I am about to use the new cyanogenMOD app on my Nexus 4.
Can someone tell me the best way to back up the phone before doing this please?
The phone is as bought at the moment unrooted etc
You can't back up the full phone unrooted (unless you unlock the bootloader and install a custom recovery, but by unlocking the bootloader it will wipe everything).
However you can also use CyanogenMod's Helium tool to back up your apps and apps data. It doesn't required root, but you have to run the Helium's PC program.
You could also let Google back up your apps data, by going into Settings -> Backup & Restore, along with their other sync features.
Also just incase CyanogenMod Installer brick your phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2010312
Related
Hey there,
A friend of mine has an Xperia Arc, so i don't have huge knowledge with this device or any SE created Android ROMs. How ever, he likes to switch to CyanogenMod but he likes to keep all his app data (Games, notes and so on).
The device is on 2.3 so it isn't possible to root it without unlocking the bootloader. I have heard that if i unlock the bootloader, the phone will wipe itself so this isn't an option. But without root I can also not use Titaniumbackup or anything similar. How can i backup the apps and app data with adb (the strange thing is that on the Stock ROM, apps aren't in the folder where they are on my Nexus) and push it back to CyanogenMod 7?
Hello everybody, I am a proud Nexus 4 user and android user since February of 2013. I'm currently contemplating the use of custom ROMs and have decided on MIUI because it has amazing aesthetics and it really seems like a good ROM for me to use. I have several questions concerning using custom ROMs however:
1. I currently have root access on 4.2.2 and CWM Touch Recovery on my Nexus 4. How should I go about keeping my apps, contacts, information, etc., on my phone, but installing the new custom ROM? Is this even possible/ recommended?
2. I have many apps I rely on through my everyday uses of my phone, and I'm wondering if normal play store APK files will still be able to be used and installed on custom ROMs such as MIUI.
3. Are there any other small things I should note when installing custom ROMs?
4. Will I lose all my data if I install a custom ROM?
5. Is MIUI v5 recommended?
Thank you in advance.
nelsonlee96 said:
Hello everybody, I am a proud Nexus 4 user and android user since February of 2013. I'm currently contemplating the use of custom ROMs and have decided on MIUI because it has amazing aesthetics and it really seems like a good ROM for me to use. I have several questions concerning using custom ROMs however:
1. I currently have root access on 4.2.2 and CWM Touch Recovery on my Nexus 4. How should I go about keeping my apps, contacts, information, etc., on my phone, but installing the new custom ROM? Is this even possible/ recommended?
2. I have many apps I rely on through my everyday uses of my phone, and I'm wondering if normal play store APK files will still be able to be used and installed on custom ROMs such as MIUI.
3. Are there any other small things I should note when installing custom ROMs?
4. Will I lose all my data if I install a custom ROM?
5. Is MIUI v5 recommended?
Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Contacts -> Sync to google. Apps -> Helium / Titanium Backup.
Factory reset is recommended for switching ROM base. For same ROM base is generally not required unless you're told. Always make backups. Bootloop? Factory reset, restore afterwards.
2. Some apps may not working 100%, FC, etc.
3. Remember to install gapps?
4. Flashing the custom ROM will NOT wipe your app/data, but if factory reset is required, you would lose apps and data. However /sdcard will remain. Backup, backup, backup.
5. Nice UI, very iPhone-ish, may lag heavily sometimes, all operations just feel slower, some apps may not be working 100%.
ksilver89 said:
1. Contacts -> Sync to google. Apps -> Helium / Titanium Backup.
Factory reset is recommended for switching ROM base. For same ROM base is generally not required unless you're told. Always make backups. Bootloop? Factory reset, restore afterwards.
2. Some apps may not working 100%, FC, etc.
3. Remember to install gapps?
4. Flashing the custom ROM will NOT wipe your app/data, but if factory reset is required, you would lose apps and data. However /sdcard will remain. Backup, backup, backup.
5. Nice UI, very iPhone-ish, may lag heavily sometimes, all operations just feel slower, some apps may not be working 100%.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for the quick response, this information has helped me greatly!
