Develop Bugs

What is a good method to restore data and apps after flashimg new ROM?

I came over from windows mobile and am some what of an android noob. After you flash a ROM is there anyway to restore apps so they dont lose data, I dont want to start over on amgry birds.
Engage slippyfist!

I use MyBackupPro, there's also Titanium Backup. Both are paid applications in the market.

spf2722 said:
I came over from windows mobile and am some what of an android noob. After you flash a ROM is there anyway to restore apps so they dont lose data, I dont want to start over on amgry birds.
Engage slippyfist!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using Clockwork Recovery (check development forums), and depending on the flashing instructions, I usually:
save the rom to Sdcard/
boot into clockwork
backup and restore > backup (makes a full backup)
Wipe Data, (clear cache if they tell you to),
apply zip (rom) from SD
then back to Backup and Restore > advanced > select your backup > restore Data only.
Then reboot, and you should be good to go with your saved Angry Birds game

Mybackup pro worked like a charm.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Mybackup works well but you on't want to backup and restore data if you frequently switch roms/kernels. So if it's just the apk you are trying to save then astro more than gets the job done.
Epic Proportions

johnyardavid said:
Mybackup works well but you on't want to backup and restore data if you frequently switch roms/kernels. So if it's just the apk you are trying to save then astro more than gets the job done.
Epic Proportions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think he has the .apk and wants to keep his progress in the game withoout starting over after switching ROMs

daddymikey1975 said:
I think he has the .apk and wants to keep his progress in the game withoout starting over after switching ROMs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, that's what I get for not paying attention to the op.

Titanium Backup Pro will restore your backup with one click. It has saved countless hours from switching ROMS all the time. It is well worth it to get the paid app because you can let it start restoring and walk away. The free app requires you to click "Yes" to restore each app, one at a time.
I also use the back up and restore feature of LauncherPro so I don't have to keep redoing my home screen setups.
Once you have these two apps in play you don't have to be shy about trying as many different ROMs as possible.

dennistpm said:
Titanium Backup Pro will restore your backup with one click. It has saved countless hours from switching ROMS all the time. It is well worth it to get the paid app because you can let it start restoring and walk away. The free app requires you to click "Yes" to restore each app, one at a time.
I also use the back up and restore feature of LauncherPro so I don't have to keep redoing my home screen setups.
Once you have these two apps in play you don't have to be shy about trying as many different ROMs as possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But, devs and contributors keep saying,
Don't restore system stuff or apps + data using Titanium, it will cause issues
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is APK Batch Installer, [ http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1531880 ], a better option ?
Or, in the end all data restoring is not a good idea if switching between android versions?

All data restorations can cause problems, not just TB.
http://www.killthecan.org

[Q] Backing up game files..

I'm shopping around for a new rom and my phone could really use a full wipe. I'm using DT a2sd, RA recovery, I have a ton of games and I don't want to lose progress in those games. Is there a way to backup my game data, not the apk itself, but whatever file that tells my phone "hey he's on level X on this game so lets not make him restart the whole damn game"? Nand+ext backup will do it, but obviously it keeps all other information that I don't want. So is there a way to do something like nand+ext backup, full wipe, flash new rom, do another nand+ext backup, then take just the game info from the 1st backup and throw it on the 2nd backup, then restore? Should be a way to do this. Hope you understand what I'm asking, broke it down the best I could. Thanx in advance for any help.

Back up your games/apps with Titanium Backup. When you do a batch restore, you are given the option to restore a) the app b) app + data or c) just data. Sounds like option c is the one you want. Hope this helps.
Also, if you don't already have it, I really recommend the premium version of Ti Backup.
Sent from my...

Best way to make a full 100% backup of phone ?

Hi guys .. I have had my Desire Z for a little while and I want to play around with ROMs now ... I am looking for a way to make a *full* backup of the phone .. That means the OS itself, all its settings (alarms, personalization stuff, stored passwords, installed apps, etc ..), all application and personal data (both on ROM and SD card), etc ...
That is, one backup that when restored, returns the complete phone including all its settings and data to the state the phone was in when the backup was created ..
Now there are two Market tools I've found that claim to do something similar: My Backup Pro and Titanium Backup, and I also hear that ClockWorkMod can create backups ...
But I don't know if these tools backup *everything* like I want, so any advice given here would be really appreciated ..

