Backup & Co.
Backup your apps
These helpers are to backup your apps (.apk
files), not their data!
- Uninstaller -Quick App Manager (4.3@4,600) Ǥ 5
2
LastUpdate: 2015-12-28
- Apk Extractor (4.2@74,478) Ǥ 9
1
LastUpdate: 2022-05-19 Video Howto 11/2018
- AppWererabbit (4.2@1,965) 7
LastUpdate: 2019-11-10 / AppWererabbit (DONATE) Key (3.7@53; ~EUR 3.25) Ǥ 1
LastUpdate: 2014-01-25 like AppMonster
- APK Extractor•APP Share/Backup (4.1@1,242) 4
1
LastUpdate: 2015-11-12
- Apk Extractor (4@1,158) 4
1
LastUpdate: 2018-01-17
- APK Extractor (3.5@2,788) Ǥ 10
3
LastUpdate: 2020-12-11
- App Backup & Restore, App Mana (3.5@227) 9
2
LastUpdate: 2020-02-05
- Easy Backup Restore - Apps Backup (3.4@264) Ǥ 9
4
LastUpdate: 2021-08-10
- App Backup And Restore (3.3@1,082) 4
1
LastUpdate: 2017-11-16
- Backup and Restore - APP & SMS (3.2@247,542) Ǥ 37
4
- App/APK extractor (3@375) 4
1
LastUpdate: 2018-12-20
- Apk Extractor (2.9@1,650) Ǥ 15
6
LastUpdate: 2019-03-18
- Apk Extractor (2.3@364) Ǥ 6
1
LastUpdate: 2020-11-18 Github
- Backups (0@0)
LastUpdate: 2022-01-21 Github
- APK Kit (0@0) 7
Github
- Neo Backup (0@0) 23
Github; Intro 10/2020; Vorstellung 10/2020; fork of oandbackup; apps+data
- DataBackup (0@0) 3
/ DataBackup (0@0) 12
Github; app data (needs root)
- oandbackup (0@0) 5
LastUpdate: 2019-03-15 Github; backup / restore of single apps and of multiple apps incl. their data are supported; root and Busybox required
- Kanade (0@0) 3
Github; APK-Extractor
Also see: AndSync with Perl via ADB => ICS+, no root required
Backup SMS/MMS
- SMS Backup & Restore (4.5@128,107) Ǥ 29
3
/ SMS Backup & Restore Pro (4.7@1,933; ~EUR 4.25) 23
2
SMS/MMS & call logs in XML format / Video Intro 6/2019
- Text Messages Backup & Restore App (4.5@1,840) Ǥ 20
12
LastUpdate: 2022-02-09
- SMS Backup (4.3@3,369) Ǥ 14
3
- SMS Backup, Print & Restore (4.1@11,293) Ǥ 13
4
- Send SMS/MMS Messages from PC (4@146,919) Ǥ 28
5
/ SMS & MMS from Tablet (3.9@19,804) Ǥ 11
7
SMS from within any browser; keep in mind this will need to upload your contacts and SMS to the cloud to work
- SMS Backup Restore (4@302) Ǥ 10
2
LastUpdate: 2020-10-04
- Backup SMS (2.9@385) Ǥ 8
2
LastUpdate: 2020-05-03
- SMS Gate (0@0) 18
GitLab
- SMS Import / Export (0@0) 11
Github; export/import SMS to/from JSON files
- Epistolaire (0@0) 3
LastUpdate: 2020-05-02 GitLab
Backup call logs
- Call Logs Backup & Restore (4.5@5,910) 10
LastUpdate: 2016-02-05
- Call Log Sync (0@0) 7
LastUpdate: 2022-02-24 Github
Backup calendars
- iCal Import/Export CalDAV (4.8@2,122; ~EUR 4.00) Ǥ 19
- Calendar Import-Export (3.5@643) 6
LastUpdate: 2022-05-04 Github; Import/export your Android calenders as ics files without using the Google cloud
- Calendar ICS adapter (0@0) 3
LastUpdate: 2016-05-27 Github; Import and export calendar files
Backup contacts
The easiest way to export/import your contact data can be found in the Contacts app itself: it offers to export/import data using the VCard format, which is also understood perfectly by most desktop applications. From the main window, simply activate the menu, and chose Export/Import – there you are.
