Rolled back to Pie from Q Beta 2...what a nightmare

[HyperM3]

Well, I just had too many issues with Beta 2 that I rolled back to Pie. Its been a long time since I factory reset a phone and I completely effed up my backup situation.

I failed to realize every time I got a new phone, I had my old phone right there I could swap everything over from. I did not backup everything I needed.

It took me 5 hours last night to find everything that was not downloaded or set up properly. Only thing I did backup before I reset was my Nova and Contacts. I completely lost my audio folder(found a backup folder from my nexus 6p). I lost all the photos I had downloaded(not in my actual photos app).

I forgot about half of my logins and got locked out of some of those. And Im surprised that none of my text messages repopulated, even though they are supposedly backed up by Google.

Ugh, this is just a fair warning to anyone who is going to factory reset their phone, backup everything! And it does not take only 30 minutes....

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

I have a USB c flash drive that I regularly back my Pixel up to. I copy the Android folder and all the pictures and videos etc. When I reset my phone I copy those folders back and my data repopulates.

I use an app called SMS backup and restore. It backs up daily and I can restore all my messages with that.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore

 

[mustang7757]

Well, I just had too many issues with Beta 2 that I rolled back to Pie. Its been a long time since I factory reset a phone and I completely effed up my backup situation.

I failed to realize every time I got a new phone, I had my old phone right there I could swap everything over from. I did not backup everything I needed.

It took me 5 hours last night to find everything that was not downloaded or set up properly. Only thing I did backup before I reset was my Nova and Contacts. I completely lost my audio folder(found a backup folder from my nexus 6p). I lost all the photos I had downloaded(not in my actual photos app).

I forgot about half of my logins and got locked out of some of those. And Im surprised that none of my text messages repopulated, even though they are supposedly backed up by Google.

Ugh, this is just a fair warning to anyone who is going to factory reset their phone, backup everything! And it does not take only 30 minutes....

It's also a warning anyone going try beta best have a back up phone and be prepared bugs and crashes . Be also prepared for a wipe if going to roll back , hopefully we see you in other beta builds. .

 

[Mike Dee]

I recommend LastPass for keeping track of you logins and passwords. It's full featured even without the premium version and works across all your devices including PCs.

 

[HyperM3]

I use an app called SMS backup and restore. It backs up daily and I can restore all my messages with that.

I actually used to use that at one point. However, I was confident my backup with Google was going to repopulate my messages.

I recommend LastPass for keeping track of you logins and passwords. It's full featured even without the premium version and works across all your devices including PCs.

Excellent, Ill have to look into that. My password keeper also did not keep all its passwords when I logged back in.

 

[ptkelly]

Well, I just had too many issues with Beta 2 that I rolled back to Pie. Its been a long time since I factory reset a phone and I completely effed up my backup situation.

I failed to realize every time I got a new phone, I had my old phone right there I could swap everything over from. I did not backup everything I needed.

It took me 5 hours last night to find everything that was not downloaded or set up properly. Only thing I did backup before I reset was my Nova and Contacts. I completely lost my audio folder(found a backup folder from my nexus 6p). I lost all the photos I had downloaded(not in my actual photos app).

I forgot about half of my logins and got locked out of some of those. And Im surprised that none of my text messages repopulated, even though they are supposedly backed up by Google.

Ugh, this is just a fair warning to anyone who is going to factory reset their phone, backup everything! And it does not take only 30 minutes....

It is a fair warning. If you don't back up your data, at least with Google Drive, and don't keep a list of logins it can be a hassle. Of course, if you have those two rather basic bases covered, it's not bad at all. I do a factory reset at least once a year just for housekeeping. Most of the time is taken "optimizing apps" so the number of apps you have is a significant variable. I have 67 total but some have hundreds.

 

[HyperM3]

It is a fair warning. If you don't back up your data, at least with Google Drive, and don't keep a list of logins it can be a hassle. Of course, if you have those two rather basic bases covered, it's not bad at all. I do a factory reset at least once a year just for housekeeping. Most of the time is taken "optimizing apps" so the number of apps you have is a significant variable. I have 67 total but some have hundreds.