1-to save your info you can use titanium backup from the play store i dont have it myself so check out exactly what it backs up as for contacts those should be tied to your gmail account so no need to back those up also the internal storage is not wiped so you wouldn't need to backup pics/music but you can if you want to be safe
2- when i used miui i never had any issues using play store apks
3-as always have a backup also i dont know if this was just me but miui has a different file structure so not all of my pics in the albums app were showing up also my music was not showing as well
4- depends on what data you mean any installed apps will be erased but pics and music will still be there
5- I am personally more of a stock/ cym guy myself but if you like miui then by all means use it that's the fun of having a rooted device experiment!
Speaking of MIUI, if you just want to find out, or for fun, you can try my suggestion below:
1. Backup all user apps in Helium / Titanium Backup. Boot into recovery.
2. Do a Nandroid backup in CWM. ( This is important! )
3. Factory reset in CWM, flash MIUI and included gapps, fixes, mod, and whatever.
4. Reboot into MIUI, install Helium / Titanium Backup from Play store, restore your user apps.
Try it for a few days.
Like it? Keep it.
Don't like it? Restore Nandroid backup made earlier in CWM
@truth1675 hmm it seems like titanium backup is surely the way to go, I'll figure myself out through the app then! Thanks for the suggestion!
I think I have read somewhere about media such as music and pictures needing some mod to properly be displayed.
@ksilver89 ooh that looks like a very safe way to go! Thanks I'll surely follow it when I flash MIUI. I recently discovered how amazing nandroid recoveries are, they restore everything to what they used to be, it's awesome
Hey guys,
So I recently updated to KitKat 4.4.2 from 4.3 whatever, and it's been really nice. However, my battery length plummeted, and w/o root, I do not know what to do. So, I'm asking to see if anyone knows how to either root the XT926 or downgrade to 4.3?
Thanks
Neither are possible.
Even with an unlocked bootloader, you would you never get to 4.3 because 4.3 was never released for this phone.
As for battery, when you updated to Kit Kat, did you do so with all your apps installed, etc and not do a Factory Data Reset?
I would really encourage users to do the following before taking the OTA:
Backup whatever data you can to your PC or external SD card (pictures, etc). If you are rooted (and have an unlocked bootloader), then use a tool such as Titanium Backup to backup your apps and their settings. If you're not rooted and/or have a locked bootloader, then you won't be able to retain your app settings with TiBu. Sorry. That's the glory of having root I guess.
Do a factory data reset BEFORE taking the upgrade. This will wipe out your user data completely, including application data.
Apply the OTA and profit.
I have found my battery life is just as good, if not better, than under JB. People who are having issues with Wifi, Blue Tooth, battery life, usually have not done a FDR on their phones, so you have old cache sitting around, etc, that bogs down the phone as well as causes a host of issues.
The same holds true when upgrading Windows on your PC (for those that use Windows). I always backup user profiles and then I go and do a complete fresh install. There is so much gunk that gets left behind that it's just best to wipe the slate clean and start anew. The same goes for upgrading the OS on your mobile phones, especially when going from JB to KK.
KK is much better than JB, especially on this phone. No way I go back to JB. No way, no how. :good:
iBolski said:
Backup whatever data you can to your PC or external SD card (pictures, etc). If you are rooted (and have an unlocked bootloader), then use a tool such as Titanium Backup to backup your apps and their settings. If you're not rooted and/or have a locked bootloader, then you won't be able to retain your app settings with TiBu. Sorry. That's the glory of having root I guess.
Do a factory data reset BEFORE taking the upgrade. This will wipe out your user data completely, including application data.
Apply the OTA and profit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be clear, you can restore apps with TiBu without root? Because root = bye bye after OTA, I've only used TiBu with root..Thx
Edit, reading on Motopocalypse now, very helpful thread pages 3 4 5
No soup for you without root
iBolski said:
Even with an unlocked bootloader, you would you never get to 4.3 because 4.3 was never released for this phone.
As for battery, when you updated to Kit Kat, did you do so with all your apps installed, etc and not do a Factory Data Reset?