- Easy Contacts Backup & Restore (4.4@47,168) Ǥ 19
5
local backup; move contacts between accounts
- Contacts Backup Excel & Email (4.4@28,396) Ǥ 12
4
- Contact Backup (4.3@227) Ǥ 11
5
LastUpdate: 2020-02-23
- MCBackup - My Contacts Backup (4.2@30,969) 6
2
- Contacts Backup & Restore (3.8@4,695) Ǥ 14
3
- SA Contacts Lite (3.8@4,466) Ǥ 13
5
LastUpdate: 2022-03-04 / SA Contacts (4.4@821; ~EUR 3.25) Ǥ 13
3
LastUpdate: 2022-03-04
- UiA - Backup Contacts (3.8@3,366) 4
1
LastUpdate: 2013-03-07
- My Contacts Backup - Merge, Save, Restore & Share (3.8@1,143) 12
3
LastUpdate: 2020-12-02
- Contact2Sim (3.5@9,225) 6
2
LastUpdate: 2019-07-12
- Export Import Excel Contacts (3.2@753) Ǥ 10
2
- SD Contacts (0@0) 2
LastUpdate: 2022-01-14 Github; automatically exports your contacts to SD card
Backup bookmarks
- Bookmarks manager (deprecated) (5@288) 6
1
LastUpdate: 2012-06-28
- VisiMarks: Bookmark Manager (3.9@6,860) Ǥ 10
3
- Mobile Bookmarks (3.7@96) Ǥ 8
2
Backup contacts, SMS, and more
- Rapid Backup & Restore - SMS, (4.5@63) 13
1
LastUpdate: 2020-04-10
- MyPhoneExplorer Client (4.4@42,526) Ǥ 43
3
Video Review 8/2017; Video Walk-Through 7/2017 (DE) | 8/2017 (DE); Wikipedia; Anleitung; requires Windows client; complete remote management
- Super Backup & Restore (4@181,832) Ǥ 43
10
- All Backup & Restore (4@4,706) Ǥ 21
3
local backup & copy-to-cloud
- Mobile Backup 3 (3.9@3,042) 23
3
LastUpdate: 2020-04-06
- Super SMS Call Contacts Backup (3.9@1,083) Ǥ 11
1
- Save Phonebook & SMS to Excel (3@653) Ǥ 8
5
LastUpdate: 2021-06-30 backup only, no restore
- Slight backup (0@0) 13
LastUpdate: 2013-09-03
Full Backups
Full Backups (root required)
- G Cloud Backup (4.3@317,987) Ǥ 19
9
- ROM Toolbox Lite (4.3@59,437) Ǥ 27
21
/ ROM Toolbox Pro (3.2@25,313; ~EUR 10.00) Ǥ 26
6
- Swift Backup (4@6,393) Ǥ 26
3
Backs up to Google Drive; without root no app data, WiFi networks etc.
- Partitions Backup & Restore (3.9@1,372) Ǥ 9
2
- Titanium Backup (root needed) (3.1@369,691) 22
LastUpdate: 2019-11-24 / Titanium Backup PRO Key (root (3.6@71,412; ~EUR 6.50) Ǥ 2
LastUpdate: 2019-10-27 Testbericht 5/2016; Howto EN 11/2013 | DE 11/2014; Video Tutorial 1/2014 (DE) | 9/2018 (EN); DroidWiki (DE)
- tarb. apps+data, system settings & more (CLI)
Full Backups without root
Not all of these "complete backups" do really backup everything (if they do, I've pointed it out). An (almost) full backup without root is only possible via ADB on Android 4.0+.
- Phone Backup and Restore (4.2@9,561) Ǥ 17
3
does not cover app data
- Backup Your Mobile (4.1@21,843) Ǥ 30
6
LastUpdate: 2021-05-01 Anleitung 2/2020
- Ultimate Backup (4.1@7,031) Ǥ 22
LastUpdate: 2016-10-12 real "full backups" might require root.
- JS Backup – Restore & Migrate (3.8@17,903) Ǥ 47
5
LastUpdate: 2021-06-08
- Huawei Backup (3.6@181,410) 46
1
- Helium - App Sync and Backup (3.4@68,547) Ǥ 24
2
LastUpdate: 2019-03-07 / Helium (Premium) (3.2@19,500; ~EUR 3.75) Ǥ 4
LastUpdate: 2013-12-28 Anleitung 3/2016 | 3/2017; full how-to; Video Howto 9/2013 (EN); Backup apps & data! root optional. Without root, app needs to be initialized via PC with ADB.
- My Backup (3.2@18,946) Ǥ 34
2
/ My Backup Pro (3.4@38,860; ~EUR 7.00) Ǥ 34
2
real "full backup" requires root
- Open Android Backup Companion (0@0) 8
Github; Companion app for Linux Android Backup
Also see: Adebar, a small project of mine. Utilizes ADB and Bash to generate scripts for backup/restore, also taking care for re-disabling apps following a restore.
There's also a FOSS pendant to the built-in Google Cloud backup, where you can shose your own resources (e.g. local card, Nextcloud) to back up to. A video demo of the Beta can be found at PeerTube. It’s called Seedvault, and you can find the source here – and Seedvault itself described in an article at nlnet. LineageOS includes Seedvault since Android 10 (LineageOS 17).
Full Backups: Nandroid
Nandroid Backups require a rooted device with Custom Recovery.
