How does Helium work?

[evilfantasy]

How what? Copying the files from one device to another?

You need to have the apps (app data) that you are transferring installed on the Internal Memory of the device. If you have any apps running from the External SD Card then transfer them on to the Internal Memory before starting. If you have no SD Card then substitute External SD Card for Google Drive. You can import and export backups from Google Drive just like you can an External SD Card.

Device A) without Helium.
On Device A install the apps that you want to import the app data from Device B.
Also install Helium on Device A.

Device B) should already have Helium installed and the apps installed that you want to transfer the app data to Device A.
Run a backup of the app data on Device B.
Under 'Select Backup Destination' choose 'External SD Card'

Once the backup is finished on Device B remove the SD Card and put it in Device A.

Open Helium on Device A and choose 'Restore and Sync'
Then choose 'External SD Card' and the list of your installed apps should populate.
Select the apps you want to import the app data to and then select 'Restore'

Now the app data from Device B will be on Device A.

Next if using an External SD Card then put the other SD Card that you were not using yet into the device that has no SD Card in it and run a new backup.

 

[Rukbat]

Look at where the carbon (not Carbon - case counts in Linux) folder is located in the SD card from the other phone. It should be in the root of the card. (IOW, if you're familiar with the :Linux terminal, the folder name is /carbon.) Look in your phone and there should be a folder named sdcard (it may be buried down a few folders, like /mnt/emulated/0/sdcard). Put the carbon folder in the root of that sdcard. (That should be where Helium is creating it when you do a backup on the N7 - if not, find the carbon folder and overwrite it with the one from your PC.)

I've never used Helium, since I do nandroid backups. (Much easier - one backup, one restore, and everything is as it was. I don't normally run into situations in which I have to do a factory reset.)

 

[ruhban]

Wow thanks guys that's a lot of info to get through so I'll try the restore tonight and hopefully I'll get my Nexus back to the way it should be.

Posted via my Z10 using Android Central App

 

[indicomp]

Sorry for the huge post; I know some of it is repetitive to what’s already been said.

I found Helium troublesome to use as well. It’s tricky. If you're planning to reset/reformat your device (erase everything and start fresh) and you’re planning on backing up to internal storage/sd card you definitely need to make sure you follow the correct procedure.

First, go to the link at the very bottom of my post and follow the instructions for Helium up to step 7. If you try to perform Step 8 (restore), however, you’ll find that there’s nothing to restore (the section is empty).

So, in order to be able to restore, you need to perform a sync from your PC. You should be able to perform this step before or after you reset your target device. From your device’s Helium app, click on the settings button (should be at the top right). From the drop down menu, choose “PC Download” (you need a wi-fi connection for this method and both your device and your PC must be connected to the same network). When you press “PC Download” you should be taken to a screen with a large green power icon; under it you should see the message “Helium Server is Running” and an IP address “...192...” (instead of the ellipses, you should see the rest of the IP address).

Open a browser (chrome, firefox etc.) on your PC and go to that address. Once there, you should see a “Restore” section and a “Backup” section. Ignore the “Restore” for now, we’ll get to that later. Under the “Backup” section, you should see a list of the apps you chose to back up in step 6 (if you don’t see the notes below). You can “Select All” (on the right) or manually choose which apps you want to Backup by clicking on them directly. Once you’re finished selecting, hit “Start Backup”. You will then be given an option to choose a destination to save the Backup (save it anywhere easily accessible on your PC). Once that backup is complete, open the folder where the backup zip folder is located. Now go back to the browser page and at the very top you should see that “Restore” section we spoke about earlier. In that section, there should be a gray box. Drag and drop the zip file into that gray box and the upload to your device will finally start. Once that upload is completed, your apps should be restored to how they were before you reset your device.

Hope that helps.

A couple of notes and troubleshooting steps.
If you’re wondering why you’re backing up your data twice, it’s because the first time you do it, even though you’re choosing your internal storage, because you’re going to reset that data, it doesn’t count (that data’s going to be erased when you reset your device). And so the second time you back up your data, you’re going to be downloading from Helium’s server onto your PC. Then, and only then, can you begin to restore onto your device.
Next, if you fail to see the list of apps, or not all of the apps you’re looking for are in that IP address, try installing the apps from the Google store (onto your device). Helium seems to require the app to be on your device before it can restore data to it (don’t ask me why).
Lastly, don’t bother trying to copy your “Carbon/Helium” folder from your internal storage. It’ll be useless when you try to paste it into your newly reset device. From what I understand, Helium will only work if you follow the long procedure described above.
joyofandroid(dot)(com)/how-to-backup-android-apps/#comment-142533

 

[Rukbat]

If you’re wondering why you’re backing up your data twice, it’s because the first time you do it, even though you’re choosing your internal storage, because you’re going to reset that data, it doesn’t count (that data’s going to be erased when you reset your device).

Have you ever tried to back it up to your external card?

 

[deejbee]

I have similar issues with Helium not working.

