Database Users

[Q] App Backup- Not a stupid question

I was wondering how to backup an app WITHOUT backing up the data along with it. I have been having permission problems with my restores after flashing new roms. I believe it has something to do with the user data that comes with the apps.
Basically, how do I backup apps alone, without any of my personal data coming along with it?
Is there such a function on Titanium Backup? I have been using this.

huynh727 said:
I was wondering how to backup an app WITHOUT backing up the data along with it. I have been having permission problems with my restores after flashing new roms. I believe it has something to do with the user data that comes with the apps.
Basically, how do I backup apps alone, without any of my personal data coming along with it?
Is there such a function on Titanium Backup? I have been using this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With Titanium Backup you can restore Apps one by one. or as a batch option. You do not have to back up personal data with the app data.
This is what i do when i switch ROMs. I just skip the sign in, then log in via the accounts and sync option, then use the market to download T/Backup and batch restore and allow Google to re-sync my phone and use tit/bac for my apps.

This is what i do when i switch ROMs. I just skip the sign in, then log in via the accounts and sync option, then use the market to download T/Backup and batch restore and allow Google to re-sync my phone and use tit/bac for my apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, that is what I meant. When you just backup apps alone, the app data comes along with it. For example, when I restore angry birds alone, I still have all of my accolades. I was wondering how I could restore apps similar to freshly installing it onto my phone.

huynh727 said:
Right, that is what I meant. When you just backup apps alone, the app data comes along with it. For example, when I restore angry birds alone, I still have all of my accolades.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. If you do a batch restore you can have it do "restore apps with data" and it will act like you never left the game.

I forgot to mention a part, please look at my above post again. Thanks

huynh727 said:
I forgot to mention a part, please look at my above post again. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can also restore apps w/o user data.
you can also unlink apps from the market. So like with the recent flash update you can unlink the app from the market so you do not get market updates. so i can keep 10.1 and not worry about 10.2.

So how would I do that?

huynh727 said:
So how would I do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do what?
we've covered several different things.

neidlinger said:
do what?
we've covered several different things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Backup an app, then restore it as a fresh app without any data from before.

huynh727 said:
Backup an app, then restore it as a fresh app without any data from before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
after you've rooted
after you've made sure s=off
you need to install the TB from the market and the Pro Key
once you you do that open the app up, download BusyBox via the "problems" button.
Then go to the "backup/restore" button and pick what you want to freeze/backup/restore
if you want to do a batch option from the main screen press the menu > BATCH > then select what you want to .

huynh727 said:
I was wondering how to backup an app WITHOUT backing up the data along with it. I have been having permission problems with my restores after flashing new roms. I believe it has something to do with the user data that comes with the apps.
Basically, how do I backup apps alone, without any of my personal data coming along with it?
Is there such a function on Titanium Backup? I have been using this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also try MyBackup Root. Its free and a little easier to use than Titanium. Seems to work great for me.

As well as ES file explorer or AntTek app manager.
[via XDA app]

[Q] Steps to restore apps and data from Titanium Backup?

All,
I'm thinking of doing a full system wipe and reinstall cyanogenmod 7.03. What I don't understand is the steps involved. When you do a full wipe, Titanium is not installed. So after the first reboot, do you skip through android initial set up and go to market and install titanium backup? And once you go to market you need to log on anyways, so once you log on, by default it will automatically download all missing apps.
So I need a step by step on how to recover backup from titanium after a full wipe. Also, can it backup my settings for my adw launcher ex? Like restore how my widgets look etc....
Thanks!

Nutzzer said:
All,
I'm thinking of doing a full system wipe and reinstall cyanogenmod 7.03. What I don't understand is the steps involved. When you do a full wipe, Titanium is not installed. So after the first reboot, do you skip through android initial set up and go to market and install titanium backup? And once you go to market you need to log on anyways, so once you log on, by default it will automatically download all missing apps.
So I need a step by step on how to recover backup from titanium after a full wipe. Also, can it backup my settings for my adw launcher ex? Like restore how my widgets look etc....
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you do the wipe and boot up just sign in to Google as usual because your gonna have to in order to download Titanium Backup. Its supposed to automatically reinstall your apps once you sign in but I've noticed that on GB ROMs it doesn't for me.
Once in Titanium hit menu and hit batch. Scroll down to restore and select which one you want to run. You can select which apps you want to restore or deselect which ever. You can also select if you want to restore the data associated with your apps or just the apps themselves. As for ADW, not sure as I dont use it.

can batch restoring also include system applications which are not relevant if I have installed a completely different rom? is it harmless, or it can override important system applications with same name and cause problems?
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

jaibar said:
can batch restoring also include system applications which are not relevant if I have installed a completely different rom? is it harmless, or it can override important system applications with same name and cause problems?
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know you can back them up and restore them but on different ROMs I dont think they'll play right. Not sure about that because I have never backed system apps or settings do to flashing different ROMs. Give it a try and see what happens. Just make sure you backup in case some thing goes wrong.

