Related
Hi all- I have a 16gb GT10.1 and, while 16gb of storage was more than I could have dreamt of having in my first computer, it's not a lot once you've had your tablet for a few months. 100 apps + copilot GPS maps (deleted all but NA) + a gig of music, and I end up so low on space I can't do a new backup. I don't keep any videos on the tab, but it's fine with me because streaming works great on the GT10.1 (allshare, netflix, grooveshark, and google music beta FTW!). With only one nandroid backup and one Titanium backup I still find that I usually don't have more than 1-3 gigs of space left, and it often drops to less than one gig, especially if I forget to delete my old nandroid backup. Using the "clear data" function when installing a new ROM through CWM doesn't affect your SD card.
So I decided that it was time to figure out what was hogging my SDcard. I found a few files and directories that can be deleted without ill effect (at least as far as I can tell, I backed them up on my laptop just in case). So far I haven't deleted anything I use and I'm up to about 5 gigs free.
I'll post what I've found here, but I'm sure there's more. If you know of other directories, files, or apps that take up significant space and can be safely deleted, or other ways to free up space, put them into the comments and I'll try to update the OP. Also, try to figure out what the files are for and put that information in too.
***Warning: I am not responsible for deleting your important files, your backups, your homework, or your favorite picture of your cat. Everything in this thread has been tested by me or by at least 2 other forum users (hint, hint), but that doesn't guarantee that it won't set your tablet or your hair on fire. Use this guide at your own risk***
Big files that can be deleted:
mnt/sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails/.thumbdata3-xxxxxxx
(Has something to do with a database of thumbnails. Deleting it has not had any effect on me, but I don't use my tab for photos. Mine was 124mb).
Directories that can have ALL files in them deleted:
mnt/sdcard/Android/data/com.amazon.venezia/cache/
(This is where the Amazon Appstore puts downloaded apks, including the daily free ones, and it NEVER gets cleared out. Mine was almost 2gb when I found it.)
mnt/sdcard/ScreenCapture/
(This is where all those screencaptures you accidentally took went. I've personally never intentionally taken a screen capture...)
Apps that can be deleted
Coming soon! (Haven't flashed Task's newest (v11) yet and I think he finally got rid of some of the garbage that I have to uninstall every time I flash... Will update this list when I do)
Other ways to save space:
Titanium backup: [preferences menu]
Backup app external data
(Allows you to choose whether you want to backup app data every time you do a Titanium backup. Serious reduction in the size of your backup, but with a pretty obvious disadvantage... Check the next option for something less drastic)
Select external data by max size
(Allows you to choose the maximum size of app external data backup. Default is to keep 32mb or smaller data caches. Most apps don't exceed that, but the few that do - like copilot - don't get backed up. I didn't mess with this one but)
Max backup history : set to "1"
(Sets the number of backup data "points." One is plenty unless you want double or triple backups)
Also, check this directory:
mnt/sdcard/Android/data/
This is where most app data goes. I found lots of stuff here that I didn't need any more. It's worth mentioning that this is where music you set as "offline" on google music beta is stored.
*Tip* Most of the subfolders are easy to identify as software you own, but sometimes you'll find that an app didn't uninstall properly and the data is still there!
Hope this helps! Please add your ideas for significant space savings in the comments.
**Update: So just after I originally posted this, Task650 started making a "slim" version of his ROM. Though none of the stuff above is affected, he's taken out many of the crappy Samsung programs and saved a lot of space that way. I usually had to use Titanium Backup to delete those programs with every new flash; now there's no reason to! I definitely recommend that ROM.
**Update 2: Just wanted to say "thanks" to the person (or persons) who voted this thread 5 stars. Also "thanks" to the person (or persons) who voted it one star. That's awesome of you.
DecrAPPify - removable apps list
Here's a list of apps installed in stock 3.2 (and some custom ROMs) that can be safely removed.
You may want some of these depending on your uses, so don't just remove them because you can...
Delete these with Titanium Backup. You might have to go into the settings and turn on "Chuck Norris Mode" (I didn't make that up).