I would really encourage users to do the following before taking the OTA:
Backup whatever data you can to your PC or external SD card (pictures, etc). If you are rooted (and have an unlocked bootloader), then use a tool such as Titanium Backup to backup your apps and their settings. If you're not rooted and/or have a locked bootloader, then you won't be able to retain your app settings with TiBu. Sorry. That's the glory of having root I guess.
Do a factory data reset BEFORE taking the upgrade. This will wipe out your user data completely, including application data.
Apply the OTA and profit.
I have found my battery life is just as good, if not better, than under JB. People who are having issues with Wifi, Blue Tooth, battery life, usually have not done a FDR on their phones, so you have old cache sitting around, etc, that bogs down the phone as well as causes a host of issues.
The same holds true when upgrading Windows on your PC (for those that use Windows). I always backup user profiles and then I go and do a complete fresh install. There is so much gunk that gets left behind that it's just best to wipe the slate clean and start anew. The same goes for upgrading the OS on your mobile phones, especially when going from JB to KK.
KK is much better than JB, especially on this phone. No way I go back to JB. No way, no how. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a factory reset after I upgraded, doesn't that do the same thing?
I have a Note 3 running stock 4.4.2. I rooted successfully using the towel root method as shown here.. http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-3/general/root-root-xxufnf4-stock-firmware-knox-t2840150. I installed SuperSU and Titanium Backup (the non-pro version) from Google Play.
I used the phone and all the features for three days. However yesterday I ran a backup for the first time using Titanium backup ( all settings and apps) and since then my GPS seems to have conked off.... it keeps hunting and does not get a lock. I have tried rebooting multiple times, tried using it with both with Google Maps and Sygic (paid version) but both dont get a GPS lock. I was using the GPS successfully till then, so I have to assume the Titanium backup process must have messed something up . Additionally, immediately after the back up process was over, I found a lot of my setting were gone. I lost the wall paper I had set (reverted to a blank one), keyboard reverted to default Samsung keyboard from Swype, etc. This further reinforces my feeling the backup process mucked something up.
I am sure this is not normal. While the other settings was able to change manually, I cannot do without GPS. Pls help!
cmatic2 said:
I have a Note 3 running stock 4.4.2. I rooted successfully using the towel root method as shown here.. http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-3/general/root-root-xxufnf4-stock-firmware-knox-t2840150. I installed SuperSU and Titanium Backup (the non-pro version) from Google Play.
I used the phone and all the features for three days. However yesterday I ran a backup for the first time using Titanium backup ( all settings and apps) and since then my GPS seems to have conked off.... it keeps hunting and does not get a lock. I have tried rebooting multiple times, tried using it with both with Google Maps and Sygic (paid version) but both dont get a GPS lock. I was using the GPS successfully till then, so I have to assume the Titanium backup process must have messed something up . Additionally, immediately after the back up process was over, I found a lot of my setting were gone. I lost the wall paper I had set (reverted to a blank one), keyboard reverted to default Samsung keyboard from Swype, etc. This further reinforces my feeling the backup process mucked something up.
I am sure this is not normal. While the other settings was able to change manually, I cannot do without GPS. Pls help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what your level of expertise is, but simplest would be to run a Nandroid backup to your extSDCard, then reflash the ROM. You will then need to re-root etc. One thing to be aware of - when going to Download Mode, ALWAYS power off, remove the battery for 10 secs or so, insert it and hold down the keys to get into DL mode.
Once the firmware is installed & you've got root, you can Restore the Data from your nandroid and be back where you were.
I don't know how running a backup could do anything like you describe - maybe a Restore might do something, but I've been using TB for a couple of years with nothing like that.
Not sure what your level of expertise is, but simplest would be to run a Nandroid backup to your extSDCard, then reflash the ROM. You will then need to re-root etc. One thing to be aware of - when going to Download Mode, ALWAYS power off, remove the battery for 10 secs or so, insert it and hold down the keys to get into DL mode.
Once the firmware is installed & you've got root, you can Restore the Data from your nandroid and be back where you were.