[Q] hand holding needed for changing ROMs

I have not changed ROMs before. IMHO the procedure is simple enough. I am not worried about that step at all. The question is, What am I left with afterward.
What data, apps, etc. do I loose? Do I need to recover them from a back up? If so, what parts do I need to recover?
Also, from what I have read, if the ROMs are closely related, all the data and apps are preserved.
Can some one explain/comment on this?
I know this is a very nubbie question. I'm trying to minimize time consuming mistakes.

U should always wipe data with changing roms or u might end up with lots of fcs. While all the roms are similar and contain the same basic apps, some roms are gonna have different and new apps than others. I recomend backing up the apps that u have on ur current rom with TB and once u install a different rom, all u have to do is download TB from the market and install the apps u once backed up
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

So all the apps I downloaded from market will then need to be reinstalled.
Do I loose the phone logs, all texts, contacts (but linked to gmail)?
I am unclear what "data" is stored where. What counts are "data" in the backups. Is application data backed up with "data", or included w/ the "apps" backup?
I am backed up with TB. (both data and apps).
I have also backed w/ CWM.
I assume/hope my identity (phone#, etc.) is tied to something like a MAC address that will not be wiped.

your identity is not wiped, are you using a sprint phone?

You should backup 2 ways at least, a nandroid with CWM and maybe Titanium Backup. Then follow the instructions of the ROM you are installing. Most no longer require wipes. After you flash the ROM if something did not restore properly just shut down, boot into CWM. Go to backup and restore, go to advanced restore data from your last backup. All should be restored.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

I am on Sprint.
I am a bit confused on the CWM recovery, never having actually used it to restore anything. When i go to the restore utility in CWM, I see each of the backups listed. Not sure if I get the option of what to restore.
I may or may not want to restore the old ROM depending on the outcome of the new ROM flash.

But since u gonna issues TB all u have to do is jst download it from the market and the reinstall the apps u want back. U see, instead of searching for them on the market, u can jst install them from TB. And u won't losse contacts or emails if u sync them with gmail
labumm said:
So all the apps I downloaded from market will then need to be reinstalled.
Do I loose the phone logs, all texts, contacts (but linked to gmail)?
I am unclear what "data" is stored where. What counts are "data" in the backups. Is application data backed up with "data", or included w/ the "apps" backup?
I am backed up with TB. (both data and apps).
I have also backed w/ CWM.
I assume/hope my identity (phone#, etc.) is tied to something like a MAC address that will not be wiped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is Captivating, Fascinating, Epic and also LEGENDARY!!

If you are changing ROMs on the same version of firmware, like Gingerbread to Gingerbread, you can backup right before flashing (and you should), then when you flash the new ROM it may or may not preserve your data which is apps, contacts, call logs...IF it fails to restore properly you can do a factory data reset in CWM which will clean any bad restore, then do an ADVANCED RESTORE DATA and pick the newest one. They are date coded. It will ask you to confirm before doing it. This will only restore 3rd party apps and data like call logs, wifi links, email accounts and stuff like that.

The deed is done. The SMS messages do not restore. I tried to pick and choose apps to restore. Then restored all data.
The phone is functional, however. That was my main concern.
Thanks to all who read and responded.
now CleanGB 18

Duh.
Needed to reboot for all restored settings to appear.

To refresh, from what version did you move into? WHat do you have now?

labumm said:
Duh.
Needed to reboot for all restored settings to appear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha, was just about to tell you that. Glad you are up and running.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

I am a tiny bit concerned that I have just restored a bunch of un-needed crap onto my phone, from the TB backup.
Anyone know what the colors and icons of the files in TB signify?
I was looking for help in the tiki, but I don't see a concise explanation.
http://matrixrewriter.com/wiki/tiki-index.php
I presume I would not accidently reinstall carrier IQ and other un-fixes unintentionally with TB by restoring apps and data.

