Sample Header Ad - 728x90

Android Enthusiasts

Q&A for enthusiasts and power users of the Android operating system

Latest Questions

-2 votes
1 answers
133 views
WhatsApp Business Restore fails at 69%
I’m trying to restore a full WhatsApp Business backup (~30 GB on Google Drive) onto a new Xiaomi Android phone. Every time, the restore process hangs at exactly 69% and then gives the error: > “Couldn’t restore chats.” After that, WhatsApp opens with some empty groups, but all message history is mis...
I’m trying to restore a full WhatsApp Business backup (~30 GB on Google Drive) onto a new Xiaomi Android phone. Every time, the restore process hangs at exactly 69% and then gives the error: > “Couldn’t restore chats.” After that, WhatsApp opens with some empty groups, but all message history is missing. This backup is business-critical and includes my entire customer communication history. Here’s the situation in more detail: **Device & Setup**: - Both phones are Xiaomi (Android) devices. - Backup size: ~30 GB, including media. - I’m using WhatsApp Business, latest version. **Things I’ve already tried**: 1. Multiple restore attempts from Google Drive → Every time, it gets stuck at 69% and fails. → Even creating a new cloud backup from the old phone didn’t help. 2. Manual restore from local backup (msgstore.db.crypt14) → My USB-C port is broken, so I had to transfer the files over Wi-Fi using file manager tools. → The folder structure and filenames were 100% correct (/WhatsApp/Databases), but the new phone ignored the backup and started fresh. 3. Third-party tools (like WazzapMigrator & iCareFone) → Didn’t help or couldn’t access data properly. 4. Clearing cache, reinstalling, airplane mode tricks, changing SIM first, etc. → No change – still 69%. **What I’m considering**: I could live without the media files, if there’s any way to extract only the text/chat history from the backup. Is it possible to manually trim the backup size (e.g. remove media from the Drive backup)? Can the local .crypt14 be repaired or force-used? **Key question**: Is this a size issue (30 GB too large)? Or is the Google Drive backup possibly corrupted? I just need to access the text – the chat history is my entire business.
Jenny Zobel
Jul 7, 2025, 11:56 PM • Last activity: Jul 31, 2025, 11:12 AM
4 votes
1 answers
1840 views
Android phone lost, what data can I get onto new phone?
My Android HTC Magic was lost/stolen last night. I had an unlock swipe code, power-on SIM code and have called the phone company and had it blocked, so not too concerned about the phone itself being used by someone else. What I am thinking about is when I get a new phone, what data/info can I get ba...
My Android HTC Magic was lost/stolen last night. I had an unlock swipe code, power-on SIM code and have called the phone company and had it blocked, so not too concerned about the phone itself being used by someone else. What I am thinking about is when I get a new phone, what data/info can I get back easily as I can't just copy it from the old phone now? Obviously GMail/Contacts/Calendar are all stored on the web, any purchased apps are linked to my Market login, and I'm not concerned about photos, music etc that were on the SD card. What I'm more concerned about are my preferences, settings, SMS texts, list of installed apps, prefs, data from those apps, etc. Are those all gone? Addendum: I was thinking of rooting the phone, so did take a standard Nandroid backup a week ago that I have a copy of on my PC, if I get an identical model of phone and restore that, will my data come back? Also what happens if I try to restore that onto a different model of phone (I'm assuming bad things would happen)?
GAThrawn (22094 rep)
Jul 21, 2010, 05:04 PM • Last activity: Jul 25, 2025, 03:25 PM
3 votes
2 answers
24334 views
Restore a WhatsApp chat with someone else using that person's phone
I have lost my phone and got a new one. Unfortunately, I did not back up my WhatsApp. There is a chat session held between me and someone else who is very dear to me. I have this person's phone. I wonder if I can restore this chat on my phone through that other person's phone.
I have lost my phone and got a new one. Unfortunately, I did not back up my WhatsApp. There is a chat session held between me and someone else who is very dear to me. I have this person's phone. I wonder if I can restore this chat on my phone through that other person's phone.
avihoo (31 rep)
Aug 31, 2017, 08:30 PM • Last activity: Jun 9, 2025, 04:51 AM
2 votes
1 answers
4157 views
Restore WhatsApp media from Google Photos backup
I set up my phone to automatically back up WhatsApp media to Google Photos. Now I want to print one of my conversations as a book using a service like [Zapptales][1]. The problem is, that all media, that has already been backed up, is no longer available: > Sorry, this media file doesn't exist on yo...
