass Restored it once, but again don't remember.
adwinp, I have "tar: permission denied", so simple ADP access is not enough. Btw, ASTRO can't show /data contents - it's empty. So looks like this method not working in non-rooted Hero.
adwinp said:
There is a much easier way.
Most of what you need is kept in /data/data, subdivided by applications/classes
Just do a tar to your sdcard for example, and that's it.
Just remember to preserve file permissions.
This comes in handy when you're changing roms often, for example. like I do when testing new versions of my rom. Especially changes pertaining to framework, which most of the time require re-odexing.
Just do a tar cpf /sdcard/data.tar to backup and tar xpf /sdcard/data.tar to restore.
If your tar supports gzip, you can also pass it through gzip via tar czpf / xzpf.
You don't need any additional programs. Just adb access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand what you're saying, but I think my guides are designed to avoid all the command typing if at all possible and provide really inexperienced users with the ability to do this stuff - try telling a newbie to "tar" something and "preserve file permissions" - they'll have no idea what you're on about - i'll add it in if I can find a newbie friendly way of writing it
btdag said:
Try SMS Backup & Restore for messages
Contacts - sync with google automatically & you can manually sync others with htc sync
Apps - write them down... (purchased ones will show up automatically)
Bookmarks - not sure
Phone History - (like calls?) not sure
I'm still working on finding a program which will do them all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AGREE with ABOVE
also, not sure about Bookmarks but
Phone History - (like call log) Call Logs backup and restore from the same dev as SMS Backup and Restore
what about
user dictionary? - that's one thing I can't figure how to backup still.
Does android have that feature? In the settings in 2.1 roms you can backup your user dictionary from there. Can someone check this on 1.5?
Edit: Ignore me, this is a feature of HTC_IME mod - though in theory if you could install that without needing root then you would have access to the backup features
astro can only explore SD.
BTW you can use its backup function to save all the apps you have installed. backup apps, not apps data.
in astro go to tools, app manager, backup
Yeah titanium backup is awesome BUT when it comes to restoring its not so good. It takes ages and need to press ok every app we wanna restore. It would be grate if we click once and it will install all of them!
Foka002 said:
Yeah titanium backup is awesome BUT when it comes to restoring its not so good. It takes ages and need to press ok every app we wanna restore. It would be grate if we click once and it will install all of them!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then pay for it. The paid version does precisely that.
I just installed the Virtuous ROM and am using TB to get my apps back.
I was just curious, as I don't want a bunch of random system stuff I never used to get re-installed, what is the 'system data' referring too? Obviously user apps are pandora etc, but what is the data? Should I restore this as well?
thanks for the clarification!
How to restore your backups after installing a ROM (if you wiped your phone)
the14thgod said:
I just installed the Virtuous ROM and am using TB to get my apps back.
I was just curious, as I don't want a bunch of random system stuff I never used to get re-installed, what is the 'system data' referring too? Obviously user apps are pandora etc, but what is the data? Should I restore this as well?
thanks for the clarification!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I often wonder the same thing, and come back to this each time. Opinions differ, on what all to restore.... that said, you may need some of that 'system data' at some point , so .....I go with what the maker says - look in this section: How to restore your backups after installing a ROM (if you wiped your phone)
http://www.matrixrewriter.com/android/index.html
While not a direct answer to your question, hth!
I only back up certain apps + system data.
for example if you want all your profiles saved in SetCPU when flashing to the next ROM you run the "Backup all user apps + system data"... uncheck select all and select SetCPU
if you use NewsRoom and want to save all your feeds when flashing to the next ROM you run the "Backup all user apps + system data"... uncheck select all and select NewsRoom
Hey guys,
I'm about to updated from Mikfroyo 4.4 to 4.5 and I was wondering what things I should back up using Titanium Backup? I would like to keep settings, texts, and application data if possible.
Thanks.
First, I typically will back up everything. System + User apps and data. I do a nandroid as well. The selection comes on restore for me.
For a restore, first I restore all user apps + data (not the one with system data). I will go through the list and look for anything I might not want to keep. For example, moving from Fresh to Myn, I wouldn't restore Fresh Updater. You can use the restore all user apps batch -- it'll give you a screen where you can deselect.
