Don't think anyone else has posted this yet so here goes:
A Google employee called Rich Hyndman posted this on his Google+:
https://plus.google.com/115995639636688350464/posts/b9ejZegfw8p
With Android 4.0 you can backup and restore app data to a computer using adb with no root required. I just did this on my stock device because I wanted to unlock it and install the 4.0.2 update manually as no OTA notification had come my way. Unfortunately the backup part doesn't work on Windows yet but it does on Ubuntu and Mac OS.
Here are the steps I performed:
1.) Connected my Galaxy Nexus to my Ubuntu machine with the Android SDK already setup
2.) I ran "sudo adb backup -f 20111219.bak -all" (adb only works as root on my machine)
3.) This pops up a screen on the phone asking for an encryption password to use for the backup (this will be asked for when you restore). It might work with no password
4.) Once the backup has completed the adb command will exit. Keep the .bak file somewhere safe
5.) Backup everything on USB storage (I used my Windows machine for this as I have no idea how to get MTP working on Linux)
6.) Wipe your phone with a factory reset or fastboot oem unlock
7.) Once wiped boot normally and you will have to perform initial setup again (do this on Wifi as it takes a while to re-download all apps)
8.) Wait for all your apps to download (download notifications will stop)
9.) With your phone connected to your PC again run "adb restore 20111219.bak" (this works on Windows oddly)
10.) If you used a password in step 3 enter it on your phone here and tap the restore button.
11.) Wait for it to finish restoring.. done
I restored BEFORE applying the update manually as detailed here because I didn't know if backing up on Android version 4.0.1 could be restored to Android version 4.0.2.
This restored all my app and game data and even setup the folders and shortcuts on my home screen (but not widgets). However, it did not restore my SMS message and call history so it looks like at least some apps won't be included in backups - YMMV.
A Google employee called Rich Hyndman posted this on his Google+:
https://plus.google.com/115995639636688350464/posts/b9ejZegfw8p
With Android 4.0 you can backup and restore app data to a computer using adb with no root required. I just did this on my stock device because I wanted to unlock it and install the 4.0.2 update manually as no OTA notification had come my way. Unfortunately the backup part doesn't work on Windows yet but it does on Ubuntu and Mac OS.
Here are the steps I performed:
1.) Connected my Galaxy Nexus to my Ubuntu machine with the Android SDK already setup
2.) I ran "sudo adb backup -f 20111219.bak -all" (adb only works as root on my machine)
3.) This pops up a screen on the phone asking for an encryption password to use for the backup (this will be asked for when you restore). It might work with no password
4.) Once the backup has completed the adb command will exit. Keep the .bak file somewhere safe
5.) Backup everything on USB storage (I used my Windows machine for this as I have no idea how to get MTP working on Linux)
6.) Wipe your phone with a factory reset or fastboot oem unlock
7.) Once wiped boot normally and you will have to perform initial setup again (do this on Wifi as it takes a while to re-download all apps)
8.) Wait for all your apps to download (download notifications will stop)
9.) With your phone connected to your PC again run "adb restore 20111219.bak" (this works on Windows oddly)
10.) If you used a password in step 3 enter it on your phone here and tap the restore button.
11.) Wait for it to finish restoring.. done
I restored BEFORE applying the update manually as detailed here because I didn't know if backing up on Android version 4.0.1 could be restored to Android version 4.0.2.
This restored all my app and game data and even setup the folders and shortcuts on my home screen (but not widgets). However, it did not restore my SMS message and call history so it looks like at least some apps won't be included in backups - YMMV.
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