I set up my phone to automatically back up WhatsApp media to Google Photos. Now I want to print one of my conversations as a book using a service like Zapptales . The problem is, that all media, that has already been backed up, is no longer available: > Sorry, this media file doesn't exist on your SD card. However, the photos and videos are all still available on Google Photos. Is there a way to restore certain or all WhatsApp media from there back to my device?
martin (121 rep)
Sep 3, 2016, 03:16 PM • Last activity: May 30, 2025, 01:09 PM
1 votes
0 answers
228 views
Restoring device settings from "Cupcake" malware app
I launched the Cupcake malware application from `https://github.com/dmitrijkotov634/Cupcake` that changed my settings, not only the visual part, but also the more systemic one. I restarted the phone and couldn't enter the password because the font was large and couldn't fit on the screen, the keyboa...
I launched the Cupcake malware application from https://github.com/dmitrijkotov634/Cupcake that changed my settings, not only the visual part, but also the more systemic one. I restarted the phone and couldn't enter the password because the font was large and couldn't fit on the screen, the keyboard wouldn't open. Next, I set myself a TWRP custom and deleted the file responsible for the password from there. I logged in to the desktop without a password, changed the font to S in the settings, but then, unfortunately, the applications did not start at all, it wrote "Before opening applications, wait for the phone to complete a full reboot." I also want to note other points - many functions do not work in the settings, for example, the battery section does not open and others go deeper, I turned on ADB in the developer section, but the "USB installation" item does not turn on, activation for the developer crashes. |Image|Image|Image| |-|-|-| |Click on any application and it displays this message|The settings menu "About the application" has been changed|The settings menu "About the application" has been changed 2| The application could not interfere directly with the phone's root system, because I installed it and just launched it, I did not provide any root access. I believe that it somehow interacted with the existing system config available for user modification. But this is just my current opinion, I do not know how it could have happened any other way. Can you please help me get my phone back to working condition, and return the standard values? What are the hidden system settings that can be changed by the user?
Dlight - BS (11 rep)
Jan 2, 2024, 08:02 AM • Last activity: May 23, 2025, 09:46 AM
25 votes
3 answers
45778 views
Backup/Restore SMS/MMS via ADB on a non-rooted device?
Is there any way to backup/restore SMS and MMS messages using ADB, when the device is not rooted? * `adb pull` won't work here, as the corresponding database (`/data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db`) cannot be read by ADB if it's not running in insecure (root) mode * `adb sh...
Is there any way to backup/restore SMS and MMS messages using ADB, when the device is not rooted? * adb pull won't work here, as the corresponding database (/data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db) cannot be read by ADB if it's not running in insecure (root) mode * adb shell "cat /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db > /sdcard/mmssms.db doesn't work either without root access * adb backup for some reason doesn't cover this database on the device I've checked with (empty backup – just the 41 bytes of the backup header in the resulting file) I especially wonder why adb backup doesn't cover this. If it's for "privacy reasons", then the same should apply to the contacts database – which clearly is backed up. **References:** * [Can adb be used to recover SMS messages while in permanent “Safe Mode”?](https://android.stackexchange.com/q/37492/16575) covers the same topic – but other than there, I'm not restricted to [tag:safe-mode] * [backup full sms/mms contents via adb](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12266374/backup-full-sms-mms-contents-via-adb) (on our developers sister-site) is for a "rooted solution" (and, apart from that, a bit of age: question and answers are more than 3 years old) So: Any solution on a non-rooted device? Note that I'm ***NOT*** asking for an app-based solution. I'm fully aware there are [several apps available for this](http://android.izzysoft.de/applists/category/named/file_backup#group_133) . I specifically want a "shell based solution", to be used via ADB.
Izzy (91596 rep)
Jul 6, 2015, 09:05 AM • Last activity: May 12, 2025, 05:21 AM
0 votes
1 answers
11469 views
Color note backup
I am using android jelly bean 4.1.2. I took the backup of color note notes then i have formatted my mobile. Now when I try to restore what I already took a backup I couldn't find the backed up notes in color note restore option. The problem is that I couldn't find the backup data inside the color no...