Ok, the only way to make a 100% backup is when you are rooted.
When you are rooted you can use titanium backup to back up all your apps, data & settings. Then when you install a new ROM you can easily restore everything.
The back up you do in CWM is called a nandroid and this backs up your entire ROM including apps, data & settings. as soon as you are rooted you will want to do this so you have a back up of your stock ROM incase anything goes wrong and you need to get your stock ROM easily.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

cjward23 said:
Ok, the only way to make a 100% backup is when you are rooted.
When you are rooted you can use titanium backup to back up all your apps, data & settings. Then when you install a new ROM you can easily restore everything.
The back up you do in CWM is called a nandroid and this backs up your entire ROM including apps, data & settings. as soon as you are rooted you will want to do this so you have a back up of your stock ROM incase anything goes wrong and you need to get your stock ROM easily.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks for that advice ...
So assuming my phone is rooted (it isn't now but I will do it once this issue is resolved), which method is better for me which backs up *everything* (stock OS, personal data, app data, media, settings, SD card stuff, etc ..) ? CWM or Titanium Backup ?
I have heard that CWM doesn't backup everything .. that it leaves some stuff out (not exactly sure what this is though) .. :/

ahmadka said:
Ok thanks for that advice ...
So assuming my phone is rooted (it isn't now but I will do it once this issue is resolved), which method is better for me which backs up *everything* (stock OS, personal data, app data, media, settings, SD card stuff, etc ..) ? CWM or Titanium Backup ?
I have heard that CWM doesn't backup everything .. that it leaves some stuff out (not exactly sure what this is though) .. :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
never ever ever use TiBU for backing up anything other than downloaded apps. (imo, some people may disagree, but I have never had success with TiBU outside of saving a few downloaded apps... and even then it seems to be hit or miss for me)
CWM is the best option for creating a full backup. when you restore a nandroid backup, it's like going back in time... everything is exactly as it was when that backup was created.

pmcqueen said:
never ever ever use TiBU for backing up anything other than downloaded apps. (imo, some people may disagree, but I have never had success with TiBU outside of saving a few downloaded apps... and even then it seems to be hit or miss for me)
CWM is the best option for creating a full backup. when you restore a nandroid backup, it's like going back in time... everything is exactly as it was when that backup was created.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm ... Are you absolutely sure that CWM backs up everything ? That is, the stock ROM, all my android's settings, sms, contacts, emails, list of apps installed, app data, my personal data (photos, videos, music, documents, etc ..) ? And does it also backup data from both the built-in memory and stuff on the SD card ?
Reason why I ask this is because this afternoon I came across a thread (can't seem to find it now) where somebody said CWM leaves some stuff out in backing up and then somebody else suggested using Titanium Backup ...
So I want to proceed with CWM only if you're dead sure that it backs up *everyyyyyythinggggg* ...
Btw, I don't mean to question to knowledge, I just want to be sure, thats all

cjward23 said:
Ok, the only way to make a 100% backup is when you are rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Root + Titanium Backup.

How can we back up the stock rom?? Cwm will not be present on the stock rom. So how?
Sent from my GT-I5800 using XDA App

mmb_z said:
+1
Root + Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Conflicting statements people .. :/
CWM or titanium backup ?
Btw, does titanium backup also backup the stock OS/ROM ?

vikraam said:
How can we back up the stock rom?? Cwm will not be present on the stock rom. So how?
Sent from my GT-I5800 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you root you will still be using your stock ROM, you then back up your stock rooted ROM. There is no way to back up an unrooted ROM.
Unrooted stock ROM's are available in the form of an official RUU most of which you will find if you read the stickies in the development section of the forums.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

ahmadka said:
Conflicting statements people .. :/
CWM or titanium backup ?
Btw, does titanium backup also backup the stock OS/ROM ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium will not back up the os, you can use to back up all of the system apps and data. But as a previous poster said this is not good a good idea as restoring them tends to be problematic.
And don't worry about your sdcard flashing roms will not affect any data on your sdcard.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

mmb_z said:
+1
Root + Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-____________-
NOoooOoOooOoo.
ahmadka said:
post 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only thing you could theoretically lose are photos, videos, etc that are stored on the sdcard... but this would only happen if you deleted/formatted the sd card. otherwise, they just move with you from rom to rom.
I don't know what people think titanium backup is for, but seriously... it's not as magnificent as it is commonly made out to be. its only real use is restoring stuff from /data (ie apps and settings). even then, it is known to be problematic. I have used it in the past but I finally got sick of it when I realized that half of the time I used it to backup/restore it ended up doing more harm than good.
CWM is the best option for making a full backup of EVERYTHING on your phone (remember, your sd card is not part of your phone... it doesn't get backed up/restored via CWM). restoring a CWM backup will revert your phone to the exact state it was in at the time of the backup.

I used titanium backup and it worked for everything. Even backed the stuff up to my PC.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

hardy1906 said:
I used titanium backup and it worked for everything. Even backed the stuff up to my PC.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's awesome, but you will encounter problems with Ti backup if you try to restore anything from /system after installing a new rom. if you've come from one aosp rom to another, you might get lucky and not have any trouble (especially if they are a similar flavor of aosp), but if you try to restore anything from a sense rom's /system to an aosp rom's /system, or vice versa, you're in for a lot of force closing and general bass-ackwardness.
op: the BEST way is a nandroid backup. if you try and restore titanium backup apps and settings over whichever rom you've installed, you can almost guarantee something will be broken... just do it the right way and do a nandroid backup via CWM and save yourself the trouble.

Guys I forgot to mention, my phone is NOT currently rooted (Yes I realize I should have mentioned this in the first post) .. so what can I use now to backup everything like I want ?

ahmadka said:
Guys I forgot to mention, my phone is NOT currently rooted (Yes I realize I should have mentioned this in the first post) .. so what can I use now to backup everything like I want ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not much really, there are apps available to back up sms and contacts will be synced to Google.

todo backup by easeus...free too. works great
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

1) Root.
2) Install CWM Recovery.
3) Nandroid.
There's your backup.

How do you guys do backups when you try out different roms? Am I bound to lose scores and settings in games and apps every time i change rom?
(sorry for what may be a stupid question, but i understood the answers given earlier that making a Nandroid recovery will also recover the rom at the time of the backup not just apps and settings)

glx-rider said:
How do you guys do backups when you try out different roms? Am I bound to lose scores and settings in games and apps every time i change rom?
(sorry for what may be a stupid question, but i understood the answers given earlier that making a Nandroid recovery will also recover the rom at the time of the backup not just apps and settings)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A nandroid back does a complete back of system, apps, data, and settings. When you restore a nandroid your phone will be restored to the exact point it was at before you preformed the nandroid.
To back up apps and data, you will need to use an app like titanium backup. you then can restore apps and data, including game save and scores after you flash a new rom.
But it is not advised to back up and restore system data and settings with titanium back up

before i rooted i took backups whit MyBackup.
after you get rooted, take Clean CWM backup of your phone.
when you are up and running on a custom rom, take CWM backup, and back up downloaded apps whit Titanium backup.
If you are going from sense rom to sense rom, you dont necessaryli need to wipe your data and apps, so you don't have to restore anything. If you are going for completely different rom, you need wipe everything, after you are running in new rom, you cant get just the apps from cwm backup, it would restore your old rom too, so now restore your apps and stuff from TI backups. and if you don't like the new rom, use CWM backup to go back to your last rom.
so you need both backups cwm and Ti..
and as said before app backups might cause some problems when going from rom to rom
I have been jumping between different MIUI roms, they are basically the same so i haven't wiped anything(except dalvik cache) when flashing new rom, so everything will stay the way they are, and no ned to restore anything, if that's the case.
What comes to the stuff on SDcard, it will be just fine, if you want to back up your pics/music/vids, etc from your sdcard, just copy them to your computer.

[Q] Some questions about Titanium Backup

Hey folks
I am new to all this with rooting, flashing and so on, and i think it's exciting and awesome, so thanks to all the develepors, and the other guys who keeps this scene running!
I got a few questions about TI backup, that i need answered.. I have searched around the forum for a while, and can't find any exact answers to my questions..
With my phone rooted.. What would you guys go after, the free or the full version of TI backup, and why?
Whats the differences between the free and full?
I have also searched a bit round on the official users guide, and Wiki on TI backups homepage, but it's confusing i think..
And how is it with backup, flashing other roms and so on?
I now have the HoneySense rom flashed, and TI backup..
Can i take a backup of my sms messages, my app's, and their settings, and then flash another rom, and get the **** moved to the new rom?
And how does that work in practice?
- do i have to install TI backup on the new rom after flashing, or is there anyway that it could be installed with the rom, or how works that?
Finally, i got a question about ClockworkMod, since i can't find much information about the app on their homepage..
I got CWM installed,but what is is exactly? Is it somekind of bootloader, or?
And will CWM dissapear from my phone when flashing?
When i flashed to HoneySense, i did it with CWM, but that was also some kind of bootloader?
I really appreciate your time, and your willing to help
Thank you

