Backup.

gray-wolf

Unfortunately, the built-in backup function doesn't work properly. After creating a profile copy on a flash drive, it's impossible to restore all apps and settings. Out of five restore attempts, only two were able to restore all apps, but not all apps restore their settings, and it's also impossible to restore all profile settings. It's a gamble every time. It's a matter of luck. Only files are restored correctly. And I've never been able to restore my microG settings or Google accounts.
But a complete profile restore is crucial for me. For example, after losing my smartphone, I'd like to be able to accurately restore the configuration of each profile individually, including the entire set of settings for each app and all the rules and permissions in the profile, to a new, similar device.
I also ask for a progress bar to be added during the manual backup and restore process, so I can see the percentage that has been restored and how much remains. For example, in percentages.

tumbord

gray-wolf restore my microG settings

you run microG instead or paralel to sandboxed gps?

gray-wolf

tumbord

Let me remind you that there is also no indicator for the completion of backup tasks. I would like the developers to take the problem very seriously, as this problem also harms the reputation of the project. Thank you in advance.
Imagine that the user disconnects the flash drive before the backup tasks expire, believing that the backup has already been created.

Prkfsz

Unsure if I should open a new topic or just join this one, because it's regarding backup. If this require topic of it's own please admin let me know and I will do that of course.

Have a Pixel 6 pro with 3 users, no microG, have sandboxed Google on one of the users (deactivated). Want to migrate now to 8 pro and trying to create a backup for migration, one user at the time. Using micro sd card. First with unchecked for backup apps, nothing happens, system creates backup folder with nothing in it and 8 pro can not see any backups made. When I check for option of "backup apps" than i see the system processing a backup (once it just stopped in the middle of the process tho) and there is something in the backup folder and 8 pro is trying to retrieve it but comes up with error.
I remember migrating from Pixel 5 to 6pro couple of years ago and the process being a breeze. Could somebody please point me to a solution?

tumbord

gray-wolf i don't necessarily agree with wanting software projects to be acessible for the dumbest person possible. in fact if something is optimized for (technically, mentay) illiterate people, I get weary because if the devs target this audience, I double guess what their motives might be. best case is just money and not scam/extortion/data theft. but certay it is not for best reasons.
just my 2 cents

de0u

gray-wolf Let me remind you that there is also no indicator for the completion of backup tasks.

I would expect there to be a status-bar icon (a cloud with an up-arrow inside it) while a backup job is running, plus also an expandable notification with a progress bar. Are those not occurring on your device?

gray-wolf Imagine that the user disconnects the flash drive before the backup tasks expire, believing that the backup has already been created.

Unfortunately, at present SeedVault is somewhat unreliable, so the only way to believe that a backup has completed successfully and without corruption is to try restoring into a fresh profile. Knowing whether or not SeedVault thinks a backup was successful is not very reassuring by itself.

raccoondad

gray-wolf I would like the developers to take the problem very seriously,

Frankly, they have other things to do than maintain seedvault more than they already have

Eirikr70

There is currently no functional system backup. That is documented. You can backup every app individually (that's what I do) but you still have to reinstall and reconfigure every app.

de0u

raccoondad I agree that the effort that would probably be required to make SeedVault work reliably is not likely to be what the GrapheneOS project invests in at present. But I think it's possible at the same time to acknowledge user concerns about backups being a serious issue that is far from solved.

chinook

Agreed.

To me it's unreliable enough to always warn about that any potential new convert.

I am trying backup every once a while (backup of secondary profile to usb -> restore on a fresh profile), and there's always something failing -- like now it reported a successful backup but when I look at the status - "Not backed up as it wasn't used recently" -- like... so what? Status still showing "Waiting to back up..." for several more apps after it was reported finished successfully... An app with a weird red exclamation mark....
System Apps

All "successful".
'Check backup integrity' immediately following backup always fails - it checked 0B though, because it's broken. Very reassuring.

Restoring of backups of course brings multiple errors reinforcing the perception it's an unreliable attempt at backups.
Yes, I know; something better is planned. I wish we could at least use something great that has been already proven working in the meantime.