/data/app/com.androidapps.spare_parts-1.apk
/data/app/com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup.apk
/system/app/Asus_Weather.apk
/system/app/BluetoothTest.apk
/system/app/CalendarGoogle.apk
/system/app/ChocoEUKor.apk
/system/app/ChromeBookmarksSyncAdapter.apk
/system/app/Dlna.apk
/system/app/DualClock.apk
/system/app/Ebook.apk
/system/app/FactoryTest.apk
/system/app/Finsky.apk
/system/app/fotaclient.apk
/system/app/GoogleFeedback.apk
/system/app/GooglePartnerSetup.apk
/system/app/HelvNeueLT.apk
/system/app/HTMLViewer.apk
/system/app/Kies.apk
/system/app/kieswifi.apk
/system/app/lcdTest.apk
/system/app/LiveWallpapersPicker.apk
/system/app/Memo.apk
/system/app/mini_penmemo.apk
/system/app/MiniTwCalculatorService.apk
/system/app/MobilePrint.apk
/system/app/MusicPlayer.apk
/system/app/oem_install_flash_player.apk
/system/app/PenMemo.apk
/system/app/PhotoEditor.apk
/system/app/PRUI.apk
/system/app/Quickoffice.apk
/system/app/Roboto.apk
/system/app/signin.apk
/system/app/SnsAccountFb.apk
/system/app/SnsAccountLi.apk
/system/app/SnsAccountTw.apk
/system/app/SnsDisclaimer.apk
/system/app/SnsImageCache.apk
/system/app/SnsProvider.apk
/system/app/SoundRecorder.apk
/system/app/Swype.apk
/system/app/Vending.apk
/system/app/VideoEditorGoogle.apk
/system/app/Videos.apk
/system/app/wipereceiver.apk
/system/app/WorldClock.apk
/system/app/wssomacp.apk
/system/app/wssyncmlnps.apk
As above, if I've missed any, please let me know!
Thanks for the list twa_priv!
** Most of these apps have been removed in Galaxy Task v12 slim **
Or you can get cache cleaner from market. It help cleared a few more mb's . Disk space is another app that can show you what's taking up the space.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
It amazes me how much crap accumulates on my tab as well - thanks for starting this thread.
A couple suggestions that I've found useful, too:
1. NANDROID backups - each of mine is at least 1GB - keep an eye on how many you're keeping around... I'm a bit of a flash-junkie, so I have 2 currently, but usually only keep one around;
2. SD Maid in the market is pretty useful at rooting out junk.... I only use the free version, so not sure how much more the paid one would remove - but every time I've run it, I usually can clear up a few 100mb.
Hope it helps!
I just do a factory reset every few months. Gets rid of a lot of crap.
Most people don't like this method because they want to "settle in" and doing a factory reset upsets the nest. However, I like to experiment a lot with apps and a reset clears out the experiments. It lets me start all over fresh.
TabGuy said:
I just do a factory reset every few months. Gets rid of a lot of crap.
Most people don't like this method because they want to "settle in" and doing a factory reset upsets the nest. However, I like to experiment a lot with apps and a reset clears out the experiments. It lets me start all over fresh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of us serial flashers are doing factory resets weekly...if not nightly.
slack04 said:
Big files that can be deleted:
Hope this helps! Please add your ideas for significant space savings in the comments.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the effort!
Where could I find a "summary" of the Android file structure (no joy with google search)? Let say, a factory install of Android 2.2 or 3.0 or whatever.
It would be interesting to know what each directory is for.
got556 said:
Most of us serial flashers are doing factory resets weekly...if not nightly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the last 3 weeks Ive probably did a full wipe at least 20 times all on my phone though
Since Ive installed the CM KANG I havent wanted to flash anything else
DT3CH said:
In the last 3 weeks Ive probably did a full wipe at least 20 times all on my phone though
Since Ive installed the CM KANG I havent wanted to flash anything else
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to be clear: there's a difference between a "full wipe" (which most people mean is just using the "clear data" function in CWM) and a factory reset (which is done by going to Settings-->Privacy-->Factory Data Reset.)
The factory data reset deletes everything on the tab. I personally never use this; there's no advantage to the user since the android system sees it as an SD card. The full wipe deletes the system partition and that's the only thing that makes a difference when you're installing a new ROM.
Think of it this way: There are 3 partitions. Android is installed on one partition and an image of the stock ROM is saved on another backup partition. A third partition is just for data (this is what you see when you plug your tab into windows). When you factory reset, you're formatting both the android partition and the data partition, then installing the ROM on the android partition and recreating the file structure on the data partition. Wipe data, on the other hand, just formats the android partition--which is where the ROM is loaded. (BTW--This is totally oversimplified, if you're a dev don't flame, I'm just trying to make it easier to understand. Also, don't ever mess with the partitions on your tablet...)
BTW- This is similar to how I manage my Windows computers. I have the same three partitions described above. Every 8 weeks or so I write down the applications I want to permanently add to my system; make sure all my data is transferred to the data partition; figure out what tweaks and applications I've added since the last time I imaged the drive (I keep a list); and then I format the windows partition and reinstall the most recent image. Then I set all the tweaks and add all the applications I wrote down; run a windows update; and reimage the drive (and save the image on the recovery partition). This way my windows installation is always like brand new, except with all the updates done, all my programs installed, and all system options configured. My data is completely unaffected, and I can do this in about 15 minutes.
got556 said:
Most of us serial flashers are doing factory resets weekly...if not nightly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what Titanium Backup is for
Hi everyone, so I was wondering what was the best way to backup everything, apps, apps' data and system settings before flashing a new ROM or the same but with new base (which usually requires a clean install).
I've been told that the TWRP backup isn't that great because it'll bring over the "junk" from the previous version, and it doesn't really backup photos for instance.
Samsung's SmartSwitch, at least for me, doesn't backup applications at all. I've tried the phone version as well as the computer one, the phone one crashes once it gets to the app part, the computer one finishes but then there are no apps backed up.
I tried Titanium Backup but I don't know exactly which is the best option, should I be backup just apps and data? Or system data as well? If the correct way is both and let's say that the new ROM is "more" debloated", wouldn't I be putting back in the bloatware by backing up system data as well?
As far as system is concerned I just want to backup something like alarms, memo, system settings like brightness and I think that's more or less it.
Thanks a lot to anyone that helps me, I've been making tons of backup recently trying to find the best solution but couldn't.
Personally I use Titanium Backup, including unlimited external AppData (see in Settings). By that I get at least 80% of my apps back with all the settings done. My photos/videos are stored on my SD and backupped via google photos.
Always looking for a better and easier way to do all this, but for the moment that works pretty well. Still takes 1 - 1&1/2 hours to switch rom, restore backups and set up all my apps that could not be backupped completely.
So I ran into an issue with my locked-bootloader, unrooted MXPE 2015. I am running stock Marshmallow. I will note that I don't think this is really a bootloop, it seems to boot for a few seconds before a crash/reboot. I am able to boot into recovery, and am even able to trigger a safe-mode boot during the few seconds of uptime, where the safe-mode boot does not crash/reboot. I also suspect a Factory Reset will fully resolve the issue, unless the factory image got corrupted somehow... I do apologize, this is a long post.
I was essentially trying to make a backup to do a factory reset. Long story short, I was trying to use an app called Easy Backup that consolidates sms, mms, call logs, and that I had used in the past without issue. However this time that was not the case. I have a 16 GB version with an SD card, but have used ~8.5 GB of the internal free ~9.8 GB (I can't remember the exact numbers) and I constantly run into low storage situations with app caches and install sizes when doing updates. Normally clearing all app cache data is enough to get the downloads to go through.
So I go to run this backup app (with the default storage directory set on my external SD card) to have it uploaded to Google Drive, and after it gets close to finishing, I get errors about running out of storage, and then a cascade of apps crashing, and then a reboot. After the reboot, I check my Drive folder and see that the file never uploaded; the storage seems to have cleared up, but I clear my cache and the backup app's storage just in case (though it had already pretty much cleared back to the 8.5 GB used from before). I also notice some oddities like random settings suddenly having changed in certain apps. But I stupidly think no harm has been done, so maybe retrying after clearing up Cache space will work. So I tried to get the backup to run again after verifying the upload and storage location options (SD Card -not internal - and G Drive), but the same storage and crashing thing happens. It "finishes" the backup, and after a few seconds of the phone hanging and lagging, it reboots again. This time after the reboot I notice that apps are missing from my Nova Launcher home screen (but still in my app drawer), and go to restore a backup of Nova, except the overview and home buttons don't do anything, and then see that the notification shade can't be pulled to open the settings toggles. Then it suddenly reboots again. And now, unless I boot into safe mode, I get a few seconds of of it sitting at the home screen before the phone reboots. This same nav button and settings shade behavior are persistent in safe mode.