I am using android jelly bean 4.1.2. I took the backup of color note notes then i have formatted my mobile. Now when I try to restore what I already took a backup I couldn't find the backed up notes in color note restore option. The problem is that I couldn't find the backup data inside the color note application to restore it though I have it in my memory card.
Poorna Chandran (1 rep)
Dec 8, 2013, 05:01 AM • Last activity: May 3, 2025, 06:03 AM
1 votes
1 answers
40458 views
How to import/restore .vmg SMS backup to Android?
I have got an old Samsung mobile that exports all the SMS messages in `.vmg` format. How can I restore those messages on my Android? Is there any tool to convert `.vmg` messages to `.xml` so I could restore using SMS Backup & Restore? Or is there any app to restore from `.vmg` files directly like th...
I have got an old Samsung mobile that exports all the SMS messages in .vmg format. How can I restore those messages on my Android? Is there any tool to convert .vmg messages to .xml so I could restore using SMS Backup & Restore? Or is there any app to restore from .vmg files directly like the one, SDBackup, unfortunately, which didn't work for me?
hsuk (597 rep)
Apr 30, 2014, 07:13 AM • Last activity: Apr 20, 2025, 05:03 PM
1 votes
0 answers
57 views
How can I make bin partition files into img safely? (QFIL > LGUP)
I'm about to flash my kernel for the purposes of overclocking, and I want to start by backing up my LG G7 ThinQ partition by partition in QFIL so I can restore them later with LGUP's partition DL option. This is the safest recovery option for me, since post-root I can no longer access fastboot and i...
I'm about to flash my kernel for the purposes of overclocking, and I want to start by backing up my LG G7 ThinQ partition by partition in QFIL so I can restore them later with LGUP's partition DL option. This is the safest recovery option for me, since post-root I can no longer access fastboot and it takes me 8 seconds to enter EDL mode. TWRP does not work on my model. If my firmware was corrupted to the point that the phone crashes in seconds then I might find I can't access EDL mode anymore, but I can easily reach the firmware update screen as long as my bootloader is intact, and from there I can connect to LGUP. There is just one problem with my plan: LGUP demands IMG partition files but the files generated with QFIL are BIN, and I suspect simply renaming the extension might result in a full brick. What to do? I might need to ask the creator of Magisk if nobody here can help, he would have to know how.
imkira3 (19 rep)
Mar 18, 2025, 07:23 PM
-1 votes
1 answers
307 views
Restore WhatsApp backup in crypt12 format
I have an old local backup of WhatsApp stored in `crypt12` format from 2018 which I would like to restore on a recent version of WhatsApp. I have access to the WhatsApp account and currently it's storing the backups in the newer `crypt14` format. What I've tried without success: - When trying the re...
I have an old local backup of WhatsApp stored in crypt12 format from 2018 which I would like to restore on a recent version of WhatsApp. I have access to the WhatsApp account and currently it's storing the backups in the newer crypt14 format. What I've tried without success: - When trying the regular way of putting the files into /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp, WhatsApp does not start a restore. I suppose it's not supported on recent versions - Installing an old version throws a date error, even when using airplane mode trickery and changing the date, I cannot get it ot login. - I extracted my private key from the new WhatsApp installation with root access, but tools like whatsapp-viewer and wa-crypt-tools throw key/decryption errors. How can I get access to this old backup? I don't necessarily need to merge the old and new (crypt12 and crypt14) backups, access to the old one would suffice. It also does not have to be natively via WhatsApp on the phone, I'm even happy to just get a JSON dump or something.
David Ramiro (27 rep)
Feb 20, 2025, 11:29 PM • Last activity: Feb 21, 2025, 05:45 AM
0 votes
0 answers
120 views
How to restore a permanently deleted app?
I permanently deleted an app on my Android phone and my question is can I recover it if I root the phone or is there any other way to recover the app?
I permanently deleted an app on my Android phone and my question is can I recover it if I root the phone or is there any other way to recover the app?
user559849 (1 rep)
Feb 17, 2025, 03:29 PM • Last activity: Feb 18, 2025, 09:20 AM
6 votes
1 answers
7217 views
userdata .backup android
My tablet is not rooted. I made a backup of it through console (in recovery mode): 1. boot my tablet in recovery mode 1. go down to menu "backup user data" After that, in my sdcard, I have three files: - `userdata_20160211_092627.backup` - `userdata_20160211_092627.backup1` - `userdata_20160211_0926...
