How to Sync and Backup All of your Apps and Their Data in Android (Video)

Technically this app doesn’t require root access, BUT it definitely makes it much cooler. The app I’m referring to is called Helium and it’s creator, Koush, needs no introduction in the rooting world. He’s responsible for creating some of the most well known rooting apps (ROM manager, Clockworkmod Recoveries, etc.) which have millions of downloads each. This new app, though, is something he says is “…the missing app sync and backup solution for Android”.

Frankly, I can’t argue. Helium allows you to not only backup all of your apps and their data on your device, but it also has the ability to sync them with your device (which makes for seamless reinstallation whenever you, say, flash a new ROM). Without further ado, here’s how to install the app and how to use it with root access.

I. Root Your Android Device

1. To do this procedure, you must be rooted. If you aren’t, you can head to our Rooting How To’s section and pick the manufacturer you have, pick the device you have, pick the latest “how to root” method for your device and software version, finish that and then return here to continue (once you see SuperUser or SuperSU in your app drawer you are rooted).

II. Install Helium

1. Open the Play Store.

2. Tap Search at the top right.

3. Type in Helium

4. Tap on Helium when it shows up.

5. Tap Install in the top right corner.

6. Tap Accept when prompted.

7. Tap Restart.

III. Backup Your Apps Using Helium

1. Open Helium.

2. Tap OK and login with your Google Account (this allows you to backup to your Google Drive account if you want to).

3. Tap OK.

4. Tap Grant when asked for superuser permissions.

5. Select each app you want to back up or tap the four box icon at the bottom left of the app then tap Select All to just include all of them in the backup.

6. When you are ready to back them up, pull up the dark grey tray from the bottom of the screen (if it isn’t already pulled up from selecting all).

7. Choose whether you want to just save the app data or uncheck it to save the app apk as well (leaving it checked makes for smaller backup files and will have to prompt you to download each app from the Play Store when you restore and unchecking it will make everything automated and reinstall automatically at the cost of a larger backup file).

8. Choose a name for this backup group.

9. Tap Backup.

10. Choose where to back this up to (if you purchase Helium Premium you get the option of using cloud storage which I recommend for if you lose your device or erase it’s storage).

10. Wait for it to finish.

IV. Restore a Backup

1. Download and install Helium on your device if it isn’t already there.

2. Open Helium.

3. Tap on Restore and Sync at the top right.

4. Tap on where you saved the backup to.

5. Tap on the Saved Group or check off each individual app you want to restore.

6. Tap Restore.

7. Wait for it to reinstall all the apps.

V. Sync your Apps

You can take all of this one step further by purchasing his Premium version then selecting Scheduled Backups and select your Google Drive as the backup location to have it automatically sync all of your app data at regular intervals and make it so you never have to worry about your apps again.