[Tutorial] How to Backup and Restore Android Devices Using ClockWorkMod Recovery

As we already now, each time we decide to perform operations on our Android powered device the data saved on its storage memory or even on its SD card might be wiped out. Furthermore, if you want to do things more complicated like flashing a custom ROM, install unofficial updates, or beta firmware, you can wreck (brick) the phone’s system. But, there is a way in which you can avoid all these unfortunate aspects. You can make a full backup before starting the main process; and I’m not referring to any backup as you should save your current ROM first.

This is exactly what we will be checking during the present step by step guide: how to backup and restore your Android device before installing custom ROMs, or applying unofficial updates. And the perfect way to do it is by using the ClockWorkMod Recovery custom recovery image. With this you can backup the current ROM that is running on your phone, so in case if something goes wrong while trying to flash a new ROM into the system you will be able to revert and use the old software. This is the perfect method to use for avoiding bricking your smartphone.

As you know, the warranty is void each time you want to complete one of the up mentioned operations, so backing up the software is no longer an option for you. Anyway, you need to get ClockWorkMod Recovery first. If you don’t know CWM is a custom recovery designed to work on the Android platform and offer different capabilities to the users like: making backups, test custom ROMs, perform maintenance operations and so on.

Now let’s head to the proper guide. Make sure you read all the lines for understanding the concept and for completing a full and safe backup of your ROM. Also you will learn how to install and use CWM, so don’t skip sections of the tutorial.

Follow these steps:

1. First, you should root your device as you cannot install ClockWorkMod Recovery on an un-rooted handset. Check our previous posts as you can find a how to root guide suitable for your device.
2. Then you should know that not all the smartphones are being able to support the tool. So, before starting to do something, check here and see if your phone is on the list.
3. Then, after checking the compatibility and rooting the handset you must go on Google Play and search for the ROM Manager app.
4. Install the same.
5. Then open the tool.
6. Select the “flash ClockWorkMod Recovery” option.
7. Then, just select “Backup Current ROM” and follow the prompts.
8. The backup will be completed once you reboot the smartphone.
9. Now, if you decide to install a custom ROM into the system and something wrong happens just restore the backed up firmware by opening the app again and choosing “Manage and Restore Backup” and then “Restore”.
10. You will have the old OS as soon as you reboot the device.

So, there you have it; that’s how you can backup the current ROM before flashing a custom ROM, or update your Android device with an unofficial firmware, and this by using the ClockWorkMod Recovery tool. If you want to backup the rest of the files from your handset too, you can use other apps, or methods. In this way you can save your personal info whether it is about messages, contacts, calendar saves, Market apps and who knows what else.

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How to Root HTC One, Unlock Bootloader, Backup and Install a Custom Recovery (Using TWRP)

HTC one is indeed one of the monsters mobile phone right now. It has everything we need and no one has ever doubted it. So on this tutorial i will show you how to root, unlock bootloader and install a custom recovery using TWRP on the phone. For those who did not know about the advantage of rooting device can go to this post.

To Root Your Phone, You Will Need the Following

• HTC One drivers, which are included with HTC Sync Manager.
• Android Forums Mini SDK, which can be found in the second post on this thread.
• The latest TWRP recovery .img, which can be downloaded here. You may also want to rename it twrp.img for ease of installation later.

Step 1: Prepare Your Files
Extract the Mini SDK .zip file to a folder anywhere on your computer, then copy the twrp.img file to this folder. I'll be using C:\sdk-tools. Now, copy the SuperSU .zip file to your phone, either with AirDroid or via USB.

Step 2: Unlock Your Bootloader with HTC Dev
Next, head on over to HTC Dev and unlock your HTC One's bootloader using their instructions or our previous softModder tutorial. Our guide is for the EVO 4G LTE, but the process is the same.

Step 3: Install TWRP
Power off your device, then press and hold Power and Volume Down until you're in the bootloader menu. Highlight FASTBOOT and press Power. You should see Fastboot USB highlighted in red.

Open a command prompt on your computer and navigate to your SDK directory. Type "fastboot flash recovery twrp.img" and hit Enter.

Step 4: Backup Your Stock ROM
On your phone, highlight BOOTLOADER and press Power.
This time, select RECOVERY and press Power to boot into TWRP.

Tap Backup and swipe to confirm. You can restore this backup if anything goes wrong by selecting Restore in TWRP's main menu.

Step 5: Install SuperSU
In TWRP's main menu, tap Reboot. It will tell you that you're not rooted and ask you to install SuperSU, so swipe to confirm. When you reboot your phone, you should see a notification that you need to install the SuperSU app. Open the notification and select TWRP, since the app from Google Play only works with S-OFF.

That's it! For most people, the next step is installing a custom ROM or apps that require root.

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How To Backup Android Device Without Root Access

There’s quite a difference to how you’d treat data backups on a PC and a smartphone. On a computer, the operating system itself might not need be copied to any location, since it’s retail available and can be always reinstalled. However, come to an Android smartphone and the game changes significantly. It’s not like the OS isn’t available for a secondary install; what makes people cautious is because they’d usually like to play around with custom firmware, AOSP builds, modified kernels and whatnot to unleash the true power of their devices. For those reasons, and others of the like, people prefer backing up the entire partitions, just in case something goes wrong. And they’re darn right in doing so – ask someone with experience.

When it comes to data backup – both at app-level and system-wide – there’s no shortage of capable tools and solutions that hardly need any introduction. With such competition, it’s hard to imagine a newcomer making notice worthy room for mention. However, developed by XDA member omegavesko, Simple ADB Backup certainly is a head turner. The app uses Android 4.0+’s native backup facility over Android Debug Bridge to save a complete snapshot of your device in its current state, providing a convenient and newbie-friendly GUI to the ADB backup function of Android.

Available for Windows and Linux platforms, Simple ADB Backup differs from all others of its kind in that it doesn’t require the device to be rooted in order to perform the data copy process. Popular alternatives like Titanium Backup and My Backup Pro both require a rooted device to function properly, so this comes as a bliss to all those who haven’t yet rooted the device (or don’t want to), but still would like to have data security. The application’s interface is really simple and easy to navigate, with big buttons indicating their purpose very clearly. It goes without saying that the application will require ADB to be setup on your machine, and USB Debugging to be enabled on the device itself.

Simple ADB Backup is a powerful and useful application, despite the fact that it’s still an open beta. It might not support all the devices, and would only work with those that are running Android version 4.0 or above. You may download the app for your respective platform at the source link below, as well as finding further technical details and assistance.

(Source: XDA-Developers forum thread)

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