Back Up Your Android Apps (& Their Data) Without Root

One of the few areas where Android lags behind iOS is a comprehensive backup solution for apps. Root tools, such as the popular Titanium Backup, are capable of backing up all of your apps and their data, but not everyone wants to root their device and potentially run into issues with voided warranties.

But Koushik Dutta (or simply, Koush), one of the more prolific Android and ex-CyanogenMod developers, has recently updated his Helium Backup service to include support for the Chrome web browser. This means that non-rooted Android users can now have an all-encompassing backup solution—regardless of what operating system their computer runs.

Step 1: Install Helium on Your Device

Helium works by pairing your phone with your computer to send a few commands that enable proper backups on Android. As such, you'll need to install the app on both your computer and your Android device.

Helium can be installed from the Google Play Store at this link, or you can simply search it by name from your Play Store app.

Step 2: Set up Helium on Your Device

When you first launch Helium, the app will ask if you'd like to attach your Google account for use in cross-device backup sync. Tap "OK" on this message, then select your Google account and provide your login credentials.

From here, press "OK" one more time, then Helium will prompt you to connect your phone to your computer with a USB data cable.

Step 3: Install Helium for Chrome

Google's Chrome browser is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, so make sure you have it installed on your system before you proceed.

The Helium Chrome app can be found at this link. Once you arrive at the install page, hit the "+ Free" button, then click "Add" on the popup.

As with any Chrome app, Helium can be accessed by opening the Chrome Apps menu in your computer's task bar or Chrome's own bookmarks bar.

Step 4: Sync Your Device with Your Computer

With your Android device connected to your computer, open the Helium app on both devices.

After a few seconds, Helium will pair the two devices and enable comprehensive backup for Android. You can disconnect your phone or tablet from your computer at this point.

Note that, as Android resets the changes Helium has made each time it starts up, you will need to repeat this pairing process any time you reboot your phone or tablet.

Step 5: Back Up your Apps

Over on your Android device again, use the Helium app to select which apps you'd like to have backed up. When you tap the "Backup" button, Helium will ask where you'd like to save your backup files. If you want to sync backups between your Android devices, make sure to select the "Google Drive" option.

Restoring apps on this or other Android devices can be done through the Helium app as well. Simply tap the "Restore and Sync" tab, then select your storage location.

Source: Drippler

Back Up All Your Android's Files to Google Drive Automatically

Google makes backing up your contacts, messages, and Wi-Fi passwords extremely easy, but leaves you out in the cold when it comes the data on your internal storage. With most Android devices now lacking SD card support, when you unlock your bootloader or do a factory reset, you're stuck having to back up everything to your computer beforehand.

While that isn't particularly difficult, it can definitely take up a bunch of time, especially if you have gigs of data to back up. GDriveSync will help to expedite the process by syncing preset folders on your internal storage to Google Drive. So as long as you have a Google Drive account with enough space to fit those folders, you'll never need to worry about backing up specific data again.

Step 1: Install GDriveSync

GDriveSync from developer Evan He, can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store. 

Step 2: Set Up Sync Folders

The sync process is one-way, meaning that files will be uploaded from your phone to Google Drive, but not the other way around. This is the ideal situation for backups since you won't lose any files if you delete them off the Google Drive folder on your computer.

To add a folder to sync, tap the + icon on the bottom left and select the Sourceand Destination folder. The source is the folder you want to sync, and the destination is the folder you want to sync to on your Google Drive account.

Step 3: Enable Auto Sync

If you're like me and forget to back up folders on a regular basis, then you should definitely enable Auto Sync. The sync interval can be set to times, and if you are looking to save data, be sure to enable the Wifi Only option.