What exactly is Back up my data?

[danthman]

Really want to trust "Back up my data" (but struggling)

Anyone know what exactly "Back up my data" (under Settings > Backup and reset) does and whether it is comprehensive and reliable?

Here is blurb included with the checkbox:

Back up application data, Wi-Fi passwords, and other settings to Google servers.

That's all well and good, but it would be nice to have some details on what exactly gets backed up. I'm not worried about contacts, music, or photos, as I already have those backed up in a few places, but I'm likely going to exchange my phone (due to a defective home button), and I'd really like not to have to manually redo all the settings for all my apps and recreate all my accounts. I'd also like my SMS history to be restored (though I won't be destroyed if this isn't possible).

Can anyone provide the gory details on "Back up my data"? Also, if it definitely sucks, what would you recommend instead? (I tried Helium but thus far have not been able to get the desktop app working on my Windows 7 laptop.)

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: Really want to trust "Back up my data" (but struggling)

Don't rely on it to backup much of your 3rd party app data. It will only backup data from apps that take advantage of the feature, and there's no easy way to tell which apps do that. Here's what Google says gets backed up and restored (from this support page):

• Google Calendar settings
• Wi-Fi networks & passwords
• Home screen wallpapers
• Gmail settings
• Apps installed through Google Play (backed up on the Play Store app)
• Display settings (Brightness & Sleep)
• Language & Input settings
• Date & Time
• Third-party app settings & data (varies by app)

If you want to backup all of your app data, use something like Helium.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Really want to trust "Back up my data" (but struggling)

Easebackup can backup and restore sms
Helium can backup and restore app data

Sent from my Pearly White Verizon Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge