Creating a Data Backup - A Quick Guide

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Creating a Data Backup - A Quick Guide

Keywords: Backup, Data Security

1. Apps:
Many apps offer an internal backup function for data/settings (export and/or backup function).
Please check all apps you use for this feature and utilize it. Store the created backups within the user directory.
It is recommended to create a new folder for this, e.g., "PhoneBackups," and within this folder, create subfolders for each app, e.g., "Contacts," "FairEmail," etc., to store the respective backup files for each app.

The backup folder "PhoneBackups" along with its subfolders should then be regularly copied to an external medium (SD card and additionally to a PC, external drive, cloud, etc.).

Regularly create a list of all installed apps. The app "List My Apps" (available in the F-Droid Store) is recommended, as it lists all installed apps by name in a text file. Please also back up this file externally.

2. Personal Data:
Regularly copy all folders created in the file manager under "Internal" to your PC via USB connection (this will automatically include the backup from the last sentence of point 1). Optionally, you can back up the "/android" folder along with its subfolders to ensure temporary files and files created by the apps themselves are not lost.
Note: In the phone's file manager, Android folders are mostly not visible. However, via USB connection, all folders are visible on the desktop and can be copied.

3. System:
Settings - System - Backup offers various backup options to regularly back up the system and optionally the apps, and then store this file externally or perform the backup directly to an external location.
Note: If apps and personal files are also backed up, significant storage space may be required on the target medium, depending on the number of installed apps or the total amount of files.

Since our VollaPhone does not offer root access for security reasons, it is not possible to create a 100% complete system image that could be used for restoration later. Therefore, the three steps described above provide a practical approach to easily restore the system as usual in case of recovery.

I will continue to expand and refine this guide over time.