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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[–] tkk13909@sopuli.xyz 13 points 2 weeks 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 4 points 2 weeks 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🀣

[–] reisub@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 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.

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Truu, i read that you need 3 backups!

[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's the IT standard of care for backup.

[–] stinky@redlemmy.com 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

print on paper

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

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

Good idea, ill get a notebook!🀣

[–] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago

Makes sense!

[–] skoell13@feddit.org 5 points 2 weeks 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 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Is Syncthing my ideal backup application?ΒΆ

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 5 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago

Ill look into that!

[–] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 4 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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.

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

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

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

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

[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Nicee thank you so muchπŸ™ŒπŸ™Œ

[–] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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

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

[–] folaht@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)
  1. Grab a piece of toilet paper
  2. Rub it over your screen
  3. Stop using closed source apps
[–] pandorabox@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

🀣🀣🀣🀣 I'm trying🀣🀣

I hate my sms app. Im using quik but i hate the way it looks and that it cant send videos.