[GUIDE] Full Phone Backup without Unlock or Root - Sony Xperia P, U, Sola, Go

This is a guide which will allow you to backup your phone via ADB using one simple command. Its commonly used when flashing another firmware or ROM. Keep in mind this is experimental and not exactly publicized as a feature of ICS/JB, so don't count on this as your only method of backup! Firstly you need to have ADB, if you dont have, download and install/extract from here; JDK (Java Development Kit) if you dont have that, you can download it from here and updated Android SDK Platform Tools via SDK Manager and last but not least a drivers for your phone, you can download them from the Sony Development site. OK, let's start :victory:
1. Connect your device via USB, and go to C:\adt-bundle-windows-x86\sdk\platform-tools. Hold Shift and right click. Choose open command window here.
2. Optionally, type the command 'adb devices' to ensure that your device is properly recognized. If you're comfortable with ADB already, just skip this.
The following text its about the adb backup command and all about it. I recommend reading it. Thanks to copkay for the further backup process.
In ADB there is a command 'adb backup' which this thread is all about. The command parameters format is:
Code:
adb backup [-f <file>] [-apk|-noapk] [-shared|-noshared] [-all] [-system|nosystem] [<packages...>]
The most basic command you can use* is:
Code:
adb backup -all
This will use the defaults to backup only app and device data (not the APKs themselves) to the current directory as 'backup.ab'
* This may not work for every setup. If you get an error such as "adb: cannot open file ./backup.ab", use:
Code:
adb backup -all -f C:\backup.ab
Or substitute the path of your choice in place of C:\.
To explain the parameters:
Code:
-f <file>
Use this to choose where the backup file will be stored, e.g. '-f /backup/mybackup.ab', which will save it at the root of your drive (C:\ for Windows, etc.) in a folder called backup, as a file named 'mybackup.ab'. I recommend using this flag to set a location manually, as with my first backup test, it said that it completed successfully, but I was unable to locate the backup file. I have no idea where it was saved, but it wasn't where it should have been located.
Code:
-apk|-noapk
This flags whether or not the APKs should be included in the backup or just the apps' respective data. I personally use -apk just in case the app isn't available in the Market, so that I don't have to go hunt it down again. The default is -noapk.
Code:
-shared|-noshared
This flag is used to "enable/disable backup of the device's shared storage / SD card contents; the default is noshared.", which for the Xperias I would certainly flag to -shared, but from my test, it did not restore all of the contents of my internal storage, so I recommend backing up music, pictures, video, and other internal storage items manually, just to be on the safe side. The default is -noshared.
Code:
-all
This flag is just an easy way to say to backup ALL apps. The packages flag (further on) can be used to choose individual packages, but unless you're just wanting to backup a specific application, use -all for a full system backup.
Code:
-system|-nosystem
This flag sets whether or not the -all flag also includes system applications or not. I used -system, but this is probably unnecessary, and I would almost guess that it is safer to use -nosystem, but use your own judgment on this. The default is -system.
Code:
<packages...>
Here you can list the package names (e.g. com.google.android.apps.plus) specifically that you would like to backup. Use this only if you're looking to backup a specific application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3. Once you've made your decision on how to perform the backup, simply type the command as you would like it; in my case, this is the command that I used:
Code:
adb backup -apk -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab
^ It backs up all data including music, pictures, videos, APKs etc. ^
Code:
adb backup -apk -all -f C:\backup.ab
^ It backs up ONLY the APKs, system and user ones ^
4. You will see a screen like the following:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
5. Enter a password (if desired) for encryption of the backup file. RETAIN THIS PASSWORD FOR RESTORING LATER.
6. This process will take several minutes to complete, depending on the settings you've chosen, but when completed, you will get a toast on-screen saying 'Backup Complete', or if you miss that, you'll know once your phone returns to the home screen.
9. To restore, with your device connected open your command prompt again, and type:
Code:
adb restore C:\backup.ab
10. You will see a screen like the one below:
11. Simply type in your current encryption password (if you've set one), and the password with which the backup was encrypted (if you chose to set a password), and the restore will begin. It again will take several minutes depending on the size of the backup and the options chosen.
12. You're back to normal, Enjoy !

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Could I restore my data using this method after I rooted my device (xperia P, LB)? Will I lose root if I do?
Sent from my LT22i using xda app-developers app

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good post. very helpful.

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didn't use adb before so maybe iam doing somethings wrong.
usb debugging on, stock ics rooted. adb devices shows my device (xpgo).
after adb backup -apk -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab console outputs : unlock device and confirme...
but there is now backup screen on my device.
any ideas what iam doing wrong ???
thanx

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stavro said:
didn't use adb before so maybe iam doing somethings wrong.
usb debugging on, stock ics rooted. adb devices shows my device (xpgo).
after adb backup -apk -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab console outputs : unlock device and confirme...
but there is now backup screen on my device.
any ideas what iam doing wrong ???
thanx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats normal, you should get a new output line when finished. It takes a hour or two
Sent from my LT22i using Tapatalk 2

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DavidMKD said:
Thats normal, you should get a new output line when finished. It takes a hour or two
Sent from my LT22i using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i mean this screenshots that you posted. i don't get to them.
i guess they should popup after entering the command in the console, right ?
in my case nothing happens on the phone.

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Mis-typed link for ADB
Thanks DavidMKD for the info...
I know the thread is over a year old, but I was referred here by XDA for assistance. For the benefit of others who might arrive here for similar help... the ADK link properties show it to be ending in "htmll" (can't post full link due to forum spam rules), and clicking on it comes up with an error 404, probably due to the extra "l" in html ?
Haven't yet gone through the process, but hoping to have a working solution soon. I read stuff from cover to cover and follow instructions to the letter, so here goes....
Cheers