My once a year is every November....when I typically set up my new Pixel from the old one.

 

[J Dubbs]

I run a super lean phone..... I don't use any third party apps because I don't need any, and except for my wallpaper my phone is bone stock.... I'm perfectly happy with the stock settings.

So for me factory resetting is super easy.... just the way I like it ;-)

 

[galaxyfive]

Google is pretty clear about the pitfalls entering and leaving the Beta program. There should be no surprises.

 

[Jeremy8000]

That's the thing about beta releases, especially early on... You're pretty much entering into it with the understanding that (even aside from the fact that many 3rd party apps will not work well or at all, with little incentive to invest time in making them compatible with a future OS wherein developmental builds may void much of that effort) some or many of the functions will certainly not be working or at least working as intended.

 

[HyperM3]

That's the thing about beta releases, especially early on... You're pretty much entering into it with the understanding that (even aside from the fact that many 3rd party apps will not work well or at all, with little incentive to invest time in making them compatible with a future OS wherein developmental builds may void much of that effort) some or many of the functions will certainly not be working or at least working as intended.

None of this was a surprise. Ive done betas for every OS that came out as long as it was available. I do betas for any app I can. This is the first beta Ive ever used that I had to roll-back.

The point of this thread was not that Betas are going to work as daily drivers. The point was you should always prepare a solid backup of your phone in the situation you need to reinstall everything to a previous version.

I was used to backing up all my Nexus phones when I would install a new ROM. Since I havent done that with any of my Pixels, I wasnt in the habit of backing up as often(or at all anymore) in a few years. Hence the current situation.

 

[Mike Dee]

The point of this thread was not that Betas are going to work as daily drivers.

Wasn't the point of the thread, more often than not, other points will be made in an open discussion so that all readers and posters may benefit. It's all fair as long as it's within the boundaries of the topic and the thread doesn't get derailed.

 

[HyperM3]

Wasn't the point of the thread, more often than not, other points will be made in an open discussion so that all readers and posters may benefit. It's all fair as long as it's within the boundaries of the topic and the thread doesn't get derailed.

I think that point was made clear in several posts and threads, and didn't need to turn this thread into that being the main point. That's the point I was trying to make.

 

[mustang7757]

I think that point was made clear in several posts and threads, and didn't need to turn this thread into that being the main point. That's the point I was trying to make.

The main thing that shocked me when you said took 5 hours to get everything back the way you wanted.

 

[HyperM3]

The main thing that shocked me when you said took 5 hours to get everything back the way you wanted.

I lost my ringtones and notifications. All the wallpapers Id downloaded over the past couple years. None of my texts carried over(which is weird because they always backed up from pixel to pixel). And I forgot half my passwords so I had to redo them.

 

[mustang7757]

I lost my ringtones and notifications. All the wallpapers Id downloaded over the past couple years. None of my texts carried over(which is weird because they always backed up from pixel to pixel). And I forgot half my passwords so I had to redo them.

That's strange , usually Google drive keeps all that info stored . Definitely check out your backup in Google Drive should be there.

 

[Mike Dee]

I lost my ringtones and notifications. All the wallpapers Id downloaded over the past couple years. None of my texts carried over(which is weird because they always backed up from pixel to pixel). And I forgot half my passwords so I had to redo them.

That's how we learn.. lol.

Been playing with operating systems for over 40 years. Spent a lot time of trashing and crashing stuff. I think I've got the hang of it now, but I'm sure I'll lose something before I'm dead.

 

[HyperM3]

That's strange , usually Google drive keeps all that info stored . Definitely check out your backup in Google Drive should be there.

I even ran a full backup before doing the reset to make sure everything was up to the minute. Very odd.

 

[mustang7757]

That's how we learn.. lol.

Been playing with operating systems for over 40 years. Spent a lot time of trashing and crashing stuff. I think I've got the hang of it now, but I'm sure I'll lose something before I'm dead.

Lmfaoo, so true

 

[mustang7757]

I even ran a full backup before doing the reset to make sure everything was up to the minute. Very odd.

What I learn with Google back up like text and stuff make sure its back led up sometimes it takes awhile. But definitely strange.