I don't know how running a backup could do anything like you describe - maybe a Restore might do something, but I've been using TB for a couple of years with nothing like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am an absolute newbie wrt flashing etc. I am a sales guy - so my computer knowledge is layman-ish. I can follow instructions though! This is the first time i am trying something with an Android phone - my earlier trysts were limited to unlocking my iPhone 2 some 7 years back!
1. I used this method of rooting since it does not trigger knox. I will look up Nandriod backup - any links you can point me to will help. Only worry is does Nandriod trigger knox?
2. The towel root method only needed me to flash back the kernel related to my ROM (GNJ1) . Do you think reflashing that kernel again will do or do I have to flash the whole ROM again?
3. Do I have to unroot etc before I flash the ROM?
4. Lastly - Do I use KIES 3 to reflash the ROM? (to keep the warranty etc intact)
cmatic2 said:
I am an absolute newbie wrt flashing etc. I am a sales guy - so my computer knowledge is layman-ish. I can follow instructions though!
1. I used this method of rooting since it does not trigger knox. I will look up Nandriod backup - any links you can point me to will help. Only worry is does Nandriod trigger knox?
2. The towel root method only needed me to flash back the kernel related to my ROM (GNJ1) . Do you think reflashing that kernel again will do or do I have to flash the whole ROM again?
3. Do I have to unroot etc before I flash the ROM?
4. Lastly - Do I use KIES 3 to reflash the ROM? (to keep the warranty etc intact)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nandroid has to do with the Recovery you install. TBH I don't know if installing a custom recovery like TWRP will actually trip Knox if you are currently rooted and HAVEN'T tripped it. My bet is it would. If you have all your apps saved in TB, you could use a root browser like ES File Explorer to make sure you have any photos, Media etc. copied to your extSDCard before doing anything else. Shouldn't have to unroot as normally the firmware will flash over the top, then you need to follow the root procedure again - I haven't used Towelroot so maybe ask in that thread?
Hi guys, so basically I made a backup of my STOCK rom and then I installed CYANOGEN mod 12 on the phone... Realizing I totally forgot about my contacts I then backed it up and "restored" my old backup of the stock rom which is kitkat. to find that EVERYTHING "stops working" so I cant get to my contacts.
Now heres where I believe I went wrong. I used philz touchwiz and upon my process to flash the phone I did the system/factory reset option or something like that and it asks if you'd like to wipe the phone to install a new rom. I selected yes so I thought that I was good to go and did not go further into the other stuff... I flashed cyanogen mod on the phone and then it said it was "upgrading my apps" ok well thats fine, and it ran great and no issues.... So going back to my STOCK backup after that, all the apps just crash, which I assume is due to still having the old apps which are "upgraded" to lollipop but the apps of course crash on "kitkat"
So, I've read that in a backup it saves all your apps and stuff.. It should return your phone back to exactly where it was when you made the backup. so why is it i'm having the app issues? I guess I need to delete them right?
So what is the options i need to do to get rid of the apps and do a proper phone wiping prior to a backup so that when I load my kitkat backup that It runs fine as it should? Wipe cache? dalvik? /data?, etc etc.... will it erase the main phones memory as a hole or no?
let me know how to correct this, I greatly appreciate it. I've tried googling to no prevail so far.
If I'm understanding correctly, you're trying to restore your KitKat apps onto cm12.
If that is the case, it will keep force closing apps. When upgrading and moving from touchwiz based Roms to AOSP based Roms you can't just restore from backups, the environment is different.
So to carry your contacts, I suggest recreating the same KitKat environment by clean installing whatever ROM you had, let google play store install the apps, then restore your app data only using philz advanced restore option (make sure all other options besides app data or data are unchecked)
Once all are restored, make a backup of your contacts and SMS using call log back up and SMS backup apps from playstore.
Back up any app progress using adb like
#adb -backup -f appname.ab -obb -noapk com.android....
And then do a clean cm12 install, let play store install all apps and start restoring call log, SMS, and your app data.
This takes a while, but it is worth it!