this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2025
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Privacy

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The title says it all. I want to wipe my phone and then only use open source apps. The thing im afraid of is not backing up my data correctly and losing things like my keepass.

I have to make sure the data from the open source apps is downloadable as well so i can reload them to my phone.

Any tips to assist me with this process?

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[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 4 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Which phone? Any custom ROM?

Keep in mind that you can't restore data from one app to another. For stuff like photos it's a full export and import outside of the app.

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

Its just a one plus with stock android. I just wanted to wipe it and start anew with better privacy. If i could fix it without wiping it, that would be great.

[–] tkk13909@sopuli.xyz 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not sure about your other apps but in keepass you can just export as an encrypted file and share it

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Yep definitely can!

I think im paranoid because i have a whole flash drive that i cant access stuff on because its corrupted. Dont want that to happen to my keepass🤣

[–] stinky@redlemmy.com 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

print on paper

yes seriously. no one can access it, and it cannot get corrupted.

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 0 points 23 hours ago

Good idea, ill get a notebook!🤣

[–] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (1 children)

Take backups.

1 or 2 copies of something is not a backup, 3+ is a backup. And test them too, make sure they work.

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

Makes sense!

[–] reisub@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

That's why you need backups. If you wipe your phone and only have a single other copy of your data, you do not have a backup.

[–] markinov@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 18 hours ago

If your keepass database is encrypted then backup it in cloud

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Truu, i read that you need 3 backups!

[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 4 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (1 children)

3-2-1

3 copies, including the original

2 types of media

1 stored offsite

The first is to be used. The second is to restore the 1st in the event it is damaged. The third are to restore the first and second in case the building burns down.

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 22 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 1 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

It's the IT standard of care for backup.

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago
[–] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Go through each app and export its data, then transfer those files off the phone.

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

Smart idea! Most of the open source apps have that option!

[–] skoell13@feddit.org 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I use Syncthing to back up my Signal chats and pictures every night with my raspberry Pi. I simply let Signal create a backup at night ans let Syncthing watch the backup folder.

[–] autonomoususer@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Is Syncthing my ideal backup application?¶

No. Syncthing is not a great backup application because all changes to your files (modifications, deletions, etc.) will be propagated to all your devices. You can enable versioning, but we encourage you to use other tools to keep your data safe from your (or our) mistakes.

https://docs.syncthing.net/users/faq.html#is-syncthing-my-ideal-backup-application

[–] skoell13@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

Thanks, I am awarw of that, I also have an rsync job to move the files into my NAS. The deletion is the part that bothers me most, but if you flash the device and the install syncthing with a new identifier that should treat it as a new device.

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 23 hours ago

Ill look into that!

[–] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

If your phone is older you can do full per app backups via ADB. It's very hit and miss. Some people need to root the phone for it to work, some don't. For some it works for someit doesn't.

https://gist.github.com/AnatomicJC/e773dd55ae60ab0b2d6dd2351eb977c1

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Thank you so much! How old, i think my phone is too new🤣🤣

[–] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 2 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

Just try it out, it doesn't take a lot of time. If it doesn't work just move on.

[–] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Testing if it works is a bit of a pain though, because you need to have a wiped phone to restore the backup on to make sure each app restores properly.

[–] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 1 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Not really. If it doesn't work the backup will be always the same size, 47B iirc

[–] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 21 hours ago

Well more that when it does work you don't know for sure which apps are fully backed up.

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 22 hours ago

Nicee thank you so much🙌🙌