Android phone full backup (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 days ago by bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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I think I asked before but never got a solid answer. I have a s23, I disable all google and Samsung services I can etc, but I am still stuck with stock android. I plan to move to a better phone in the next year.

However I need a solution for a full phone backup. Not even a sync right now, just plug in and backup all my apps notes and photos (photos are backed up already but I don't care about doubling up for now.

The reason being I dont want to lose or have my phone stolen and have no backup. I do have FMD installed but still.

This is one big downside of not being fully self hosted yet but refusing to use google products... No instant sync to a new phone if mine is lost.

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[-] hirihit640@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I believe you can use the command-line tool "adb" for this. It's been a while since I've done it since I use syncthing now, but here's a quick intro:

on phone, enable developer options
on computer, install android tools, which should come with adb (Do not install full android developer toolkit, it's huge. You only need adb)
on computer run 'adb devices', which should currently print that no devices were found
plug phone into computer, and accept authorization prompt on phone
on computer run 'adb devices' again and it should list your phone with the status "authorized"

Now you should be able to use adb pull -p -a <folder name> to back up folders to your computer, for example adb pull -p -a /sdcard/DCIM.

Note that you will have trouble backing up the /sdcard/Android folder, which contains a lot of app data. Unfortunately I think you need root to back up that folder. Alternatively you can back up individual apps using adb backup ....

Personally I think in the long term, automatic backups like syncthing is better. Manual backups are a hassle and because of that, you won't do them as often.

this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2026

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