giusdk said:
I really appreciate your time, and your willing to help
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium Backup Pro has more features included, but i didnt need them already... if you use it to backup and restore your system and apps and you decide to flash a different ROM, you should only restore Apps, not Data... thats a choice you can make in Restore menue... i'm talking about your User-Apps, i never restored System-Apps or Data after a clean install of an ROM...
Greets Steffen

Thanks for the answer already
Do you know more about it?
Could any action taken in TI backup cause the phone to crash and brick?
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

The Pro version because you can batch restore, otherwise you have to restore apps individually.
You can restore the apps data as well, but not recommended across totally different roms, definitely do not restore system apps and data, anything in red. This might include SMS data (red), up to you to try. Other alternatives would be use other app such as GoSMS Pro (free) Edit: has backup option, or My Backup Root.
There might be a chance of force closes etc, if you've not followed the above, but never heard of anyone actually bricking their device. Worst case is having to restore a full backup made in ClockworkMod Recovery.
I use both CWM and TB Pro prior to flashing any new ROM. Also keep a copy on the PC just in case the sdcard has a bad day.
Don't forget to wipe dalvik cache in CWM after TB restore and reboot. It may take a few minutes to boot up, but don't worry.
If your Market doesn't show all your apps, try deleting market cache, reboot clearing dalvik, and use TB Pro to "restore market links" found somewhere in the menu. If still doesn't show all, TB recommends try downloading a new app then check again.
Edit: CWM is just a custom recovery. Has many more options than stock, allowing a full system backup and restore, also known as a nan / nandroid backup, similar to a ghost / image of your system. Can be used and updated through an app called ROM Manager, which is really just an interface / GUI for CWM (among other things).
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

I only got a sec or I'd answer more ????s.
I use the paid version simply cuz after using the free for so long and it saving me so much time and grief, i felt it only right to buy the full version. Plus the dev (joel) is awesome at direct support. Plus, on full version, you can make multiple backups of an app (for newer versions, etc) .
I would use a diff app for backup texts. Sms backup/restore is good, and free. And that way, you wont have to restore system app and data with Ti (which can cause issues)
Also, I Dont use CWM, I use amonRA, but yes, you will still have it after flashing a new rom, kernel, or theme. It is on a partition that goes untouched across flashes.
Ti, is an excellent tool.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

Additionally:
Most custom roms have TB Free, but you will need to restore your Pro key first and reboot, that is if you want to batch restore the rest of your apps and or data etc. Otherwise it's one by one.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

That was fast.. and usefull!
Thank you guys, that made it a lot more easy..
How do i clear the dalvik cache?
The CWM is a recovery tool.. So that if something goes wrong in a flash, i can recover by using CWM?
And to do that, i will need to take a Rom Backup, in CMW..
When i press the Backup Rom button i CWM, my phone restarts and boots into CWM interface, and backs up everything.. Where is that file stored, so i can move to my pc, and have the backup an extra place?
About the market problem.. I do almost only have paid apps, so when i login to market with my google account, they automaticly shows up under my bought app's..
Thank you so much for the help so far

giusdk said:
That was fast.. and usefull!
Thank you guys, that made it a lot more easy..
How do i clear the dalvik cache?
The CWM is a recovery tool.. So that if something goes wrong in a flash, i can recover by using CWM?
And to do that, i will need to take a Rom Backup, in CMW..
When i press the Backup Rom button i CWM, my phone restarts and boots into CWM interface, and backs up everything.. Where is that file stored, so i can move to my pc, and have the backup an extra place?
About the market problem.. I do almost only have paid apps, so when i login to market with my google account, they automaticly shows up under my bought app's..
Thank you so much for the help so far
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can wipe dalvik cache from a menu within CWM Recovery, or several apps, including TB . TB / Menu / More / .....
Just backup using menu inside CWM Recovery or from within ROM Manager (uses CWM Recovery) before flashing any ROM. So if you don't like the new Rom or have issues, you can boot into recovery and restore.
Most custom ROMs have an advanced power menu allowing you to reboot directly into CWM Recovery, or you can from ROM Manager or from the Bootloader menu.
All CWM Recovery backups are saved to the sdcard / clockworkmod / backup
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