Next, I will selectively restore system data. Again I use the batch mode, but deselect all and opt in what I want. Most of the things you might want to restore will be highlighted in green. For example, I always restore Browser (or Internet, can't remember which it's labeled), as that gets all my bookmarks, cookies, and settings. There's one for SMS in there. There's one for Bluetooth parings and WiFi access points. Rosie settings are usually to restore too, and that will give you your home screen layout.
Thank you very much.
Please stop using Titanium Backup to restore system files when you upgrade you ROM! Some system apps and settings are incompatible when newer ROMS. When I do backups I backup my user apps to one folder and system apps in another. This way I can just restore my user apps and their data in a batch restore but with the system files I only restore data to apps with the same version.
I make this thread because n00bs keep restoring everything including their incompatible system files and start to whine about the ROM being slow, apps FCing, and other assorted mishaps. I've already helped 2 n00b friends who had phones stuck in bootloop after doing full restore.
Which program would you suggest?
This is an interesting argument
I use Titanium Backup, I just don't restore system app data to incompatible apps.
I backup using apps + system data option.
In this case, system data refers to data that are related ONLY to apps right?
When I upgrade to gingerbread, you think it will cause problem??
Or, Should I only back up apps?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
[email protected] said:
I backup using apps + system data option.
In this case, system data refers to data that are related ONLY to apps right?
When I upgrade to gingerbread, you think it will cause problem??
Or, Should I only back up apps?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you backup user apps (the ones in white), you will backup the app + its settings and data.
When you backup system data (the ones in green), you are backing up only system settings, like SMS/MMS, Accounts, Calendar, Timezone, Phone logs, Wifi APN, etc.
When you backup system apps (the ones in red), you are backing up ONLY the settings and data for that app, not the app itself. THIS is what Intratech it asking you to NOT backup.
Why? Because the next ROM you install, will most likely have a different system app version than the one you previously had.
Usually:
Different apps == Different settings === problems
Heritz said:
When you backup user apps (the ones in white), you will backup the app + its settings and data.
When you backup system data (the ones in green), you are backing up only system settings, like SMS/MMS, Accounts, Calendar, Timezone, Phone logs, Wifi APN, etc.
When you backup system apps (the ones in red), you are backing up ONLY the settings and data for that app, not the app itself. THIS is what Intratech it asking you to NOT backup.
Why? Because the next ROM you install, will most likely have a different system app version than the one you previously had.
Usually:
Different apps == Different settings === problems
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So restoring the green ones should work fine? Especially the Application Widgets is important for me as it is much work to restore.
How to restore the red ones? Market + Samsung Apps?
If I do minor updates 2.2->2.2.1 is there the same recommendation to only restore user apps/data?
Thanks.
Why would you want to backup market and samsung apps?
I restore things like my APNs, contacts and SMS from system data using Titanium backup. Across a range of ROMs I've never had any issues, although I'm not restoring every bit of system data- just a select few.
Mikulec said:
Why would you want to backup market and samsung apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is faster to restore app's data than waiting for market to come up with updates and configure all manually.
Does system backup do a backup of new versions of system apps?
rickg99 said:
It is faster to restore app's data than waiting for market to come up with updates and configure all manually.
Does system backup do a backup of new versions of system apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the market automatically downloads apps when you open it. personally, i do not back up my apps but instead use my internet connection to access the market and sownload all the apps back at one go. Q: Is the same service(auto download downloaded apps) on samsung apps?
Heritz said:
When you backup user apps (the ones in white), you will backup the app + its settings and data.
When you backup system data (the ones in green), you are backing up only system settings, like SMS/MMS, Accounts, Calendar, Timezone, Phone logs, Wifi APN, etc.
When you backup system apps (the ones in red), you are backing up ONLY the settings and data for that app, not the app itself. THIS is what Intratech it asking you to NOT backup.
Why? Because the next ROM you install, will most likely have a different system app version than the one you previously had.
Usually:
Different apps == Different settings === problems
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do backup system data however I'm careful when restoring stuff. I check app version number and if they are different then I don't restore any app data for that.
The market doesn't automatically restore your user apps, that's why I restore those.
The market does auto download those apps that you have downloaded before but are not on your phone.
hello,
I know it's off topic, but can i just ask you a simple question?
when restoring with TB, does screen has to be on all the time?
because for me, when screen goes off, whole process stops and when I turn it back on, it resumes..
Is there an option available in TB where you can set to have screen off while restoring?
cheers
[email protected] said:
hello,
I know it's off topic, but can i just ask you a simple question?
when restoring with TB, does screen has to be on all the time?
because for me, when screen goes off, whole process stops and when I turn it back on, it resumes..
Is there an option available in TB where you can set to have screen off while restoring?
cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure - in Settings or Options you can specify exactly this issue "WakeLocks Mode".
Kind regards,
ww
lamacow123 said:
The market does auto download those apps that you have downloaded before but are not on your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never observed that
webwude said:
Sure - in Settings or Options you can specify exactly this issue "WakeLocks Mode".
Kind regards,
ww
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a bug with SGS and WakeLocks commands that TB never sorted and never supported or even gave feedback.
ScreenOn: will hang your screen On unless you reset phone
Keep CPU: screen bug is solved, but scheduled backups won't start in standby. They'll start later when you turn screen on. When screen is off, the will keep running (preferred setting for me)
Disbled: you'll have Keep CPU bug added with the pause of jobs when screen auto Off, as you expierience
To be on topic again, restoring green data is safe. Especially SMS, MMS, calendar and contacts data
For myself i duplicate apps folder on phone in case backup fails .
Root Explorer and copy APP file to sd card and or PC .
Backup fails then it just requires each app installing from the sd card .
jje
I don't think something so painfully obvious needed a thread.
lamacow123 said:
The market does auto download those apps that you have downloaded before but are not on your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not on SGS roms
when you install CM7, it does
Furry Atom said:
I don't think something so painfully obvious needed a thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree because many guys get confused as to what system apps mean. I had this problem after I restored system apps a long time ago. Since then I don't backup my system apps at all but chose individual system apps like Maps, Gmail etc. to back up.
What are you guys using to back up your phones when switching Roms? I want to back up contacts, wifi settings, APPs etc.
If I'm switching ROMs I set them up from scratch again, after doing a Nandroid of the current one
Titanium Backup works really well. It's on the market. Probably on here somewhere also.
Will Titanium restore your screens? Its a bit tiring getting them alls setup and then starting from scratch on my droid incredible I never really set up the phone because I switched Roms so often.
veli69 said:
What are you guys using to back up your phones when switching Roms? I want to back up contacts, wifi settings, APPs etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use google for contacts and wifi settings, apps Titanium Backup
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
veli69 said:
Will Titanium restore your screens? Its a bit tiring getting them alls setup and then starting from scratch on my droid incredible I never really set up the phone because I switched Roms so often.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, so for backing up your system you're going to want to use CWM and make a NANDROID backup. After you're done with that you will probably want to back up your apps. To back up app as well as data (such as angry birds scores) you will want to use Titanium Backup. Just remember not to restore system data, just apps/app data after flashing your ROM/Kernel.
For contacts (assuming you are on verizon) you had the option to chose where you store your contacts. Those options were either in your Gmail account or in "Backup manger" if you cant figure out where they are you can always make a file with all your contacts and place it on your SD card by going to the People App>menu>import/export>Export to storage.
As far as wifi settings go i am not aware of a way to do so.
And if you wanted to keep the launcher as it is (like where your apps are, folder, widgets, etc.) you will have to be on a custom launcher such as ADW or GoLauncher. This happens because the launcher is an app and when the app data is restored (from titanium backup) the placement of things are exactly how they were when you made the backup!
1) Nandroid. Always nanroid just to be safe - if something breaks, you need to have a working build to fall back on .
2) Contacts - I don't worry about it - they should all be synced with your Google account anyhoo.
3) Wifi settings - should also be synced with your Google account, and will be automatically restored when you set up the new ROM (assuming you tick the "restore data to my device" option in the google account setup screen).
4) Apps - TitaniumBackup for apps and data - not for system data though.
5) Launcher - some launchers will have an option built-in for backing up and restoring your screen layouts, folders, etc. Widgets will rarely be able to be restored no matter what method you use. You can also use Titanium to explicitly back up and restore your launcher's data - if you're still on the stock launcher, filter for System apps and look for an entry that starts out "[DESKTOP] Launcher ..." (it'll be in green) and backup/restore the data for that.
When you boot after first wipe it asks you for Google account details, then it will pull down your contacts, wifi settings etc. which we want.
But it also starts re-downloading all your Market apps, which we don't want because we've got them in Titanium Backup and we want to restore them with data (save games) and be linked to the Market for updates.
