Help How to do a complete back-up of everything in one go

[Keith Howard]

Hi,

I have just got my first Android phone, a HTC One M9.

I have spent quite a bit of time transferring contacts, downloading applications, configuring the phone in general etc.

I have read that there are various different things I can do to sync my phone with Google, but nothing seems comprehensive. What I am looking for is a way to back-up absolutely everything (including contacts, messages, call logs, apps, photos, settings, layouts etc.) in one place, in one go. That way, if I lose my phone, I can start using the replacement phone without noticing any difference at all from the old phone.

What is the best practice for this?

Many thanks in advance!

Keith

 

[Hadron]

Assuming you are not rooted the best bet is probably Helium (from the Play Store).

As I am rooted I have other options (Titanium Backup Pro, and of course nandroid backups), so am not expert with Helium - I used it precisely once, to transfer stuff to a then unrooted phone. I think it will do most of what you want, but I'd recommend making sure that essential data such as contacts are synced or otherwise backed up as well.

 

[Keith Howard]

Hi,
Yes, my phone is not rooted.
Thanks for the tip Hadron, but after reading about Helium it seems like it only backs up apps and app-related data. I was hoping for something that would back up absolutely everything in one go. Do you or anyone else have any other suggestions?
Many thanks,
Keith

 

[EarlyMon]

Because of security protections, it's not possible to read the rest of the storage partitions for backup - or write to them for a restore - without root.

However - with an M9 you can get some help here from the built-in HTC Backup, under your main settings.

Unrooted, your best options are going to have to be piecemeal - HTC Backup + Helium + Google cloud for your contacts and calendars.

I even toggle between my Google and HTC accounts on my M8 - you can't have too many backups.

Even then, you're going to lose your desktop settings (unless you use something like Nova, save your desktop and back that up), and a number of your setup preferences.

Keep your pictures and personal files sync'd to a cloud service.

Check out "Autosync for Google Drive"

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ttxapps.drivesync

For one example.

WifelyMon is about to be on her fifth unrooted phone replacement in less than a year. Believe me, I've looked too.