Backing up app data on Android phones is useful for keeping your information safe and being able to restore it if needed. Many apps store data like user settings, high scores, and other customizations that you wouldn’t want to lose. While some apps have built-in backup options, the ability to fully back up app data usually requires root access.
What is root access?
Root access gives you administrator-level control over the Android operating system. It allows you to access all parts of the system and make changes that are not normally allowed. With root access, you can back up the private app data stored in each app’s data directory. Without root, you are limited to backing up only certain public app data.
Can I backup app data without root access?
Backing up full app data and settings without root access is not possible in most cases. However, there are some limited options for backing up app data without root:
- App-specific export options – Some apps provide their own backup features that allow you to export app settings and data. For example, you can export chat histories from messaging apps or game progress from gaming apps. These exports usually do not cover all app data.
- ADB backup – Android’s built-in ADB backup can backup apps and some data without root. But it has many limitations and often fails to backup much useful app data.
- User data partitions – Some phones have separate user data partitions that can be backed up independently of the system. But this only includes select app data located in these partitions.
So while you can backup bits and pieces of app data without root access, the only way to fully backup all app data and settings is to have root access on your Android phone. Having root allows full backups through custom recovery tools like TWRP or Titanium Backup.
What app data can be backed up without root?
Here are some examples of app data that can usually be backed up without needing root access:
- Settings and preferences – App settings and custom preferences are sometimes stored in locations that can be backed up non-rooted. But complex apps may store these in protected data directories.
- Basic user data – Simple user-generated data like high scores, basic usage info, and cached data can often be backed up without root.
- Public files – Files saved to public storage locations like Pictures, Downloads, etc. can be backed up without special access.
However, most non-root backup methods cannot access an app’s private data directories or system settings. So the following types of important app data cannot be backed up fully without root:
- Private app files – App data stored in protected internal storage locations.
- Databases – App databases containing user data and customizations.
- Account info – Logins, credentials, and authentication tokens.
- Device settings – System-level settings made by apps.
- Saved states – Memory states needed to resume apps where left off.
Why can’t I backup app data fully without root access?
There are a few main reasons why root access is needed to fully back up app data on Android:
- Security restrictions – Android is designed to prevent apps from accessing data belonging to other apps. This provides security but limits backups.
- Protected data directories – App data is stored in /data/data directories that cannot be accessed without root permissions.
- System-level integration – Some app data is stored in protected system settings partitions that only root can access.
- Permissions system – Apps must request special permissions to gain access to many types of data on Android.
Android’s security model is designed to compartmentalize app data and prevent unauthorized access. This is good for security and privacy. But it limits the ability of standard backup tools to access the full range of app data without being given root privileges.
What are the risks of rooting for backups?
While rooting your Android does enable full app data backups, there are some risks to consider:
- Voiding warranty – Rooting typically voids your device warranty since it breaks security protections.
- Bricking device – Something may go wrong during the rooting process and cause the device to get stuck in a non-working state.
- Security issues – With lower security, malicious apps could potentially access more data.
- Stability issues – Rooted devices may have more crashes or app incompatibility.
- Updates – You may lose root access when updating Android system software.
These risks are relatively low with proper precautions. But you should think carefully before choosing to root your device. There are often other good options for backing up your most important app data without needing full root access.
What are the best non-root backup options?
Here are some of the best ways to back up Android app data without root access:
- ADB Backup – Does limited backups of apps and some data using Android’s adb tool.
- Helium – App that uses adb and exploits to backup some app settings and data without root.
- SMS Backup & Restore – Backs up text messages to the cloud or local files.
- App-specific exports – Use in-app export options for data like game progress, etc.
- Syncthing – Syncs app files across devices without needing root.
- Photos to cloud – Manually back up photos, videos, and media to cloud storage.
While limited compared to full root backups, combining several non-root methods like these can cover backups for many of your important app data and files.
Should I root my phone for app backups?
Whether you should root your Android device for full app data backups depends on several factors:
- How sensitive is your app data? Root improves backups for very sensitive financial, business, or personal data.
- What apps do you use? Root is more useful if you use complex apps that store lots of settings and customizations.
- What backup alternatives exist? Many non-root backup options exist for less sensitive data.
- Are the risks acceptable? Rooting carries some device security, stability, and warranty risks to weigh.
In many cases, non-root backups combined with selective app data exports provide reasonably good coverage for users’ most important data. But for power users with lots of sensitive app customizations, root access can provide the ultimate data backup protection.
Conclusion
Backing up full app data and settings reliably requires root access in most cases. Without root permissions, backups are limited to only certain public app files and settings. Rooting does enable complete backups but also carries some risks that users should carefully consider. Often a combination of non-root backup methods can back up the most important user data for non-power users. But users dealing with highly sensitive or customized app data may want to evaluate if rooting specifically for improved backups is justified.