Titanium backs up your apps and app data and some system data. While recovery backs up/restores your current ROM image, meaning back up will restore everything up to the second you backed up even the way you place your apps
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA App

Thank you so much. That was answers to all my questions.. For now
At some later point when i am much more into all this, i am considering making a thread, with info to all the new people in the forum, like me, who don't know what the Dalvik is, and a little about what the kernel is and why it is there.. All the small but usefull stuff, that aren't on the XDA Wiki page about DHD..
A big dictionary
That could be usefull i think..
Thanks a lot for you time

U can also try MyBackup Pro which is an excellent alternative to Titanium.

giusdk said:
Thank you so much. That was answers to all my questions.. For now
At some later point when i am much more into all this, i am considering making a thread, with info to all the new people in the forum, like me, who don't know what the Dalvik is, and a little about what the kernel is and why it is there.. All the small but usefull stuff, that aren't on the XDA Wiki page about DHD..
A big dictionary
That could be usefull i think..
Thanks a lot for you time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, now i got better time, and i do understand a lot more of it.
Are anybody in for helping me making such a dictionary?
I will do mostly everything, just need some who knows more than me, to read it and tell me if somethings wrong or missing
Thank you

Can I Recover An App File From A Nandroid Containing Titanium Backup ZIP???

I flashed the Eclipse 2.1 ToroPlus ROM last night coming from a stock AOSP 4.2....did the usual Titanium Backup before the flash.
Did the factory reset 3 times as well as format system 3 times like I do EVERY time I change ROMs (using latest TWRP)...
However once I booted this ROM everything (folders) was gone...like when you revert to factory with ODIN...just the basic files were in my root...
I never had this happen before...
the problem with this is I was using "Safe Notes" to keep ALOT of Admin info/passwords for numerous websites I do the upkeep on, as well as some bank info, money owed to me by others, etc....
Now, I DO have a bunch of CWM nandroids from previous backups...is there any way to go into one of these nandroids and extract the files for "Safe Notes" from a Titanium Backup "backup zip" to slip into the directory for the app?
I've done it before with a SafeNotes backup I made but that's long gone now...
I have backups of all the WidgetLocker, UCCW, music, etc. but I NEED NEED NEED to get the Safe Notes info back...
Like I said I've never had this happen before except for when I intentionally wipe everything via ODIN when returning to factory condition...I wasn't expecting it...
Also, what could cause this problem??
Was it because I came from 4.2 back to 4.1.2??
When I booted up after installing the new ROM I went to re-install my apps through Titanium Backup but they weren't there...perhaps that had something to do with the gapps package?
I thought that might be the case so I installed the 4.2 gapps package and still nothing in TB....
perhaps install CWM and restore one of the latest nandroids to recover the Safe Notes file/info?
if I could extract it from a ZIP from inside one of the TB/nandroid backups that would be sweet...but if restoring a nandroid is the ONLY option I guess I'll have to do that...
I *REALLY* need the info on that Safe Notes file...hope someone can help...

This is a great question, I lost my notes somehow with TWRP trying to upgrade to BAKED blackbean 7 on my Galaxy S3. Have you found a solution yet?

Titanium backup can restore apps and data from backups. Hit menu (3 dots) go to extract from nandroid backup. Hopefully it will have it. Some apps store information in other places and when that is the case it's lost. Should do the trick though
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Ever find a solution? I lost my SafeNotes data as well and NEED to get it back...

VonEsch said:
Titanium backup can restore apps and data from backups. Hit menu (3 dots) go to extract from nandroid backup. Hopefully it will have it. Some apps store information in other places and when that is the case it's lost. Should do the trick though
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
StevePSK said:
Ever find a solution? I lost my SafeNotes data as well and NEED to get it back...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a nandroid backup and root you should be able to use TiBu or Nandroid Manager to restore your app data.

curti.nogg said:
If you have a nandroid backup and root you should be able to use TiBu or Nandroid Manager to restore your app data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both, but when I try to restore data for the app, SafeNotes then has what appears to be an empty data. I'm not sure if the database was stored somewhere else. I made a nandroid but lost my SafeNotes data after ODIN. I have tried to look around (mostly in the data folder) for a file I can use with SafeNotes' restore database option, but nothing seems to work :/.