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> it would be nice if Android phones had a comprehensive whole-phone backup feature, though There is, or I should say, was a way to do this: adb backup Unfort

> it would be nice if Android phones had a comprehensive whole-phone backup feature, though There is, or I should say, was a way to do this: adb backup Unfortunately, for "security" reasons, nearly every app developer (Google included) opts out of it in the app manifest, completely nerfing the feature. [1] We live in a truly terrible timeline where the infrastructure to do what the author describes exists and has been there for years, and yet has been made functionally useless by user-hostile policy choices. Google's incentives are also opposed to allowing users to take an offline backup of their apps and app data, because now they're able to sell more cloud storage for your data. [1] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/74387730/back-up-android-with-adb-backup/74388896#74388896 https://stackoverflow.com/questions/74387730/back-up-android...

Zuiii 3y ago
Does graphine os or other open source android distributions offer a way to force backup hostile apps? It's insane to me that strangers have more control over your property than you do.
- dur-randir 3y ago
  If you can install alternative OS, you have your bootloader unlocked. If you have your bootloader unlocked, you can install magisk. And with magisk, you own your device, not some corporates - so you can back up any data you want.
carstenhag 3y ago
It boils down to effort/cost vs value. We disable all kinds of backup data on our android app, including local favorites (should be backed up imo) and auth data (should not be backed up). It's just a hassle to implement, handle, maintain, test and no one ever asked for it. We had it enabled at some point but then had a bug only occur when a user was restoring data from a backup, crashing the app instantly on start. Of course then it gets decided to completely disable it, instead of spending say 1000€/month to maintain/test this feature 'noone' wants. Same as with portrait/landscape mode.

Zuiii 3y ago

Does graphine os or other open source android distributions offer a way to force backup hostile apps? It's insane to me that strangers have more control over your property than you do.

dur-randir 3y ago
If you can install alternative OS, you have your bootloader unlocked. If you have your bootloader unlocked, you can install magisk. And with magisk, you own your device, not some corporates - so you can back up any data you want.

carstenhag 3y ago

It boils down to effort/cost vs value. We disable all kinds of backup data on our android app, including local favorites (should be backed up imo) and auth data (should not be backed up). It's just a hassle to implement, handle, maintain, test and no one ever asked for it. We had it enabled at some point but then had a bug only occur when a user was restoring data from a backup, crashing the app instantly on start. Of course then it gets decided to completely disable it, instead of spending say 1000€/month to maintain/test this feature 'noone' wants. Same as with portrait/landscape mode.