What's the correct way to handle this?
I've created issues before where some apps don't list in 'My apps' in the Market, and don't auto-update unless I search for them at which point it says 'Installed'.
I usually enable airplane mode immediately after the Google account setup, reboot, restore from titanium, reboot, and then turn the radios back on.
ClockworkMod Rom Manager. Its the best tool there is. yu can flash roms by pressing a simple button.
make sure you understand the difference between clockworkmod and titanium backup before you start modding your device. CWM will restore your phone exactly to how it was when you made the backup, everything from your screens, apps, setting, contacts, call and text logs. When you restore with CWM it will erase everything that was done after the backup point. Another thing to keep in mind is that you cant choose to restore specific things in CWM like you can with TB, you have to restore it all in one shot.
TB will restore apps, system apps and data associated with those apps. TB can also be used to backup settings, wifi access points and bluetooth pairings.
So if you get a bootloop or softbrick you have to use CWM. You need to do a factory reset/wipe before you flash a new rom, this is when you would use TB. Use TB to restore the apps, data and settings.
SMSbackup and calllogbackup in the market is also good for backing up or texts and call logs if you want to keep them. google will backup your contacts if you allow google to do this but you can always just save your contacts on your sim card
never ever restore system apps and data.
Especially if it was meant to be a full wipe.
Even then, clean start is always best so wipe and stop reporting bugs if you didn't do a wipe.
s2d4 said:
never ever restore system apps and data.
Especially if it was meant to be a full wipe.
Even then, clean start is always best so wipe and stop reporting bugs if you didn't do a wipe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On that note, some data for system apps can be safely restored - just never do it as a batch process. If I'm going to try restoring any system data, I do another full nandroid first (just in case) and then restore data one at a time.
I'm shocked no one has mentioned this app yet. Appextractor let's you restore things from your nandroid, Obviously some things shouldn't be restored, but many things can be safely restored.
EKnofsky said:
I'm shocked no one has mentioned this app yet. Appextractor let's you restore things from your nandroid, Obviously some things shouldn't be restored, but many things can be safely restored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only problem I had with app extractor is the amount of SD storage space it uses - and doesn't automatically clean up. My nandroids are already ~2.7GB - I don't really want the whole thing also stored uncompressed. I quickly run out of storage space that way.
Oh, and it's painfully slow.
AppExtractor is useful if there's an important app you forgot to back up in Titanium, but doesn't really make sense to me as your primary restore method.
Isn't the Titanium data wiped when a new ROM is flashed? I assume that before flashing anything, copy the /sdcard directory to another computer?
And after flashing a new ROM, I assume that Ti has to be downloaded first in order to restore the other apps
thereddog said:
Isn't the Titanium data wiped when a new ROM is flashed? I assume that before flashing anything, copy the /sdcard directory to another computer?
And after flashing a new ROM, I assume that Ti has to be downloaded first in order to restore the other apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you're using the factory recovery, the Titanium data will remain intact. You will have to reinstall Titanium from the market - or use the tool built-in to Titanium to create a flashable *.zip. Just flash that *.zip before you boot your ROM the first time and you'll have Titanium pre-loaded.
use adb! works without root
adb backup [-f ] [-apk|-noapk] [-shared|-noshared] [-all] [-system|-nosystem] []
- write an archive of the device's data to .
If no -f option is supplied then the data is written
to "backup.ab" in the current directory.
(-apk|-noapk enable/disable backup of the .apks themselves
in the archive; the default is noapk.)
(-shared|-noshared enable/disable backup of the device's
shared storage / SD card contents; the default is noshared.)
(-all means to back up all installed applications)
(-system|-nosystem toggles whether -all automatically includes
system applications; the default is to include system apps)
( is the list of applications to be backed up. If
the -all or -shared flags are passed, then the package
list is optional. Applications explicitly given on the
command line will be included even if -nosystem would
ordinarily cause them to be omitted.)
adb restore - restore device contents from the backup archive
example: adb backup -all -system -shared -apk
nitramz said:
use adb! works without root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this. I had seen adb backup alluded to elsewhere but not a concise post detailing the usage. I'd rather not have to use my computer to handle backups, but it sounds like a pretty cool option.
Try MyBackup PRO. It does exactly what you need. I have used it before and it is good.