this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2023
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F-Droid

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F-Droid is an installable catalogue of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) applications for the Android platform. The client makes it easy to browse, install, and keep track of updates on your device.

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How can I backup the list of F-Droid apps I have installed on my phone right now so i can just import that list on another phone and don't have to install each app manually?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I use Obtainium

I'ts perfect to export your list of foss apps and let you install directly from github and other repository sources. I only use Obtanium + Aurora Store now

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Use NeoBackup from f-droid to do this, backup your apps and you can copy the backup to another phone or computer. You can restore it later when you need it

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Does this work with non rooted phones too, and back up app data for F-droid apps still run into the back up limitations of non rooted phones?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Nope, for non rooted phone you might want to try Restic (I haven't tried it yet)

https://github.com/lhns/restic-android

Edit

I just remember, there's APK Kit from f-droid repo, it doesn't need root access

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Does APK Kit allow transferring user data, or does it just transfer the app?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I couldn't try it, because I can't grant access permission to user data on Android 13

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Neo Store which can be downloaded from f-droid let's you favorite apps and export that list.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was able to use Neo Store to export favourite apps as you suggested, but I wasn't able to import apps back, not sure what am I missing ....

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It should have imported the list of favorite apps but not the apps itself, since it doesn't do that type of back up. Did you import with the xts file?

Does hitting the top left 'favorites' change up the apps displayed?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

OK, I see what it's doing. If an app was removed from the favourite list, the import of the backup file will add the missing app back to the favourite list.

That actually does not do what I was after.

I am still looking for an app that will recognise all the installed F-Droid apps, so that I'll be able to backup the apps to a backup list. Then use the app and the backup list to reinstall the apps on another phone.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Can't think of anything that does that other than getting something like something swift backup which uses root or shizuku to back up and restore select apps and their data

https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-use-shizuku-to-restore-your-android-apps/

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Thank you for your comments.

Neo Store, does show you all F-Droid apps and lets you export all favourites apps to an .xts file. I uninstalled few apps from my phone, but I wasn't able to import the "missing" apps from the list in the .xts file.

APK Kit lists all instated app on my phone, including Google play store and F-Droid, so this is not very useful (to me).

As for NeoBackup, I do need an app for a non rooted device

and Restic, is not that clear how to backup list of F-Droid installed apps and how to use it to restore missing apps.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)
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