How To Backup Android O Apps With Data Using Adb

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I got a new phone and there is an app on my old phone that I've lost the login info to. I'd like to try backing up the app and it's data from the old phone and moving it to the new phone but at least in the app I was trying (Swift Backup) this feature requires root. Is there any way to accomplish this without root?

I'm on a Verizon Pixel 5 so I don't think it will be possible for me to root for quite some time.

Last edited: Nov 24, 2020

I got a new phone and there is an app on my old phone that I've lost the login info to. I'd like to try backing up the app and it's data from the old phone and moving it to the new phone but at least in the app I was trying (Swift Backup) this feature requires root. Is there any way to accomplish this without root?
I'm on a Verizon Pixel 5 so I don't think it will be possible for me to root for quite some time.

Have you tried this
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.pixelmigrate

Good idea, I skipped this step when initially setting up my phone because I wanted to start fresh. I only realized my problem with this one app a while later.

Looking at that Data Transfer Tool it appears there is no actual way to open the app after you've set up the phone. Do you know if there might be some way? It does appear that this might fix my issue, but I cannot open this app. I can't see it in my app drawer but when I search on my settings I can find the app info for it, however there is no option to open the app. Very frustrating.

YES.
You might use HELIUM app. It requires a desktop companian app got installed, too.

How-to:

Install Helium on Android
Install Helium on your PC
Windows Users must also install Android drivers and restart.
Open Helium Desktop on PC
Open Helium on Android (and follow any instructions there)
Helium should now be enabled!

If adb is enabled...

adb backup still works although it isn't mentioned in the adb's help anymore...
At least still in Q that is...

basically: adb backup -f package.name.ab package.name
or with more stuff included: adb backup -apk -obb -f cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox.ab cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox

list the packages: adb shell pm list packages
or: adb shell cmd package list packages

find particular package, add grep: adb shell "pm list packages | grep cxz"
output is like : package:cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox

The package used as an example doesn't have any extra data to be saved really...

Last edited: Nov 24, 2020

adb backup still works although it isn't mentioned in the adb's help anymore...
At least still in Q that is...
basically: adb backup -f package.name.ab package.name
or with more stuff included: adb backup -apk -obb -f cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox.ab cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox

list the packages: adb shell pm list packages
or: adb shell cmd package list packages

find particular package, add grep: adb shell "pm list packages | grep cxz"
output is like : package:cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox

The package used as an example doesn't have any extra data to be saved really...

Nice, I think I'll give this a try. Once I back it up where do those files go? How do I then restore it on my new device?

Nice, I think I'll give this a try. Once I back it up where do those files go? How do I then restore it on my new device?

To the same folder from which you are running that adb. There is adb restore command too.
adb restore <file> - restore device contents from the <file> backup archive
It "should" work when you go upwards. Restoring to an older android version is less certain...

To the same folder from which you are running that adb. There is adb restore command too.
adb restore <file> - restore device contents from the <file> backup archive
It "should" work when you go upwards. Restoring to an older android version is less certain...

Ok, I think I see. In your original response for the adb backup command you included two params cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox.ab and cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox. Is one of those the apk and the other the app data?

I see here there are two different restore command, one for the actual app "adb install application.apk" and one to restore the data "adb restore application.backup"

Ok, I think I see. In your original response for the adb backup command you included two params cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox.ab and cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox. Is one of those the apk and the other the app data?

after -f is the file name where to backup. The last is the package name.

I see here there are two different restore command, one for the actual app "adb install application.apk" and one to restore the data "adb restore application.backup"

First one installs the apk, next one restores... so you should do like:
adb restore cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox.ab

No idea how it works like if you have that app as an newer system app in that new phone....
These things can be tricky so other exceptions are also possible...

adb backup still works although it isn't mentioned in the adb's help anymore...
At least still in Q that is...
basically: adb backup -f package.name.ab package.name
or with more stuff included: adb backup -apk -obb -f cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox.ab cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox

list the packages: adb shell pm list packages
or: adb shell cmd package list packages

find particular package, add grep: adb shell "pm list packages | grep cxz"
output is like : package:cxz.johnnysquirrel.riddleofthebox

The package used as an example doesn't have any extra data to be saved really...

ADB backup / restore doesn't allow you to backup things on the one phone and then restore them on the other phone.

ADB backup / restore doesn't allow you to backup things on the one phone and then restore them on the other phone.

If you say so... :rolleyes:

Switching phones like a pro: How our reviewers do it. (September 25, 2020)
https://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-switch-phones-901221/

I got a new phone and there is an app on my old phone that I've lost the login info to.

The login info is lost to the phone or the app?
If to the phone then confirming the backup might be quite challenging... :eek:

If you say so...
Switching phones like a pro: How our reviewers do it. (September 25, 2020)

The article linked to is absolutely useless.

OK, the backups created from ADB have no "checks" to see if the device you are restoring to is the same device.
But you'll run into big troubles if devices aren't of same version: by same version I mean the same actual Android version as well as the same manufacturer.

I got a new phone and there is an app on my old phone that I've lost the login info to. I'd like to try backing up the app and it's data from the old phone and moving it to the new phone but at least in the app I was trying (Swift Backup) this feature requires root. Is there any way to accomplish this without root?
I'm on a Verizon Pixel 5 so I don't think it will be possible for me to root for quite some time.

While answering to another question I came to think that it might work to this situation too.
So, the adb works? No use to write anything more if it doesn't...
Also that app must be signed with testkeys or some other known keys...

While answering to another question I came to think that it might work to this situation too.
So, the adb works? No use to write anything more if it doesn't...
Also that app must be signed with testkeys or some other known keys...

I tried the ADB backup and restore (without root) but it did not work. I was still prompted to log in on my new phone. Unfortunately it seems like I'll need to transfer the whole app's state from my old phone to new, which I'm not sure is possible.

Better written apps allow for backup.
I put those files on my SD card as well as a complete copy of all loaded user apps and system apk updates. My SD card is my data drive as well. I can do a full reload from it alone.

Without a data drive life is a lot more painful...

Okay, so adb works. It gives some possibilities...
So, you have a locked with what, pin or pattern. It's basically just like 10 000 of those that you have to test...

Not really sure what you're getting at here. It's locked because I no longer have access to the phone number I signed up for the app with. So when I install the app on my new phone it sends a verification pin to a number that I do not have, and I am not able to change the number associated with the account.

That's why I 'd need to transfer the whole app state over so I can open the app on my new phone and be exactly where I was on my old phone, with no need to log in.

Not really sure what you're getting at here. It's locked because I no longer have access to the phone number I signed up for the app with. So when I install the app on my new phone it sends a verification pin to a number that I do not have, and I am not able to change the number associated with the account.
That's why I 'd need to transfer the whole app state over so I can open the app on my new phone and be exactly where I was on my old phone, with no need to log in.

You still have the same email address? Just reset the password.
Or are things a bit more complicated?
What app are you referring too?

Not really sure what you're getting at here. It's locked because I no longer have access to the phone number I signed up for the app with. So when I install the app on my new phone it sends a verification pin to a number that I do not have, and I am not able to change the number associated with the account.
That's why I 'd need to transfer the whole app state over so I can open the app on my new phone and be exactly where I was on my old phone, with no need to log in.

So the old phone isn't locked, but the app is... :rolleyes:

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