My tablet is not rooted. I made a backup of it through console (in recovery mode): 1. boot my tablet in recovery mode 1. go down to menu "backup user data" After that, in my sdcard, I have three files: - userdata_20160211_092627.backup - userdata_20160211_092627.backup1 - userdata_20160211_092627.backup2) Then I moved the sdcard to another tablet (which is the same model), and recovered this backup there through recovery mode (steps as above, just selecting "restore user data"), but after about 10 seconds I get this error: "Checksum compare fail". Does any body know how to fix this error or how to disable the checksum in the .backup file? (this works if i recovered on the same tablet that i have made a backup in) Thanks
Khac Quyet Dang (61 rep)
Feb 17, 2016, 04:57 PM • Last activity: Feb 11, 2025, 11:06 AM
51 votes
5 answers
9225 views
How do I backup and restore SMS Messages?
How do I backup and restore SMS Messages?
How do I backup and restore SMS Messages?
Drake (2351 rep)
Oct 28, 2010, 12:56 PM • Last activity: Feb 5, 2025, 02:57 PM
-3 votes
1 answers
233 views
Why when I tried to restore my WhatsApp backup from Google Drive after Android system restore i am been asked to enter a password
I have a Samsung Galaxy running the latest version on android, the mobile had a lot of annoying popups, so I took a full back up of my phone on Google Drive where I got 2 TB of storage. and I specifically went to WhatsApp and I did a full backup which went successfully. So I thought I am fine now an...
I have a Samsung Galaxy running the latest version on android, the mobile had a lot of annoying popups, so I took a full back up of my phone on Google Drive where I got 2 TB of storage. and I specifically went to WhatsApp and I did a full backup which went successfully. So I thought I am fine now and I have all the backup on google drive and google photos. I did a factory reset for my Phone, and on startup I chose to restore from Cloud and I login to my google account. now all my apps were restored, including WhatsApp. But when I open my WhatsApp and I confirm my mobile number, WhatsApp shows that it is looking for Backups and it found the backup I did earlier today. But when I chose to restore from this backup, i am prompted to enter a password. First, I thought this need to be my google account password, but the login failed, I also tried the old phone pin code, and it did not work either. so what is this password? As i remember I were not asked to enter a password when using WhatsApp and when I backup it? so can anyone help? how i can restore my WhatsApp backup on google drive? without this password? or what is this password? Thanks
microsoftdeveloperdesigner (107 rep)
Jan 27, 2025, 09:49 PM • Last activity: Jan 28, 2025, 09:29 AM
77 votes
6 answers
25481 views
How to backup an Android device?
Can anyone recommend a good way to backup Android devices? Ideally I would like to do this wirelessly and, not only backup my data, but also my user settings. Is it possible to backup an image of an Android device - so that one doesn't even need to reinstall apps? It would be particularly useful to...
Can anyone recommend a good way to backup Android devices? Ideally I would like to do this wirelessly and, not only backup my data, but also my user settings. Is it possible to backup an image of an Android device - so that one doesn't even need to reinstall apps? It would be particularly useful to hear from users that have restored backups, as to how easy, and complete, their processes were. Thanks
ninjaPixel (1531 rep)
Sep 15, 2010, 10:19 AM • Last activity: Jan 22, 2025, 03:13 PM
149 votes
10 answers
186190 views
How do you extract an Android app's data from a full backup made through "adb backup"?
I have been backing up my Nexus 7 with `adb backup` to back up all files into an encrypted backup. I see that you can restore from a backup with `adb restore`, but that would wipe all my existing data on the device. How exactly would I extract one app's data from this encrypted backup file?
I have been backing up my Nexus 7 with adb backup to back up all files into an encrypted backup. I see that you can restore from a backup with adb restore, but that would wipe all my existing data on the device. How exactly would I extract one app's data from this encrypted backup file?
user11553
Aug 29, 2012, 11:51 PM • Last activity: Jan 20, 2025, 10:46 AM
1 votes
1 answers
3607 views
ADB restore isn't working
I have a new problem with the `adb restore` command. I created an `adb backup -apk -shared -all` and it looked like it worked and I think it did because the size is 6 GB. Well I made this from Android L Preview because I wanted to downgrade because of the bugs and when I try to restore it on Android...
