Transfer apps via backup to USB using OTG

[johninleeds]

When transferring apps and data to a new Android tablet is it possible to backup the old device using an OTG cable and use that backup instead of using Google backup?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Unless the apps aren't available on the Play Store, there'd be no reason to back up the app itself to a USB drive -- if you wanted to, you'd have to use an APK extractor and save the APK file.

If you have a Samsung device, see this: www.samsung.com/sg/support/mobile-d...to-external-storage-in-samsung-mobile-device/. Otherwise, you can search for 3rd party backup apps -- I'm not going to post any links for them, because I have no idea how reliable they are, but just search "Android backup to USB drive" to find some options.

If you just want to do a direct transfer of data, many Android devices allow you to connect the old device to the new one via USB during the setup process. Which devices do you have?

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[johninleeds]

Thanks for your reply. I am a volunteer at a neighbourhood charity supporting the IT needs of elderly people to encourage and support computer literacy. Our building has poor WiFi and a common problem is the issue of backups. We cannot wait around uploading and downloading data to and from Google. There is a lot of responsibility when dealing with someone else's device. Each query has to be dealt with on its own merits.

 

[B. Diddy]

That's very commendable of you! So are a lot of those phones from Samsung, or is it pretty variable?

 

[johninleeds]

It is very variable. We get tablets as well as phones. A common problem is that IT interfaces are too complicated. I am looking at ways of scripting Android but that is a different topic.

 

[Rukbat]

If you use Apk Extractor or App Backup & Restore, you'll create .apk files of the apps (that's how they come originally), and you can back those files up. (Scripting the process might take a bit of work. But once the app is backed up, it's backed up, there's no need for it to be backed up by the user constantly. If you mean "back up the data", you'd need an app like Titanium Backup - which requires root, and isn't free.)