Tutorial: How to back up non-root Android apps and their data over Wi-Fi using Helium freeware on Windows

[Arlen Holder]

Tutorial: How to back up non-root Android apps *and their data* over
Wi-Fi using Helium freeware on Windows (without using the Cloud!)

This tutorial was created based on a thread this week by "The Real Bev"
who needed help in backing up apps _and their data!_ to move to a new phone:
o *NEW PHONE!*, by The Real Bev
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/d0Y8CqDTaog>

And note I reviewed dozens of articles on how to back up Android before
choosing this method as one of the local backup methods most recommended:
o *What free non-root Android backup & restore solution do you recommend for general use?*
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/jZ8IxxgXFys>

Bearing in mind a backup should _never_ require the Internet (IMHO)
o *Do people of reasonable technical ability store their private data*
*on the Internet (if so, for what gain?)*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/mBIZ-8jGdmk/aLDJkSJQAAAJ>

Note if you're going to factory reset the phone, you _must_ copy the backed
up data from the Android phone over to the Windows desktop, where there are
plenty of methods for doing so described here:
o *Tutorial: How to connect Android to Windows as a drive letter*
*over a Wi-Fi LAN for free simple reliable bidirectional copy*
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/9Lu2_dPsu6o>

Below is my 1st-test log written as I was testing out the Helium freeware.
o As always, please improve & help where questions arise so all benefit.

Tested with:
o Android 9 (Pie) Motorola Moto G7 (not rooted)
o Windows 10 Pro (version 1909)
o Note I provide below my test folders - use whatever directory tree you like.

a. Start with the Android device _not_ connected by USB to Windows.
The Android device should be connect to the same LAN as Windows.
You may wish to disconnect your router from the Internet
because the program communicates with ClockworkMod servers.
b. On Android, enable USB Debugging
<https://trendblog.net/enable-disable-developer-options-android/>
Settings > System > Advanced > Developer options > Developer options = On
Settings > System > Advanced > Developer options > Debugging > USB debugging = On
c. On Android, disable display the display sleep timer
The most my phone will go using normal settings is:
Settings > Display > Advanced > Sleep > (o)30 minutes
However, I can use Developer Options to keep it on:
Settings > System > Advanced > Developer options > Developer options = On
Settings > System > Advanced > Developer options > Stay awake = On
d. On Android, install "Helium - App Sync and Backup", by ClockworkMod
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.backup>
Note: I don't have a Google Account on my phone
So I used the Aurora Store to obtain Helium (has ads, GSF dependent)
Name: Helium 1.1.4.6.apk
Size: 6871125 bytes (6710 KiB)
SHA256: 93260CC619DEE9AAB64DFC147201680CE252606922E77CABA48B68AB29277BB0
e. On Windows, create a software & backup hierarchy:
mkdir c:\software\os\android\backup\01_adb_drivers
mkdir c:\software\os\android\backup\02_helium_desktop
mkdir c:\software\os\android\backup\03_helium_apk
mkdir c:\data\backup\phone\motog7\20200420
f. On Windows, download & install "Android Universal ADB drivers"
<https://github.com/koush/support-wiki/wiki/Android-ADB-Drivers>
Name: UniversalAdbDriverSetup.msi
Size: 17060864 bytes (16 MiB)
SHA256: 4E77E303BBA6CF84588BDB6DA91F7A875D406F7930CBE9F4D2AAE0B643C0C928
It wants to install to: C:\Program Files (x86)\ClockworkMod\Universal Adb Driver\
I put it in: C:\app\os\androidbck\universaladbdriver
g. On Windows, download & install the Helium desktop app
<https://github.com/koush/support-wiki/wiki/Helium-Desktop-Installer-and-Android-App>
Name: CarbonSetup.msi
Size: 18114048 bytes (17 MiB)
SHA256: C92E588CAFC67C62FC10AB57C212CCB52322BB959EC5A0C660151C837B84560C
It wants to install to: C:\Program Files (x86)\ClockworkMod\Helium\
I put it in: C:\app\os\androidbck\helium
Windows complained:
Windows Security:
Windows can't verify the publisher of this driver software.
[Install this driver software anyway]
h. On Windows, reboot the PC.
i. On Windows, locate & run the "Start ADB Server.lnk" shortcut:
Location = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\ClockworkMod\Start ADB Server.lnk
Start the ADB Server from the alphabetical menu:
Flag > ClockworkMod > Start ADB Server
j. On Windows, locate & run the "Helium" shortcut:
Location = C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\ClockworkMod\Helium.lnk
Flag > ClockworkMod > Helium
k. On Windows, the Helium program will pop up and say:
"To enable Helium on your Android, please connect it to USB."
l. Connect the Android device to the PC via a USB cable.
m. On Windows, the Helium program will change to:
"Please allow debugging on your Android. (offline)"
n. On Android, the screen will change to:
"Allow USB debugging?"
[_]Always allow from this computer
[OK]
o. On Windows, the Helium program will change to:
"Helium has been enabled on your Android."
p. On Windows, after that message, disconnect the Android device from the USB cable.
q. On Windows, the Helium program will change back to:
"To enable Helium on your Android, please connect it to USB."
r. On Android, start the Helium app and accept the permission requests.
Note that it runs a server, e.g.,
Helium Server is running: http://192.168.1.2:5000/
s. On Android, the Helium app will report:
"Android app backup enabled!
You can now disconnect from your PC.
Please note: if you turn your Android off, you will need to reconnect
to Helium Desktop to enable application backup again.
t. Select the apps you want to back up, e.g.,
System: [x]Messaging Storage (SMS and Call Logs)
Applications: [x]OsmAnd~