I have a new problem with the adb restore command. I created an adb backup -apk -shared -all and it looked like it worked and I think it did because the size is 6 GB. Well I made this from Android L Preview because I wanted to downgrade because of the bugs and when I try to restore it on Android KitKat 4.4.4 it is not working, the adb shell logcat -s BackupManagerService returned this when I tried to make a full restore:
I/BackupManagerService(  758): Beginning full restore...
D/BackupManagerService(  758): Starting restore confirmation UI, token=1224340204
D/BackupManagerService(  758): Waiting for full restore completion...
D/BackupManagerService(  758): acknowledgeFullBackupOrRestore : token=1224340204 allow=true
D/BackupManagerService(  758): Sending conf message with verb 10
I/BackupManagerService(  758): --- Performing full-dataset restore ---
I/BackupManagerService(  758): Initiating bind of OBB service on com.android.server.BackupManagerService$FullBackupObbConnection@437913f8
I/BackupManagerService(  758): OBB service connection com.android.internal.backup.IObbBackupService$Stub$Proxy@43ad7c48 connected on com.android.server.BackupManagerService$FullBackupObbConnection@437913f8
W/BackupManagerService(  758): Wrong header version: 3
W/BackupManagerService(  758): Invalid restore data; aborting.
I/BackupManagerService(  758): Full restore processing complete.
D/BackupManagerService(  758): Full restore pass complete.
Is there a fix for this? Or another way to restore this information? The backup is encrypted but there is not an error of a wrong password and I am pretty sure it's the correct password.
apz2000 (11 rep)
Aug 12, 2014, 07:38 AM • Last activity: Dec 31, 2024, 09:55 AM
0 votes
0 answers
45 views
Specific data and applications from TWRP backup
I have an almost 2-year-old TWRP backup on my HDD drive. I have changed my device in the meantime. I'm wondering whether there is a way to extract WhatsApp data from that old device. What I did was I extracted literally everything until I got to folder `com.fmwhatsapp`. Now, as far as I know, I shou...
I have an almost 2-year-old TWRP backup on my HDD drive. I have changed my device in the meantime. I'm wondering whether there is a way to extract WhatsApp data from that old device. What I did was I extracted literally everything until I got to folder com.fmwhatsapp. Now, as far as I know, I should be copying com.fmwhatsapp to data/data which I did. The problem with that is the fact that FM WhatsApp just keeps crashing after that. - First of all, I'm wondering whether applications actually have all of their data kept under data/data. - Second of all, is there any way to prevent an application from crashing, so I can access a number or two that I lost in the meantime that is in my chat list?
Ja sam I sta (11 rep)
Dec 12, 2024, 06:49 PM • Last activity: Dec 14, 2024, 03:38 AM
3 votes
1 answers
9207 views
How can I restore a WhatsApp backup while retaining stuff from after the backup?
For a number of reasons, I just deleted my entire WhatsApp images folder by accident. I backed WhatsApp up yesterday morning, but yesterday night, I had a sentimental conversation with a friend about some issues I've been having, and I don't want to lose that either. How can I go about doing this wi...
For a number of reasons, I just deleted my entire WhatsApp images folder by accident. I backed WhatsApp up yesterday morning, but yesterday night, I had a sentimental conversation with a friend about some issues I've been having, and I don't want to lose that either. How can I go about doing this without losing that conversation?
Phineas Nicolson (131 rep)
Apr 12, 2018, 08:10 PM • Last activity: Nov 15, 2024, 01:48 PM
1 votes
1 answers
7604 views
How to download all photos from Google Photos into device?
I wanted to do a factory reset. I made a backup of my device using "Setting" → "Accounts and backup" → "Google drive" → "Back up data" → "Back up now" → under "Photos and videos" I checked "Backup photos and videos from this device to your Google Account" checkbox. After one...
I wanted to do a factory reset. I made a backup of my device using "Setting" → "Accounts and backup" → "Google drive" → "Back up data" → "Back up now" → under "Photos and videos" I checked "Backup photos and videos from this device to your Google Account" checkbox. After one hour the backup completed. I did factory reset, chose to restore from backup and selected the backup file. Now everything got restored except the Gallery photos. Those photos appear in Google Photos. I have around 950 photos. How do I download all of them *at once*, so that they become available in my Gallery app?
microsoftdeveloperdesigner (107 rep)
May 15, 2023, 01:09 AM • Last activity: Nov 12, 2024, 06:05 AM
Showing page 1 of 20 total questions