I guess my question is whether or not there is a way to pull off my SMS, MMS, Call log data (maybe in ADB?) while in safe mode. I have been trying to uninstall extraneous apps in Safe Mode to see if I can break the rebooting cycle, but no luck thus far.
On another note, should I go ahead and do a factory reset or should I contact Moto first (I have a Moto Care policy, though I've heard horror stories). I have never had this issue with this app before,
Any other recommendations and tips? It almost seems like the app tries to cache on my internal storage before moving to the destination folder, and in a low storage situation it seems to have corrupted something in the actual OS as well as my other apps.
Thank you, I appreciate your time!
If memory serves, apps like Easy Backup may store things on external storage or upload to the cloud, but use app cache space as temporary working space, thus most likely causing your storage issue. Erasing app cache likely wiped that out, and your are correct that a factory reset will likely clear up this issue.
Moto care doesn't care if an app messed up your system, and they won't help you with it other than to walk you through a factory reset first before sending the device in for replacement, as I suspect a factory reset will clear your issues up.
Have you tried clearing the cache partition in recovery?
Recovering your data will be impossible if you can't get it booted long enough to enable ADB and copy the files off.
If you can get if booted, I suggest using SMS Backup & Restore over your existing backup tool for this type of data... I have used it successfully for many years without issues (except when they accidentally had it set by default to delete all but the last 2 backup file on Google Drive, geesh, that sucked, but that isn't an issue anymore).
acejavelin said:
If memory serves, apps like Easy Backup may store things on external storage or upload to the cloud, but use app cache space as temporary working space, thus most likely causing your storage issue. Erasing app cache likely wiped that out, and your are correct that a factory reset will likely clear up this issue.
Moto care doesn't care if an app messed up your system, and they won't help you with it other than to walk you through a factory reset first before sending the device in for replacement, as I suspect a factory reset will clear your issues up.
Have you tried clearing the cache partition in recovery?
Recovering your data will be impossible if you can't get it booted long enough to enable ADB and copy the files off.
If you can get if booted, I suggest using SMS Backup & Restore over your existing backup tool for this type of data... I have used it successfully for many years without issues (except when they accidentally had it set by default to delete all but the last 2 backup file on Google Drive, geesh, that sucked, but that isn't an issue anymore).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I did try cleaning the cache partition, but to no avail. Ironically because I was messing with ROMs on my old 2013 moto x, I'm currently using that with CM 13. When I get back from work tonight I'll see about ADB, I think I may have set it up on it in the past, however I may have deactivated it. And yeah, I think I may have used that tool in the past, so I'll have to give it another look!
I thought that the Moto Care route may not be worth it, but I thought that I might as well check. If a reset doesn't solve things, I'll take another look. Thanks for the help, really appreciate it!
acejavelin said:
If memory serves, apps like Easy Backup may store things on external storage or upload to the cloud, but use app cache space as temporary working space, thus most likely causing your storage issue. Erasing app cache likely wiped that out, and your are correct that a factory reset will likely clear up this issue.
Moto care doesn't care if an app messed up your system, and they won't help you with it other than to walk you through a factory reset first before sending the device in for replacement, as I suspect a factory reset will clear your issues up.
Have you tried clearing the cache partition in recovery?
Recovering your data will be impossible if you can't get it booted long enough to enable ADB and copy the files off.
If you can get if booted, I suggest using SMS Backup & Restore over your existing backup tool for this type of data... I have used it successfully for many years without issues (except when they accidentally had it set by default to delete all but the last 2 backup file on Google Drive, geesh, that sucked, but that isn't an issue anymore).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I did get in and take another look, however developer options just shows "Developer permissions not available for this user." So I think i may be hosed. I'll give it another go and see what I can try to salvage from booting into safe mode again. Thank you for the help and recommendations, this willteach me not to be using something like SMS backup instead (and consistently, haha).
jtflynnz said:
So I did get in and take another look, however developer options just shows "Developer permissions not available for this user." So I think i may be hosed. I'll give it another go and see what I can try to salvage from booting into safe mode again. Thank you for the help and recommendations, this willteach me not to be using something like SMS backup instead (and consistently, haha).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you are in a Guest user account, can you switch users?
acejavelin said:
Sounds like you are in a Guest user account, can you switch users?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I looked at that, and it says I am logged into my account. Photos below:
So coincidentally, I just got it connected to my wifi while in safe mode, and it hasn't crashed/rebooted since that (it still was doing that prior). I can get into the play store, so I am going to try to get my sms/call logs/mms. Home and overview buttons are still broken, and the notification shade is still borked. So No ADB backup, but at least I have most things on my SD card and was on MM, so the app backups should help get restarted. Once I get everything checked/backed-up that I can, I'll try a factory reeset, and failing that a call to moto care *cringes*.
