Develop Bugs

Backup and restore options? (Stock Verizon, no root)

I've had this phone for about 3 weeks now, very happy so far, couple of questions regarding backup and restore options for this unit.
My previous phone (Motorola) used the google method, after a flash or reset, after you logged in it would re-install apps from the store and restore backgrounds, icons, and other settings, very handy. Does this one do that?
My wife accidentally (I know..) did a factory reset and handed it back to me like "what happened".. I logged her back in (google account and Samsung account)but nothing tried to restore (no google, no Samsung). Did I miss something?
I don't plan to root and flash this one, but having some kind of backup would be super handy, what are my options?
Thanks!

You can use smart switch to backup apps and files to your pc

Current Preferred Backup/Restore Method when Wiping the Device?

It's been awhile since I've dabbled with messing with my phone much (on the 2XL, had a 6P before that and unlocked it but that was it). I am thinking it might be time to wipe the device and start fresh, but wondering what the "best" method for backing up and then restoring is for the wipe. I was never great with making the proper backup to restore from so usually ended up re-adding stuff manually and setting everything up again - would love to avoid that. Is the android/google drive backup and restore option sufficient? Is there a better method out there? I don't have a ton of customizations on this phone this time around but avoiding the hassle would be sweet. All photos are backed up to drive, and I can turn on to backups a few other folders as well. Otherwise its just passwords, wifi networks, bluetooth devices, home screen setup, app settings, etc, etc that I hope to maintain.
Also, this phone is NOT unlocked yet but I will probably do that when I wipe it.

I've never used the native backup and restore method, so I can't really comment on that.
- I use Titanium Backup for all my apps
- I create a Nova backup for my launcher (Nova Launcher)
- I transfer my internal storage to my computer (music, photos, videos and so on)
- once I wipe, I restore all that and the only thing I need to setup from scratch is basically everything in system settings, which I've gotten pretty quick at doing now that I've done it several times.
Unfortunately, Titanium Backup requires root, something I guess you can't achieve without unlocking your bootloader first (which requires a wipe).
I guess the best thing would be to try the native backup and restore option or wait for someone else to provide you with better non-root alternatives.

Norcalz71 said:
It's been awhile since I've dabbled with messing with my phone much (on the 2XL, had a 6P before that and unlocked it but that was it). I am thinking it might be time to wipe the device and start fresh, but wondering what the "best" method for backing up and then restoring is for the wipe. I was never great with making the proper backup to restore from so usually ended up re-adding stuff manually and setting everything up again - would love to avoid that. Is the android/google drive backup and restore option sufficient? Is there a better method out there? I don't have a ton of customizations on this phone this time around but avoiding the hassle would be sweet. All photos are backed up to drive, and I can turn on to backups a few other folders as well. Otherwise its just passwords, wifi networks, bluetooth devices, home screen setup, app settings, etc, etc that I hope to maintain. Also, this phone is NOT unlocked yet but I will probably do that when I wipe it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Backup has improved vastly over the past year or two, so make sure you have it switched on and actively working (including Photos). It's great. I use TiBu also but I don't use it for any System/GApps- usually only "non-market" and root apps so if you don't have those, you don't necessarily need it, but if you do store it OFFLINE. If you use a 3rd party launcher (eg. Nova), backup your "shortcuts" and settings beforehand OFFLINE. Here's one suggestion:
Disclaimer: Before you start, make sure you have the very latest fastboot/adb binaries installed (August 2018). A standalone version is available you just dump into one folder and verify it is working.
Unlock your bootloader (twice) using sticky guides (Nathan). It's important to do the unlock_critical at the same time. You will be starting from a blank slate. Flash the latest full factory image from Google using the provided script (See the Guide). Once you log back into your account, let Google Backup do it's thing fully and completely. Once finished, run TiBu (OPTIONAL) and restore "missing apps" ONLY which are any apps remaining not already installed by Google Backup. Restore your launcher backup, and you are done. I did this last weekend and from a blank slate it took me about one hour to get back everything the way I had it (not a gamer). If you have no non-market / root apps you can skip TiBu be back up and running even quicker. Google Backups is your friend. In closing, don't under-estimate the value of using a 3rd party launcher and it's built-in backup file. Which ever launcher you choose will really pay dividends when you finish restoring from Google Backup. Your desktop icons, widgets, and all pages will be restored just like you had them before. Best of luck.

