Back it up, bring it back: No data left behind

Android Developers Backstage

Jul 10, 2025•49 min

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Episode description

It can be a draw when setting up a new device. Some info transfers, while some don’t. Learn how developers can ensure the best user experience when people backup and restore an Android device. Hosts Tor and Chet are joined by Graham and Piyush on the Android Consumer Experience team and Alon on the Android Studio team to discuss Android backup and restore.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction & the user pain point

1:38 - Why backup fails: Developer challenges

4:00 - Evolution of backup testing: From scripts to Android Studio

7:15 - Beyond testing: Backup for developer workflow

8:50 - Cross-device backup & GMS core integration

10:55 - Understanding backup types: Devices vs. Cloud

14:55 - Data categories & developer control

16:05 - System-level backup: Permissions & credentials

18:35 - Default backup pitfalls & key-value agents

28:15 - Database migrations & backup stress testing

32:04 - Automated testing framework

41:02 - Recap & feedback channels

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