Thanks for the help everyone! I learned my lesson on small-storage phones...
jtflynnz said:
So I looked at that, and it says I am logged into my account. Photos below:
So coincidentally, I just got it connected to my wifi while in safe mode, and it hasn't crashed/rebooted since that (it still was doing that prior). I can get into the play store, so I am going to try to get my sms/call logs/mms. Home and overview buttons are still broken, and the notification shade is still borked. So No ADB backup, but at least I have most things on my SD card and was on MM, so the app backups should help get restarted. Once I get everything checked/backed-up that I can, I'll try a factory reeset, and failing that a call to moto care *cringes*.
Thanks for the help everyone! I learned my lesson on small-storage phones...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a corporate account on the device that is a Device Administrator? That is the only other thing I can think of that could cause something like that.
acejavelin said:
Do you have a corporate account on the device that is a Device Administrator? That is the only other thing I can think of that could cause something like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, nothing like that. It's my own personal device with no work emails, and in fact I had previously used USB debugging to backup pictures when my SD Card got corrupted. All of this weirdness occured after the failed backups, and just speculating it honestly seems like when the app ran out of room it just kept going and started overwriting random bits (ie the Nova Launcher settings/ homescreen), and might be why the Navigation buttons/Notification shade are broken. But that's just me spit-balling , so really there might be no telling what happened.
jtflynnz said:
No, nothing like that. It's my own personal device with no work emails, and in fact I had previously used USB debugging to backup pictures when my SD Card got corrupted. All of this weirdness occured after the failed backups, and just speculating it honestly seems like when the app ran out of room it just kept going and started overwriting random bits (ie the Nova Launcher settings/ homescreen), and might be why the Navigation buttons/Notification shade are broken. But that's just me spit-balling , so really there might be no telling what happened.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well... Try to get off what you can, then factory reset, I imagine things will improve greatly.
I just had an issue similar to this... phone (1575) would reboot (continuous reboot) after about 30-45 seconds every time (reminded me of TV show Lost where you had only a certain amount of time before you had to reset)... enough to uninstall a GPS app I was tinkering with a few hours prior... enough to delete cache... enough to reboot into recover to wipe cache partition... about 4 reboots to finally download a Google app update (which in the end said it couldn't successfully install) etc. Sometimes powering off would reboot instead (and after a while could not reboot into safe mode, just a normal reboot) so the few times I had the phone off, I took out/reset the SIM and SD card. What seemed to solve it was taking out the SD card (formatted as External, but was always a pain -- a week or so ago it "disappeared" and had to reformat the SD card (just downloaded stuff)) and when I powered it up this morning, no more reboots. Of course for now, no more added storage But saved me a full factory reset.
Hey guys,
I'm running into a couple issues with my phone so I want to factory reset. However, I'm stuck in this tricky situation where I was able to import my data from the S7, but I cannot re-back it up under the S8.
I'd been using Helium ever since I got my S7, since it uses the built-in backup methods without requiring root. However, under Nougat it doesn't seem to work as well. You cannot restore backups that include the .apk anymore, you have to install the apps first then restore their data.
Now I'm getting a bunch of apps where I restored the data from an older version where it was still possible, updated the apps from the Play store, and now I can't back them up again! I was testing this out with the actual adb desktop backup commands... those apps just give me a blank backup file. Examples are Gboard (formerly Google Keyboard) - you always used to be able to back that up with adb, and it still shows up in the list (e.g. they didn't do allow backups=false), but it doesn't work. Helium gives an error, adb just gives me a 1KB file with nothing in it. There's clearly data there...
What gets me is that Helium uses the *official* built-in Android desktop backup protocol. It's like Google started killing that off without telling anyone, and without even having the phone return a message saying the app can't be backed up. It appears to work, but you get a blank file.
