How to Create and Restore App Backups Via ADB Commands

This guide will show you the steps to create and restore an app backup via ADB commands. Are you looking for a way to create and restore app backups on your Android device? While Google’s sync feature keeps track of the list of installed apps, it does not back up their data. This means that when you restore an app, only the app itself will be downloaded and installed without any of its data. This can be time-consuming, especially if you have to set up the app from scratch and resync the server data.

Additionally, this feature is only supported on a limited number of apps. However, do not worry; a hidden and underrated method allows you to create and restore app backups via ADB commands. So, let us get started!

How do I create and restore an app backup via ADB commands?

The prerequisites

Before we begin, there are a few requirements for creating and restoring app data. Make sure to checkmark each one.

1. Download and extract the Android SDK Platform Tools.
2. Enable USB debugging on your device and connect it to your PC using a USB cable.

Create an app backup via ADB commands.

To create an app backup using ADB commands, follow these steps:

1. Find the app’s package name for which you want to take a backup (e.g., pl.solidexplorer2).
2. Open the Command Prompt by typing “CMD” in the address bar of the platform tools folder and pressing Enter.
3. In the Command Prompt window, enter the following command, replacing package-name and package-name-backup with the appropriate values:

adb backup -apk package-name -f package-name-backup.ab

For example, if the package name is pl.solidexplorer2, the command will be:

adb backup -apk pl.solidexplorer2 -f pl.solidexplorer2.ab

1. On your device, you will be prompted to tap on “Back Up My Data.”
2. The app will now be backed up in APK format, and its backup will be saved in the platform tools folder as an AB file.

Restore App Backup via ADB Commands

To restore an app backup using ADB commands, follow these steps:

1. Install the saved APK file that you obtained from the platform tools folder.
2. In the Command Prompt, enter the following command, replacing package-name-backup with the actual name of the backup file:

adb restore package-name-backup.ab

For example, if the backup file is pl.solidexplorer2.ab, the command will be:

adb restore pl.solidexplorer2.ab

1. On your device, you will be prompted to tap on “Restore My Data.”
2. The restoration process will begin and may take a few seconds.
3. Once the process is complete, launch the app and continue using it from where you left off.

That is it! These are the steps to create and restore app backups via ADB commands. If you have questions or need further assistance, please ask in the comments section. We’ll be happy to help.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)