Trying to backup most apps on device (SGS2 not unlocked) causes "Backup Error: An error occurred while performing your app backup. A log of the error has been sent to ClockWorkMod. Click Backup to attempt to backup the remaining apps.". Pretty disappointing it doesn't tell you what went wrong and how I might be able to fix it. *Some apps do back up, most don't - there is no consistency as to why.

Attempt two: use the server on port 5000 and do a PD Download. After selecting the apps I want to backup it creates a .zip file, however it just contains a file called backup.json which just contains the JSON: {"packages":[]}. Ticking the box to Backup App Data Only has no effect. Whatever apps are picked I always end up with a tiny .zip file with just one .json file in it.

What gives?

 

[Tarototh]

When I perform backup, there is no external card option for the destination. Only internal card. Using galaxy note 4 with a 64g add on card.... I just got this phone so I have no real loss if the backup fails, I'm just experimenting at the moment so I know what to expect.

Not going to root, so nandroid type backups aren't an option.

Very disappointing to read here that once I copy the Carbon folder from my internal card to the external card, then perform a reset, that helium won't recognize the carbon folder for restoring....

I was hoping to not be tied down by doing a PC connected backup/restore

 

[Captainjman2]

Hello!

I have found a solution to allow the helium backup to be manually moved between phones. What I did was create the backup. Zip the carbon folder with ES File Explorer. Copy the folder to my computer. Unzip the folder. Then copy the unzipped carbon folder to the new device (empty of any apps) in the same location. Once I opened carbon, I went to restore and all my apps where there!

 

[erfanfadaei]

Hi,

I tried backing up my apps using the PC download option, but skipped the backup to internal memory step for some reason. I had to factory reset the phone, so knew the data would be wiped. Anyway, got the back up zip file. So far so good. I re-downloaded the app, and connected the phone to the computer and selected the same back up zip file in the grey restore box in the browser. It says restore complete, but it doesn't seem as if the apps have restored. They certainly haven't appeared on my phone. Should I be expecting something else?

Thanks

 

[ToolmakerSteve]

Tarototh, After reset device, you can just copy the folder from external SD card back to where it was originally.

erfanfadael, try installing the apps from Play Store, then do the Helium restore, to restore your data into the apps.

 

[RaniKheir]

Trying to backup most apps on device (SGS2 not unlocked) causes "Backup Error: An error occurred while performing your app backup. A log of the error has been sent to ClockWorkMod. Click Backup to attempt to backup the remaining apps.". Pretty disappointing it doesn't tell you what went wrong and how I might be able to fix it. *Some apps do back up, most don't - there is no consistency as to why.

Attempt two: use the server on port 5000 and do a PD Download. After selecting the apps I want to backup it creates a .zip file, however it just contains a file called backup.json which just contains the JSON: {"packages":[]}. Ticking the box to Backup App Data Only has no effect. Whatever apps are picked I always end up with a tiny .zip file with just one .json file in it.

What gives?

I know this is probably way too late to answer, but I came across this thread while googling and thought I should leave a solution for others who might bump into it as I did.

Had the same issue trying to backup apps from a Samsung Galaxy S2, unrooted, and thanks to this thread and this post, I was able to find a way around the small zip file (153 bytes 'backup.zip') with just the JSON file ('backup.json').

Here's a step by step solution:

1- Restart your device (just in case), keep wifi on, run Helium, don't click 'OK' yet
2- Run Helium on your computer
3- Connect the USB cable to your phone, give it a few seconds
4- Click 'OK' on your device's screen (on the 'Welcome to Helium' message)

• You should get the following message on your Android: "Android app backup enabled!" [Press OK]
• Your Helium on the PC should show a green arrow

5- Click the hamburger menu on the app, select 'PC Download'

• You should see a green on/off button, with a URL address displayed on port 5000

6- Unplug the USB cable [here's the weird part!]
7- Re-plug the USB cable, give it some time, maybe 20 seconds [the other weird part!]
8- Open your preferred browser on your PC (I used Chrome), type the address shown on your Android's screen, and give it some time to load all the apps. Now follow steps 9 to 12 on that page:

9- Select the apps you want to backup
10- Confirm 'Backup App Data Only' is unchecked
11- Click 'Start Backup'

• Don't touch anything that's happening on your device's screen, it goes through a dialogue form on its own, probably a script
• You'll also see a confirmation 'toast' saying "Backup starting..."

12- Once the backup is done you'll see a confirmation 'toast' saying "Backup finished", and the download should complete soon after

• Confirm your apps are saved in the zip file by opening it

13- To do another backup, repeat steps 6-12​

And that's one part done, the Backup part

What you need for the above:

1- Helium installed on your SGS2 (or other device, if it's having the same issue, worth giving this a shot)
2- Helium installed on your PC
3- A USB cable to connect the two
4- Have both of them be on the same network (Wi-Fi works)​

Hope this helps someone!

If anyone is wondering, I also tried restoring one of the apps from an S2 to an S4, worked well