I used to be able to just use a custom recovery to make a nandroid backup, so I could easily factory reset and recover if that didn't fix the problem. But since there's no root method for the Snapdragon S8, and AFAIK the stock bootloader can't do backups like that, I'm out of options.
Does anyone use any other methods? I know Google/Android *supposedly* backup your appdata for you, but it never works - every time I try that it reinstalls the app with empty data and I have to set everything up all over again.
I would suggest using Samsung's own Cloud to back up your data. Works surprisingly well, it backs up pretty much everything, even home screen layout. It even backs up apps like OGYoutube or anything 3rd party. Looks like it backs up the entire apk and restores them with your data and logins. Worked well for me when I flashed G950U1 firmware
EDIT: Also if you go this route and factory reset your device for whatever reason, upon initial set up skip restoring apps from Google since Samsung's cloud will restore those apps back. I noticed that if you use both restore methods they will clash and your Samsung apps will be overwritten and your data will be wiped. Don't know if anyone else noticed this, just from my experience.
moises93 said:
I would suggest using Samsung's own Cloud to back up your data. Works surprisingly well, it backs up pretty much everything, even home screen layout. It even backs up apps like OGYoutube or anything 3rd party. Looks like it backs up the entire apk and restores them with your data and logins. Worked well for me when I flashed G950U1 firmware
EDIT: Also if you go this route and factory reset your device for whatever reason, upon initial set up skip restoring apps from Google since Samsung's cloud will restore those apps back. I noticed that if you use both restore methods they will clash and your Samsung apps will be overwritten and your data will be wiped. Don't know if anyone else noticed this, just from my experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, what? How do I do that? I tried the Smart Switch Windows software (not the one that lets you transfer between phones, there's a PC version too), and it only backed up the .apk, not the data.
drfsupercenter said:
Wait, what? How do I do that? I tried the Smart Switch Windows software (not the one that lets you transfer between phones, there's a PC version too), and it only backed up the .apk, not the data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just go under Settings>Cloud and Accounts>Samsung Cloud and enable backup, check it out in there. It pretty much gives you details of what it'll back up for you.
moises93 said:
EDIT: Also if you go this route and factory reset your device for whatever reason, upon initial set up skip restoring apps from Google since Samsung's cloud will restore those apps back. I noticed that if you use both restore methods they will clash and your Samsung apps will be overwritten and your data will be wiped. Don't know if anyone else noticed this, just from my experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you have to turn off any settings on Google backup before resetting phone ?
moises93 said:
I would suggest using Samsung's own Cloud to back up your data. Works surprisingly well, it backs up pretty much everything, even home screen layout. It even backs up apps like OGYoutube or anything 3rd party. Looks like it backs up the entire apk and restores them with your data and logins. Worked well for me when I flashed G950U1 firmware
EDIT: Also if you go this route and factory reset your device for whatever reason, upon initial set up skip restoring apps from Google since Samsung's cloud will restore those apps back. I noticed that if you use both restore methods they will clash and your Samsung apps will be overwritten and your data will be wiped. Don't know if anyone else noticed this, just from my experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like Samsung will terminate data back up after 11 Jan 2018 - must be a capacity issue.
https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS8/comments/7k2ihz/samsung_will_remove_app_data_backups_in_samsung/
While trying to free up some space on my phone by deleting photos that were backed up to the cloud using the Google Photos app, I somehow managed to delete my entire camera photos folder (DCIM). 95% of the photos are already in the cloud, but I lost about 400 photos from an 8 days trek in Perú since it happened on the way back to town after 8 days without any connection.
I was trying to use apps like DiskDigger to recover the photos but didn't have any luck - the problem is that I am not rooted of course - I'm running stock 7.1.2. And from what I've learned so far rooting wipes the entire phone.
Is there a way to extract an image file of the user data partition in order to recover the lost photos? I've read that PhotoRec can do that once you have the image file.
If anyone could shed some light on that process or suggest another solution I'll be forever grateful!
There are forensic programs that I've seen people use for that purpose. Because the data is still there but marked as free space until it's overwritten
I confirm that PhotoRec works great.
But if you left default settings that is encrypted, there's no easy known way to decipher them. Block is ciphered with a key derived from the master key in the unreachable hardware module.
And even unencrypted, you'd need root to pull raw partition which AFAIK requires unlocked BL which wipes data.