Appreciate the response, thanks. Is the desktop/home screen config only able to be backed up and restored with the 3rd party launcher? Haven't touched a different non-stock launcher since I think Nova on my Samsung S4, but sounds like there could still be a benefit there?
v12xke said:
Google Backup has improved vastly over the past year or two, so make sure you have it switched on and actively working (including Photos). It's great. I use TiBu also but I don't use it for any System/GApps- usually only "non-market" and root apps so if you don't have those, you don't necessarily need it, but if you do store it OFFLINE. If you use a 3rd party launcher (eg. Nova), backup your "shortcuts" and settings beforehand OFFLINE. Here's one suggestion:
Disclaimer: Before you start, make sure you have the very latest fastboot/adb binaries installed (August 2018). A standalone version is available you just dump into one folder and verify it is working.
Unlock your bootloader (twice) using sticky guides (Nathan). It's important to do the unlock_critical at the same time. You will be starting from a blank slate. Flash the latest full factory image from Google using the provided script (See the Guide). Once you log back into your account, let Google Backup do it's thing fully and completely. Once finished, run TiBu (OPTIONAL) and restore "missing apps" ONLY which are any apps remaining not already installed by Google Backup. Restore your launcher backup, and you are done. I did this last weekend and from a blank slate it took me about one hour to get back everything the way I had it (not a gamer). If you have no non-market / root apps you can skip TiBu be back up and running even quicker. Google Backups is your friend. In closing, don't under-estimate the value of using a 3rd party launcher and it's built-in backup file. Which ever launcher you choose will really pay dividends when you finish restoring from Google Backup. Your desktop icons, widgets, and all pages will be restored just like you had them before. Best of luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Norcalz71 said:
Appreciate the response, thanks. Is the desktop/home screen config only able to be backed up and restored with the 3rd party launcher? Haven't touched a different non-stock launcher since I think Nova on my Samsung S4, but sounds like there could still be a benefit there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are asking how complete the stock Pixel launcher backup is (or if it even offers a backup), I cannot answer. I have always used Nova on all my devices and can only speak to the backup/restore capabilities of it. I don't want to get up on a soap box here, but Nova is worth every penny. Once you restore all your apps, run the launcher backup/restore and you are DONE. Everything is back. Once, I lost my tablet launcher backup and used my Nova phone backup and it restored perfectly to my tablet. I would venture to say that if the launcher is not backed up, THAT is where all the time is in recovering an existing setup. Creating pages of shortcuts and widgets is a pain and that is even if you kept screenshots of them. I also know Nova will "import" your Google launcher settings, so you can easily switch over to Nova before your wipe and then backup your settings. Give it a whirl.

I always used Titanium Backup and still do as a backup but Swift Backup has become my main app for flashing and restoring between ROMs etc. Nicer interface and I don't have to pick and choose between stuff I want to restore as much compared to batch restore missing apps on Titanium.

Titanium Pro and TWRP nandroid...

Complete Backup without Root?

Is there anyway to get a complete backup without root. By complete I mean including the app configurations. I used to do this on my Nexus 6 with Titanium Backup. But I haven't rooted the Pixel 3 (or unlocked the bootloader) yet so I can't run Titanium.
My sense is that the google backup/restore just reloads the latest version of the apps without configuration (or at least seems to do that on many apps).
This is only a Pixel 3 question in the sense that my hope is that there is something new by now.

The only way besides using the cloud backup would to have a second phone running pie. Wipe it and set it up as new then use the transfer tool to transfer everything over. Then do the same to your pixel when you need the backup.
It's alot of work and most people don't have a spare phone, but it is an option
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

kmandel said:
Is there anyway to get a complete backup without root. By complete I mean including the app configurations. I used to do this on my Nexus 6 with Titanium Backup. But I haven't rooted the Pixel 3 (or unlocked the bootloader) yet so I can't run Titanium.
My sense is that the google backup/restore just reloads the latest version of the apps without configuration (or at least seems to do that on many apps).
This is only a Pixel 3 question in the sense that my hope is that there is something new by now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could just unlock the phone and run a TWRP backup. Does not require root.
Of course, because you didn't unlock the phone when you received it, doing so now will wipe the device.

superchilpil said:
The only way besides using the cloud backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By the cloud backup, do you mean the built in backup to google drive? Does that really save all the app configuration? It certainly didn't when I did my Nexus 6 to Pixel 3 migration. Some of the apps came up as if they were first time installs.

kmandel said:
By the cloud backup, do you mean the built in backup to google drive? Does that really save all the app configuration? It certainly didn't when I did my Nexus 6 to Pixel 3 migration. Some of the apps came up as if they were first time installs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried and experimented with endless apps that promise to do this without success. Helium Backup works with very limited success in some cases and only for some apps. The problem is that it's not supported anymore and never really worked well. But this is one of the shortcomings of Android. I don't know why in 2018 (almost 2019) they still haven't figured out a way to backup all settings, app content and everything else without having to root the dam phone. To me, this is one of the main reasons why I rooted literally out of the box. I installed Titanium and had everything up and running in less than an hour. IMHO, it's worth wiping the phone, going through the headache once in your life and then ensuring you have the backup forever in a safe place. My previous phone was a rooted Note 4. I just transfered the Nite 4's Titanium backup to a USB-c drive, attached this drive to the new Pixel 3 Xl and recovered every single app and it's configuration in a matter of minutes. I have over 250 apps on my phone and some very specific configurations I like to use. The alternative would have been spending a day or two manually setting up each app and repeating it all over again each time I buy a new phone. I got tired of that in the past. Root is one of the main reasons why people get Pixels. Sadly, I don't know of any other way to effectively do it.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

kmandel said:
Is there anyway to get a complete backup without root. By complete I mean including the app configurations. I used to do this on my Nexus 6 with Titanium Backup. But I haven't rooted the Pixel 3 (or unlocked the bootloader) yet so I can't run Titanium. My sense is that the google backup/restore just reloads the latest version of the apps without configuration (or at least seems to do that on many apps).
This is only a Pixel 3 question in the sense that my hope is that there is something new by now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No there is not. You may try one of the many non-root backup programs like Swift Backup that are better at restoring app settings. That is why it is always better to unlock as soon as you get the phone. Any time at all spent setting the phone up is wasted until after it is properly unlocked. Google backup has come a very long way and it will quickly restore all your (Play) user apps but has many caveats as you have found. If the app data is small, it usually is restored, but if you have game data, MMS, music, etc. It obviously will not. The combination Google cloud backup + Titanium Backup (to restore missing apps and data) is the best way I have found when starting with a completely blank slate. In advance of a complete wipe, I transfer a copy of my latest TiBu folder to the PC, along with Nova Launcher backup. After initially setting the phone up (not using data transfer), I allow Google backup to restore until fully complete 100%. When it is done, I transfer the TiBu folder back on to the PC and run it to restore only missing apps and data. Lastly I use the Nova backup file to restore all launcher settings, shortcuts and widgets. This doesn't take very long and gets me to about 95%.

kmandel said:
Is there anyway to get a complete backup without root. By complete I mean including the app configurations. I used to do this on my Nexus 6 with Titanium Backup. But I haven't rooted the Pixel 3 (or unlocked the bootloader) yet so I can't run Titanium.
My sense is that the google backup/restore just reloads the latest version of the apps without configuration (or at least seems to do that on many apps).
This is only a Pixel 3 question in the sense that my hope is that there is something new by now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try running the backup command in adb. https://9to5google.com/2017/11/04/how-to-backup-restore-android-device-data-android-basics/

Eudeferrer said:
I have tried and experimented with endless apps that promise to do this without success. Helium Backup works with very limited success in some cases and only for some apps. The problem is that it's not supported anymore and never really worked well. But this is one of the shortcomings of Android. I don't know why in 2018 (almost 2019) they still haven't figured out a way to backup all settings, app content and everything else without having to root the dam phone. To me, this is one of the main reasons why I rooted literally out of the box. I installed Titanium and had everything up and running in less than an hour. IMHO, it's worth wiping the phone, going through the headache once in your life and then ensuring you have the backup forever in a safe place. My previous phone was a rooted Note 4. I just transfered the Nite 4's Titanium backup to a USB-c drive, attached this drive to the new Pixel 3 Xl and recovered every single app and it's configuration in a matter of minutes. I have over 250 apps on my phone and some very specific configurations I like to use. The alternative would have been spending a day or two manually setting up each app and repeating it all over again each time I buy a new phone. I got tired of that in the past. Root is one of the main reasons why people get Pixels. Sadly, I don't know of any other way to effectively do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And the problem is you won't get notifications for many of the apps if they are restored using Titanium Backup

From S9+ to 3XL

How do I restore data that I backup from my S9+. it's more my txt msg that I need then the rest. My Pixel got root

Does your s9+ have root? If so look up titanium backup, can backup and restore all data that's needed, might wanna look up a guide if you're a first time user.

I used sms backup and restore app by SyncTech Pty LTD and use it as your gmail account, It would back up every thing to the google drive and then restore it on your 3XL.

Use Samsung switch that'll transfer everything over. Done the same with my Pixel 3 XL

Use the Samsung software on the damn phone lol

Question Data restore after wipe

For some reason I'm unable to find restore backup, where do I look for this? You would think it would be beside backup but no, and can we not back up all our apps?

There is no separate restore. It will (should) offer to restore during the initial setup after a wipe. Supposedly, it will also restore when you sign into your Google account. More info here.
And, Google incorrectly calls it a backup - it isn't. It stores info on what apps were installed, and re-installs them from the Play Store. If you sideloaded any, you have to do it again. You also have to re-login to most apps. Finally, it will only reflect the state at the last "backup." If you want to go back to what you had a month ago instead, you can't. If you had older versions of some apps, because the newer were broken or whatever, you're SOL. It will restore some settings, like wallpaper, the position of app icons, SMS messages and call logs. But overall, you will still have a lot of work to do to get your phone back to the same as it was.

If backup is "really" important, would you recommend and give a "thumbs up" to the Swift Backup application ? Recently, I woke up and discovered my old backup ( Titanium ) was now failing in its job and transitioned to Swift.

kevinireland11 said:
For some reason I'm unable to find restore backup, where do I look for this? You would think it would be beside backup but no, and can we not back up all our apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
During the initial setup of the phone, at the point the phone offers to have you physically connect your phone to your "old phone" via USB-C, there's an option to click telling it you don't have the old phone available. Once you choose that, it takes you down the path of restoring from the cloud backup instead.
Naturally, you have to have it connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data before that point, preferably Wi-Fi but should work either way.