Different Backup Methods

I was hoping to learn the differences between certain backup methods. The most common i saw is via recovery (in my case twrp), via titanium backup and another via adb command even without root which i saw in one of the threads here in xda.
First, in terms of "backup coverage" how do they compare to one another? Secondly, which among the three would most put ur phone back the way it was before u wipe or factory reset it
I hope you could input your opinions on this and suggestions.
Thanks in advance!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

A backup through recovery is a called a nandroid. This backs up everything on your phone including your ROM, kernel, apps, settings, etc. This will allow you to restore back to the previous state of your phone after doing a full wipe.
Titanium backup only backs up your apps and app data. This is useful when you want to switch ROMs and restore your apps in the new ROM.
Usually when switching ROMs I first use titanium backup, then I create a nandroid backup, and finally I flash the ROM. If I like the ROM I use titanium to restore the apps that I previously backed up, and if I don't like the ROM I restore my nandroid
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda app-developers app

Doing a backup with twrp, cwm or thru adb (nandroid backups) are basically image files of your phone at any given moment in time. If you restore one of these backups your restoring your phone to exactly how it was at that moment in time. Titanium backup and Helium backup just backup cached data at that particular moment in time. Using these apps will only restore the data you specified when you did the backup and nothing else. Say you borked an install of a ROM, Titanium backup would be of no use in getting your phone working again as it only has data and not a system image. You would need the images backed up by twrp to get the phone working again then you could use the titanium backups to restore any newer data saved if say you used an old twrp backup.

whoah! thanks guys! I was supposed to quote you but since both of you really helped me understand it now, this thanks goes to the both of you.
I've hit the thanks button on both you guys.
Thank you very much for explaining this.
One last thing, when using a Titanium backup ( im using the pro version), how do i backup to make sure I cover all that needs to be backed up? There are a lot of options im not sure which to select and what to do. I hope you could enlighten me on this one as well.
Thanks again in advance!

vinz_bangiz said:
whoah! thanks guys! I was supposed to quote you but since both of you really helped me understand it now, this thanks goes to the both of you.
I've hit the thanks button on both you guys.
Thank you very much for explaining this.
One last thing, when using a Titanium backup ( im using the pro version), how do i backup to make sure I cover all that needs to be backed up? There are a lot of options im not sure which to select and what to do. I hope you could enlighten me on this one as well.
Thanks again in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the pro version u can run a batch backup of all apps.
To do this open the app, press the menu button in the top tight corner, and select Batch.
Then choose Backup all user apps. From there you can select/deselect apps. When you are done choosing the apps that you would like to backup, click on the green check mark in the top right corner to start the backup.

vinz_bangiz said:
whoah! thanks guys! I was supposed to quote you but since both of you really helped me understand it now, this thanks goes to the both of you.
I've hit the thanks button on both you guys.
Thank you very much for explaining this.
One last thing, when using a Titanium backup ( im using the pro version), how do i backup to make sure I cover all that needs to be backed up? There are a lot of options im not sure which to select and what to do. I hope you could enlighten me on this one as well.
Thanks again in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I stopped using Titanium and switched to Helium a while back and can't really remember how Ti works exactly. I do know you should never restore system apps data just user apps data so I don't even bother backing up systems apps. I think with Ti I would just do an initial backup of all user data and apps and then periodically do a backup of newer user data and apps, or something to that effect in the menu. I do like Helium better as its interface is better, never could figure out how to backup or restore sms, call logs and the dictionary using Ti. Helium is much more straight forward and simpler (not as many options) and it does backups on a set schedule to my box account. I'm sure you can do all that with Ti too it was just not a very clean app.

thanks again for the replies..
@ chromium96
i think it is the same as clicking the box with check icon beside the menu, it brings me to the page the same as where you are leading me to but in just one click. Though im not so sure if it is really the same one.
I did a backup now but made a user app + system data.
kzoodroid mentioned not to backup system. Should I really not backup the system? Im quite confused with the terminologies of TI coz it says backup "user apps". Does this only refer to the apps and not the settings or data in my phone? does the backup "system data" refer to the settings and other data on my phone? if I choose only backup "user apps", would this only backup the apps and nothing else?
@ kzoodroid
could you explain further why I should never backup systems apps?
Lastly, is Helium really better than TI? or it depends on user preference?
Thanks again!

there are 2 kind of apps stored in your phone, system apps, only accesible with root privilege, and user apps,
system apps are phone, browser,wallpapers, etc, this are the basic apps to make your phone to work
user apps are all the stuff you, the user, install on your phone
the first one can be found, via file managers on /system/app
user app in /data or in sdcard for apps can use this option
the user app back-up, via Tb or others create a back-up of /data and apps you choose to install
restoring a system app via Tb is dangerous cause if you've switched rom the /system/app can be different, so restoring can cause trouble or misbehavior on your phone
/system/app back.up can be used only if you, before deleting a system app, want to have a copy to restore in future, but only if you still on the same rom

stremax said:
there are 2 kind of apps stored in your phone, system apps, only accesible with root privilege, and user apps,
system apps are phone, browser,wallpapers, etc, this are the basic apps to make your phone to work
user apps are all the stuff you, the user, install on your phone
the first one can be found, via file managers on /system/app
user app in /data or in sdcard for apps can use this option
the user app back-up, via Tb or others create a back-up of /data and apps you choose to install
restoring a system app via Tb is dangerous cause if you've switched rom the /system/app can be different, so restoring can cause trouble or misbehavior on your phone
/system/app back.up can be used only if you, before deleting a system app, want to have a copy to restore in future, but only if you still on the same rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply! kinda getting an idea what you mean.. if I backup the system also, then i put a new rom and it may be different from my current roms system so it might mess it up. so just backup user app and restore this after installing new rom then it would be ok and back to how it was before i installed a new rom? Do i understand it right?

