• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Which Back up App

woody555

Lurker
This is my first post so sorry in advance if it is in the wrong place.
I have just purchased the new sony xperia mini and am looking to download some back up app but not sure which one. I see some saying for root but i am not interested in that just something to back up the phone. I dont mind paying for something but just dont want to download wrong one. Any advice appreciated.

woody555
 
What exactly do you want to backup on the phone? Different things require different methods to backup. However, if you want to fully backup everything, you will need to be rooted.
 
Thanks for reply as i am new to smart phones just thought i would back up apps, settings, contacts etc, just general things really.

woody555
 
Just an FYI: You don't need to backup your contacts. Those are saved on Google's server within your Gmail account. So if you did a factory reset of your phone and then re-added your Gmail account and turned on Sync then all of your contacts would be re-uploaded directly to your phone again. ;)
 
Also, no need to backup apps. Google keeps track of what youve got installed, and what youve paid for, so just redownload them.

Backing up settings etc will tend to require root, unfortunately.
 
Just an FYI: You don't need to backup your contacts. Those are saved on Google's server within your Gmail account. So if you did a factory reset of your phone and then re-added your Gmail account and turned on Sync then all of your contacts would be re-uploaded directly to your phone again. ;)

This is correct IF your contacts are Google contacts. If they are Phone Contacts, they are not synced. You can check this by going to your contacts/people app, hitting menu-view. You should see how many contacts are google contacts and how many are phone contacts.

Also, no need to backup apps. Google keeps track of what youve got installed, and what youve paid for, so just redownload them.

Backing up settings etc will tend to require root, unfortunately.

Exactly. Paid apps can always be redownloaded for free, and obviously free apps can also be redownloaded for free. There is AppBrain which will backup a "list" of your apps, so if you need to do a reset, AppBrain will give you a list of all your old apps to make it easier to redownload them all. But if you are looking to backup app's settings and/or game saves, you will have to be rooted to do that.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies, sorry i have not replied for a week because my daughter has moved house and have been helping her so not had time.
I am now hoping to get down and see what my new xperia mini and adroid os can do.

Thanks again

woody555
 
Is there anything that backs up EVERYTHING about my phone?
So that if I restored it, all my apps & contacts & everything go back the way they were. Widgets get placed on the correct screens, etc.

Like a Norton Ghost for desktops kind of deal?
 
Is there anything that backs up EVERYTHING about my phone?
So that if I restored it, all my apps & contacts & everything go back the way they were. Widgets get placed on the correct screens, etc.

Like a Norton Ghost for desktops kind of deal?

Yes, a Nandroid backup, but you need to be rooted.
 
Yes, a Nandroid backup, but you need to be rooted.

Thanks, it totally worked.
I did the nandroid backup (described in more detail at the link below).
I then bricked my phone while trying to install a different ROM.
Restored to factory image.
Bricked a couple more times.
Formatted a few times.
Changed kernels a couple times.
Installed a fresh Infused ROM.
Then restored from my original image. And it restored EVERYTHING. All my apps are on the desktop where I left them, all settings are the same, etc. etc. Pretty sweet.

Android Rooted: What is Nandroid Backup?
 
I'm more than happy with Titanium, especially now that you can sync to Dropbox. You know, in case you drop your phone off a train trestle or get it stolen during an orgy or something.
 
Back
Top Bottom