How to start use Neo Backup from F-Droid?

ohhWazzka

Good afternoon!

Neo Backup requires root privileges, how can I make it work and is it safe to use this software to create backups?

Thank you for your answer!

treequell

ohhWazzka It's not possible to use Neo Backup on GrapheneOS. You can use the OS backup service Seedvault which you will find in Settings > System > Backup. You can also use app-specific backups provided within some apps.

ohhWazzka

treequell What exactly is the problem with using Neo Backup?

N3rdTek

treequell this backup option is known to not work why do you keep suggesting it?
People are creating backups, wiping, then finding out nothing is actually restored.

treequell

ohhWazzka The problem is not specific to Neo Backup. The issue is that it's not the OS backup service. Such a backup service has to be tightly integrated into the OS to maintain the Android security model. That's how AOSP works. GrapheneOS has Seedvault for that, which is provided with the OS. A user installed app like Neo Backup can't be used as the OS backup service on GrapheneOS.

[deleted]

ohhWazzka GrapheneOS is a security-focused OS, so It would obviously not let you grant root access to apps. There is a signature|privileged permission called android.permission.BACKUP which is what Seedvault uses so It can backup stuff.

csis01

It can be used, and works extremely well. The problem, as you understand, is that in order to work it requires root access, which grapheneos does not offer and does not support.

Having said that, if you have a pixel 6 or lower and keep your bootloader unlocked, you can "fastboot boot" a modified boot.img to achieve root temporarily/periodically to perform backups.

I'm not going to address the security implications of anything related to bootloader unlocking or root, that's all your business and your risks to take.

N1b

N3rdTek it does work, or at least it did for me. It won't do a complete backup of all apps and their settings (which it tells you in detail) and I've heard from some people they couldn't restore their backup which is sad, but only means you always need a plan B for backups in case plan A fails you. Neo Backup has failed some people as well, it's not unusual and I'd always assume of my first backup to not work as intended, just so I can find redundant strategies.

That being said, Seedvault is flawed and the GOS team is already looking into replacing it with a better alternative which I'm excited for. Until then, it's recommended because it's the default backup solution. Quote from the GOS feature page:

For now, this is the best available option so we're including it to give people encrypted backup support. We've made several security fixes to work around upstream issues with the project.

N3rdTek

N1b a back up is not a back up until it has been restored. It's basically the #1 rule of backups.

I'd have to double check but their post regarding the update is over 2 years old by now