vinz_bangiz said:
Thanks for the reply! kinda getting an idea what you mean.. if I backup the system also, then i put a new rom and it may be different from my current roms system so it might mess it up. so just backup user app and restore this after installing new rom then it would be ok and back to how it was before i installed a new rom? Do i understand it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
right man,
only back-up user apps and data, if you like you can also back-up call log and messages, I usually do this, so when I flash a new rom I usually restore apps +apps data, messages and call log via Tb

vinz_bangiz said:
another via adb command even without root which i saw in one of the threads here in xda.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found the ADB backup doesn't work as well as the other methods. I found some apps didn't seem to get backed up, and at least one didn't work after restoring (though this could be because I used Titanium Backup to restore the app from the ADB backup file).

Nandroid backup

So i mada nandroid backup but unchecked "data" (its was about 6 gb?!) So i only backed up "system" and some other important stuff,so i wonder,why is "data" so big? Is it neccessary to backup? Or is it just the photos,apps and its data etc?

It includes everything; app data, texts, call logs, log in info, EVERYTHING. System only backs up the actual operating system (ROM)
---------- Post added at 10:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 AM ----------
A nandroid is kinda useless without the data portion.

metalfan78 said:
It includes everything; app data, texts, call logs, log in info, EVERYTHING. System only backs up the actual operating system (ROM)
---------- Post added at 10:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 AM ----------
A nandroid is kinda useless without the data portion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it isn't, if you have a TiBu its fine, either restore the backup then flash update.zip from TiBu or go in and restore.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

If you want to restore your rom to the state it was before a flash or a wipe, then 'data' is needed, so I consider a nandroid useless without it.

metalfan78 said:
If you want to restore your rom to the state it was before a flash or a wipe, then 'data' is needed, so I consider a nandroid useless without it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I'd you are using strictly nandroid, but using a nandroid of system+TiBu is certainly not useless.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Rakuu said:
Maybe I'd you are using strictly nandroid, but using a nandroid of system+TiBu is certainly not useless.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah i already have a backup of my apps with TiBu

JxPxK said:
So i mada nandroid backup but unchecked "data" (its was about 6 gb?!) So i only backed up "system" and some other important stuff,so i wonder,why is "data" so big? Is it neccessary to backup? Or is it just the photos,apps and its data etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Data contains all the user apps and its settings. And it also contains all the system settings and customizations. With TiBu you only can backup the user apps and its settings. System + TiBu kind of works, but system + data is much better.

Danstroem said:
Data contains all the user apps and its settings. And it also contains all the system settings and customizations. With TiBu you only can backup the user apps and its settings. System + TiBu kind of works, but system + data is much better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can backup contacts, call logs, data usage, calendar storage, messages, system settings, and some others I forgot, I'd say doing a full TiBu backup is a decent alternative to a /data backup
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Rakuu said:
You can backup contacts, call logs, data usage, calendar storage, messages, system settings, and some others I forgot, I'd say doing a full TiBu backup is a decent alternative to a /data backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's right, but I think that a backup of the data partition contains just everything and is "easily" done. With TiBu, you have to backup every little detail and app manually.

Danstroem said:
Yeah that's right, but I think that a backup of the data partition contains just everything and is "easily" done. With TiBu, you have to backup every little detail and app manually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a batch actions option... Also I have mine automatically going every couple days.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Rakuu said:
There's a batch actions option... Also I have mine automatically going every couple days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At least with TiBu, he would learn, which app is eating the most of the 6 GB I never managed to backup/restore account data with TiBu (phone book, calendar). I'm not using Google. I only use it to transport my favourite apps to different ROMS. Nandroid is my safe harbour, because it heals all problems. Maybe a matter of taste

TiBu and nandroid are very different animals........
Nandroid will, as everybody knows, restore a fully working OS to a device (including apps, data & settings).
TiBu will allow you to restore apps and data onto a new ROM......but this capability has to be used with caution.....
Restoring apps on their own usually works without issue......but if you try to restore app data as well......especially onto a different android version, you *could* end up with system instability and apps force closing etc.......
Some of the data created/used by some (but not all) apps is OS version specific *and* in some cases framework specific.
Each option is there to make a specific type of backup which is used in a specific set of circumstances.....
Nandroid is the 'cure all, emergency recovery' option.
TiBu is the 'make things quicker/easier for normal rom flash' option......
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg