Path: csiph.com!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!individual.net!not-for-mail From: Frank Slootweg Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,alt.os.linux,alt.comp.os.windows-10,comp.mobile.android Subject: Android full backup. (was: A good thing or a bad thing) Date: 15 Apr 2025 13:18:40 GMT Organization: NOYB Lines: 93 Message-ID: References: <7u5lblxjel.ln2@Telcontar.valinor> X-Trace: individual.net pMxDKg7nxhCIKuYxX21Q5Qga9R0hZs5U01x76Agt041VFEijtk X-Orig-Path: not-for-mail Cancel-Lock: sha1:U6p6ATAShO91pSuCf5bM+GQ4YEc= sha256:FFjup+CAc+vF6zNyzKiMegASU6ERwlMOMqKbeX0sUPM= User-Agent: tin/1.6.2-20030910 ("Pabbay") (UNIX) (CYGWIN_NT-10.0-WOW/2.8.0(0.309/5/3) (i686)) Hamster/2.0.2.2 Xref: csiph.com comp.sys.mac.system:145527 alt.os.linux:81383 alt.comp.os.windows-10:183690 comp.mobile.android:147811 Carlos E.R. wrote: > On 2025-04-14 17:48, Frank Slootweg wrote: > > Arno Welzel wrote: > >> Arno Welzel, 2025-04-14 13:18: > >> > >>> Frank Slootweg, 2025-04-13 15:57: > >> [...] > > > >> Yes, I agree, that Android has the flexibility to user other methods as > >> well, like backup apps, ADB and so on - but this needs enough experience > >> by the user like how to set up ADB on a computer or how to transfer the > >> backup to another device using USB and so on. > > > > The methods I mentioned do not require the user to setup ADB. The > > Smart Switch Android-to-Windows backup does use a USB-cable, but no ADB. > > The Smart Switch Android app can transfer to another phone by Wi-Fi or > > USB and can backup to cloud, SD-card or USB-stick. > > That's a Samsung app, I understand. What about a generic full backup > app, non adb? For any operating system, not Windows only? I have no real suggestion/solution, other than adb (and MTP). An (non-Google) Android app cannot provide a solution, because on a non-rooted phone, it can't backup the /Internal storage/Android folders (data, obb?, others?), which contains the settings and data of all the apps. Because I have a Samsung phone, I could use the Samsung Smart Switch program on Windows, but that is not flexible enough for backing up what you want and not backing up what you don't want. It is oriented in categories instead of in folders and for some categories, it's all or nothing. > Using my Motorola phone I can transfer from old phone to new phone most > things. But not to disk. And I don't remember if all data is > transferred. Photos, maps... You could try the 'Smart Switch Mobile' [1] [2] Android app. For transfer to another device, it runs on any (i.e. also non-Samsung) device. I don't know if it then can also make backup (to cloud, SD-card or USB-stick). The reference [2] implies it can. (I do no longer have a recent/working non-Samsung device to try.) Same for the Smart Switch PC program for Windows [2]. Probably only works if the source is a Samsung device (reference [2] only works if you specify 'GALAXY'), but you can try. For a non-automated backup you can use MTP. With MTP you *can* access the /Internal storage/Android folders. For example in Windows File Explorer, this accesses the folder which contains the OsmAnd+ maps: This PC\Frank's Galaxy A51\Internal storage\Android\data\net.osmand.plus\files But 'This PC\Frank's Galaxy A51\Internal storage' is only accessible in File Explorer, it's not part of the normal file system, nor accessible as a Network Share, so you can't use normal copy or backup utilities. (Perhaps in Windows PowerShell one can 'program'/control File Explorer? No idea.) The MTP method should also work in Linux (and on macOS? and on ChromeOS?). FWIW, because of these limitations, I no longer bother with full Android backup. I only backup the folders which *are* accessible on a non-rooted device. For all my apps, at least the important ones, I investigate if I can recover/recreate the settings or/and data, if I lose them. For example in OsmAnd+ you can export settings, etc, and backup those and all maps can be reloaded. For apps which have complicated settings, which can not be exported/backed-up, I document which settings I have changed. Some apps have their own backup methods (for example WhatsApp). Some apps only need account credentials. Etc. etc.. Of course this whole mechanism is documented in a file which *is* backed up! :-) Sofar, in nearly 12 years, I haven't had any major mishaps, so I'll continue to use my "Can not backup, so prepare to recover recreate.' method. Hope this helps. [1] [2] See 'How to transfer' -> GALAXY -> Backup and restore from PC or Mac -> Windows For using the Smart Switch Mobile Android app to *backup* (not transfer), see 'Other Android' -> 'Backup and restore from external storage'