Note you have the choice of the apps & their data, or just the data:
App Data Only (smaller backups) You will be prompted to download
the app from Google Play before restoring.

Note that if the backup fails, a log is automatically sent to ClockworkMod!
"An error occurred while performing your app backup.
A log of the error has been sent to ClockworkMod."

Note: I could see no way to stop this from within the Android Helium app!
(Please advise how best we could stop this transmission!)
u. Note that some apps will not allow backups, e.g.,
ACR: Backup Disallowed
v. When you press the "BACKUP" button, it will ask you to:
"Select Backup Destination"
Internal Storage
Schedule Backup
Add Cloud Storage Account
w. Note my setup did not allow the sdcard to be chosen.
x. I selected "Internal Storage"
It said "Backup Complete".
"Your app backup is complete."
Note that a screen flashes by almost too fast to react to, saying:
"A full backup of all data to a connected desktop computer has been requested.
Do you want to allow this to happen?
If you did not request the backup yourself, do not allow the operation to proceed.
If you wish to encrypt the full backup data, enter a password below.
[Do not back up][Back up my data]
y. The "Internal storage/carbon" folder now contains the backup:
/storage/emulated/0/carbon/com.android.providers.telephony/
z. Copy that "carbon" folder to Windows over USB or Wi-Fi for safekeeping.
This PC\moto g(7)\Internal shared storage\carbon\com.android.providers.telephony\
.nomedia
._com.android.providers.telephony.png
com.android.providers.telephony.ab
com.android.providers.telephony.json

Note: Free Helium supposedly backs up to internal storage, sdcard, or the cloud;
however, mine didn't show the SDCARd, and you need premium to restore the app
data from the cloud.

To restore:
A. On Android, start Helium
B. On Android, in Helium, press the "Restore and sync" tab
C. In Helium, under "My Devices", select "Internal Storage"
D. You should see as an option each of the backups you previously made.
Messaging Storage [_]
E. Select the box and press "Restore"
F. You will briefly see a "Full Restore" screen flash by too fast to react.
G. You should see a message of "Restore Complete"
"Your app restore is complete"
--
REFERENCES:
How To Backup App Data On Your Android Device Without Root Access
<https://trendblog.net/backup-app-data-android-without-root/>

How to backup and restore app data with or without root
<https://www.androidpit.com/how-to-backup-and-restore-app-data-with-or-without-root>

[Arlen Holder]

See also this backup thread opened today...
o best Google-free backup, non-rooted? Eli the Bearded
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/Sfx_Tik9OT8/nDyKIqgZAgAJ>