- ROM Toolbox Lite (4.3@59,437) Ǥ 27
21
/ ROM Toolbox Pro (3.2@25,313; ~EUR 10.00) Ǥ 26
6
- ROM Installer (4.3@43,544) Ǥ 17
21
- Ultimate Backup (4.1@7,031) Ǥ 22
LastUpdate: 2016-10-12 real "full backups" might require root.
- [ROOT] CRAB - Custom Recovery (4@31) 1
LastUpdate: 2018-10-22
- TWRP Manager (Requires ROOT) (3.8@34,233) Ǥ 12
4
LastUpdate: 2017-07-02 Live Nandroid Backup for TWRP
- Tipatch • Backup internal stor (2@144) 2
LastUpdate: 2018-11-27 Github; XDA 8/2018; patch TWRP to include internal storage
Using tetherback (needs Python3 and TWRP) you can create Nandroid-Backups directly from your PC; they are stored on your PC directly then.
And then there're also various PC-Tools for Backups:
- HoloBackup: Graphical FrontEnd for ADB Backup (formerly: SimpleADBBackup)
- Ultimate Backup Tool: Command-line tool to ease the use of ADB Backups
- tetherback: Create Nandroid backups remotely (requires TWRP on the device)
Also see: Full Backup of non-rooted devices
Backups to the Cloud
Also see: Synchronizing Files and Folders.
Backup SMS into the Cloud
- Nextcloud SMS (3.4@112; ~EUR 1.50) 18
LastUpdate: 2019-01-14 Github
Backup contacts into the Cloud
Backup SMS, MMS, and more into the Cloud
- All Backup Restore (3.1@4,409) Ǥ 24
5
LastUpdate: 2021-03-20
- SMS Backup+ (3@68,056) Ǥ 20
LastUpdate: 2020-01-25 Github; Howto 6/2016 | 8/2019; SMS, MMS, Call Logs – & WhatsApp?
Various Cloud Backups
Other Backups
Backup WiFi APNs
This generally requires root. And it's a fact: root has permission to access everything…
- WIFI Key Recovery [ROOT] (4.2@3,278) 2
LastUpdate: 2013-05-25
- WiFi Password Recovery (4.1@24,683) Ǥ 8
2
LastUpdate: 2021-10-27
- WiFi Key Recovery (needs root) (2.9@42,523) 2
LastUpdate: 2012-05-18 Kurzvorstellung 3/2015; restore manually
For more apps, also see WiFi Password Recovery
Photo Backup
- Immich (4.8@346) 16
Github
- PhotoSync – Transfer Photos (4.6@17,241) Ǥ 23
5
/ PhotoSync Bundle Add-On (4.8@3,498; ~EUR 6.00) 0
between phones, tablets and computers/NAS; instantly, on WiFi, or on a specified location
- ente Photos (4.5@191) Ǥ 9
1
/ ente - encrypted photo storage (0@0) 16
Github
- Photo Transfer: Send and Share (3.8@8,107) Ǥ 11
5
device to device (including your computer), no cloud (local WiFi)
- Les Pas, Nextcloud Photo Album (3.7@38) 18
Github; gallery incl. Backup/Sync with your Nextcloud
- PhotoBackup (3.7@7) 5
LastUpdate: 2016-11-08 Github; automatically backup your photos as soon as they are taken – to your own backup server
- Stingle Photos (2.8@135) Ǥ 17
Github; Review 8/2021 | 8/2021; gallery with backup functionality
Various Backups
- Sweet Home WiFi Picture Backup (4.3@2,466) 8
LastUpdate: 2020-02-26 Vorstellung 4/2017 | 3/2018; Camera photos/videos only?
- Linux Android Backup Companion (0@0) 6
Github
- Restic (0@0) 9
Github; unofficial Android client
- Backup (PFA) (0@0) 4
Github; backup/restore for all SECUSO Privacy Friendly Apps
- stasis (0@0) 7
Github; also available for Linux and Mac
Further Readings:
- General
- Artikel zum Android Backup bei MobilSicher.DE
- DroidWiki: Backup erstellen ohne Root
- Backup fürs Handy: Diese Möglichkeiten gibt es (10/2017 - 10/2021)
- Android-Backup im c't-Check: Auf Google darf man sich nicht verlassen (8/2017)
- Backup-Apps für Android: Alles sichern mit und ohne Cloud (1/2014 - 11/2020)
- Backup Apps, Contacts, Logs, Messages and Settings without Rooting Your Android Phone (3/2013 - 5/2018)
- Contacts, SMS/MMS
- 5 Android Apps To Backup Your Contacts & Messages (5/2014 - 7/2023)
- Nandroid Backups
- What is a Nandroid backup TWRP, and how to create and restore it? (1/2019 - 11/2022)
- Others
- Android Sicherung mit SeedVault and DAVx⁵ to your Nextcloud via WebDAV (12/2022)
- 4 Ways to Sync and Upload Photos to Cloud Storage on Android (8/2018 - 8/2019)