Best & Fastest Way For Re-Installing Apps

[Bob Garon]

Other than manually tapping the install over and over and over again, what's the best and fastest way to get all of the apps that I currently have on my phone to the new Nexus 5X?

Is there an efficient way or a better way?

I know Google started backing up the settings, but is there a way to backup all the apps so that when I log on to the Play Store with my Google Account everything populates it and comes back with all the apps installing themselves? Or is this not a capability yet of Android? Of course without rooting...

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[DWolf1231]

When you set up the phone, it should ask you which phone you want to use as a basis for installing apps. So just choose your current phone, and it should install/update based off that phone's apps. That feature was even present on KitKat... it just didn't/doesn't work worth a damn and you end up missing a bunch of your apps.

I'm just basing this off of what I've heard/read b/c I don't actually have my 5X yet.

 

[Bob Garon]

When you set up the phone, it should ask you which phone you want to use as a basis for installing apps. So just choose your current phone, and it should install/update based off that phone's apps. That feature was even present on KitKat... it just didn't/doesn't work worth a damn and you end up missing a bunch of your apps.

I'm just basing this off of what I've heard/read b/c I don't actually have my 5X yet.

Mine will be delivered today so I will definitely give this a test. So whenever you set up the phone and walk through the setup wizard is when I should ask me that? I only ask because I've never seen that before with any phone. I'm coming from the Sony Xperia z3 compact and it didn't do that whenever I got this one and before this I had a Motorola that didn't do it either.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[DWolf1231]

Like I said, I'm basing this off of what I've read. I think that's new to Marshmallow, perhaps.

 

[mr_nobody]

I'm planning to try helium for the first time, normally I would use titanium backup but I don't think I'll initially have root. I will however be immediately unlocking my bootloader.

 

[Almeuit]

I just sign into my Google account. It asks if I want to restore from a previous backup and I say yes, choose my apps, and then it goes through and downloads them all again for me.

 

[TheEdge65]

During the set up process the 5X asks you if you want to copy data over from another nearby device (in my case the original Nexus5). There is then this on screen code that comes up like when you are connecting a Chromecast for the first time. You confirm with a tap that this is the device you want to copy over from an Voila ! it gets to work.

 

[mr_nobody]

During the set up process the 5X asks you if you want to copy data over from another nearby device (in my case the original Nexus5). There is then this on screen code that comes up like when you are connecting a Chromecast for the first time. You confirm with a tap that this is the device you want to copy over from an Voila ! it gets to work.

This sounds neat IF it works. Are there any specific system requirements on the source end...eg: what version of android does this work with?

 

[TheEdge65]

This sounds neat IF it works. Are there any specific system requirements on the source end...eg: what version of android does this work with?

????? It did work in my use case scenario or I wouldn't have posted. The latter part of your question I cannot answer for sure. I had 6.0 on the Nexus 5 but assume it will work on lollipop? I seem to recall doing a similar set up process when I bought the OG Nexus although the "Chromecast like" code didn't appear that time, I assume this screen (on the 5X) is limited to just the new devices.

 

[mr_nobody]

That's all I'm saying, it's not an option for me running kitkat on an n4 so I will have to look at other approaches...

 

[yellowxboy]

I got my 5X today. I was easily able to transfer/download all the apps that I had on my Nexus 5 to the 5X just fine.

Just like TheEdge said, when you turn on your 5X, there is a prompt that will instruct you on how to transfer/download apps from another phone (mine was the Nexus 5). Both phones had the latest OS (marshmallow)

 

[mystiphi]

The choose a phone feature was available on Lollipop. I used it when changing phones a few weeks ago. Don't worry if your previous device isn't running Marshmallow.

 

[Bob Garon]

During the set up process the 5X asks you if you want to copy data over from another nearby device (in my case the original Nexus5). There is then this on screen code that comes up like when you are connecting a Chromecast for the first time. You confirm with a tap that this is the device you want to copy over from an Voila ! it gets to work.

Yes this method worked perfect for me. Thx!

Posted via my Nexus 5X

 

[PhiPsi32]

I tried that option, and it did not work well for me. It set default Google account to a different account than what I use, and it did not transfer all my accounts.

 

[Bob Garon]

I tried that option, and it did not work well for me. It set default Google account to a different account than what I use, and it did not transfer all my accounts.

From my experience the default account is always the first one that you answer the phone. That could be the problem.

Posted via my Nexus 5X

 

[andrewmtc]

During the set up process the 5X asks you if you want to copy data over from another nearby device (in my case the original Nexus5). There is then this on screen code that comes up like when you are connecting a Chromecast for the first time. You confirm with a tap that this is the device you want to copy over from an Voila ! it gets to work.

This method installed all but two apps for me - one was incompatible with Nexus 5x, I don't know why the other one (Fitbit) didn't auto-install.

BUT - none of the app settings were transferred, which is a major pita. So you have to go through the apps and re-enter account credentials etc.

 

[mr_nobody]

This method installed all but two apps for me - one was incompatible with Nexus 5x, I don't know why the other one (Fitbit) didn't auto-install.

BUT - none of the app settings were transferred, which is a major pita. So you have to go through the apps and re-enter account credentials etc.

You might try helium device-to-device sync (premium version only). Seems to be working great for me so far as a non root solution (usually use titanium backup) for migrating apps AND data from old phone to new.

 

[Gator_Girl_407]

You might try helium device-to-device sync (premium version only). Seems to be working great for me so far as a non root solution (usually use titanium backup) for migrating apps AND data from old phone to new.

If I use Helium for device to device sync, do I need to install it on my computer? It's asking me to install the desktop version. Thanks for the help!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[mr_nobody]

If I use Helium for device to device sync, do I need to install it on my computer? It's asking me to install the desktop version. Thanks for the help!

Posted via the Android Central App

Yes, if you are not rooted, you need the computer to kick off the adb on the phone required to do those types of backups (you only need the computer once per device reboot, after that you are not using the computer at all).

[edit]: From their wiki:

"Having to enable a device even though a Premium licence key has been purchased.

The issue that you are seeing is not an issue at all. Since you are using a non-root device, you need to enable Helium at every reboot of the device. This is a limitation in Android itself, as it flushes the ADB backup permissions at every boot. Having the premium key doesn't change this fact. "

https://github.com/koush/support-wiki/wiki/Helium-Wiki