Travel Technology - Best way to move Android apps to new phone

Droid 4 that I ordered will show up today and I want to move paid apps from my Droid X (suppose I can just download the freebies again). Seeing on Android bulletin boards that using Google Play to reinstall them is an inexact science. A few posts reference an app called Astro File Manager.

Any hints, suggestions, alternative apps for doing this, etc.? Thanks in advance.

When I went from my Nexus One to my Galaxy Nexus, the phone downloaded all of the apps I had installed on the old phone automatically when I logged into Google. I didn't have any paid apps through Google, but did through the Amazon App store. As soon as I loaded the Amazon App store, it showed a list of all of my apps and let me download them individually. I had uninstalled many, so I appreciated being asked.

Very seamless in my opinion.

Amazon and Google Play know your previously installed apps. Simply reinstall/update each one on the new phone.

If you have side loaded apps, you should know what to do with them.

When I went from my Nexus One to my Galaxy Nexus, the phone downloaded all of the apps I had installed on the old phone automatically when I logged into Google. I didn't have any paid apps through Google, but did through the Amazon App store. As soon as I loaded the Amazon App store, it showed a list of all of my apps and let me download them individually. I had uninstalled many, so I appreciated being asked.

Very seamless in my opinion.

Similar experience when I purchased an Android tablet to complement my existing Android phone, all apps. downloaded, even paid ones!

I have been using Titanium Back-up Pro (paid) for ~ 18 months as I flash a new ROM quite often, but this does require that the phone be rooted. The paid version allows for the batch back-up and restore of any/all apps, with or without data.

MyPhoneExplorer may also have this feature? It is also pretty handy to backing up/restoring contacts, calendars, calls, smses, synching with Outlook.


There are a number of contact back-up apps. in the market, like Super Backup: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.idea.backup.smscontacts&hl=en

Just go to your "My Apps" section in google play and click on each one you want to reinstall.

Just go to your "My Apps" section in google play and click on each one you want to reinstall.

Oddly, only one app was available in Google Play for me to reload. There were three others that I had paid for through that portal, missing.

Probably four other apps that were free did not show up. No big deal of course, as I can always reload them (but suspect my history will be gone).

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Magically the menu appeared this afternoon. Only problem has been a $15 purchased app, "Quick Office Pro HD" will not update because the device is not compatible. Hard to believe this is the case, as the OS that I was running on the old Droid X and the new Droid 4 shouldn't be much different.

Oddly, only one app was available in Google Play for me to reload. There were three others that I had paid for through that portal, missing.

Probably four other apps that were free did not show up. No big deal of course, as I can always reload them (but suspect my history will be gone).

I've always had the paid apps show up unless they were incompatible with the new device. Free apps don't show up there.

I feel it very easy and safe to use gmail, calendar and google docs. I highly recommend all to use google accounts to save emails and other data.

My biggest complaint with Android is that there's no way to universally save and transfer data, such as game progress. There are individual backup apps for some games (e.g. Angry Birds) but not for others (e.g. Plants v. Zombies).

If you have side loaded apps, you should know what to do with them.

The OP did not suggest having side-loaded apps. For all we know, he's not familiar with the concept.

In any case, I suggest the OP sideload everything. "Nero Mobile Sync" comes stock with some Androids, and can be used to save the apps to the SD card. The apps can probably be restored after moving the SD card to the new phone, which would essentially be like side-loading them.

This is also a good approach if you don't like big brother (Google) keeping track of your apps.

Making backups of the apps is a good habit to get into anyway, because quite often you upgrade an app and find that it was really a downgrade (more ads or more spyware gets introduced). Backups are the only way to get back to the previous versions.

"Nero Mobile Sync" comes stock with some Androids,

I don't have this app on my HTC Amaze 4G. Can I side load it? :D

My biggest complaint with Android is that there's no way to universally save and transfer data, such as game progress. There are individual backup apps for some games (e.g. Angry Birds) but not for others (e.g. Plants v. Zombies).

Agreed. Rooted devices can backup everything, but in principle it's quite flawed to require users to hack their devices and void their warranties. Breaking security in order to achieve security is a poor choice that Google leaves us with.

I don't have this app on my HTC Amaze 4G. Can I side load it? :D

I believe anything can be sideloaded. The challenge is getting your hands on it. Most apps are sheltered and controlled exclusively in Google's walled garden.

BTW, I gave the wrong name. It's really "Nero Backup & Restore" that backs up the apps (the binary, not the application data). "Nero Mobile Sync" is something else.

Actually if one is interested it is quite easy, and exponentially easier than Ios, as they really try to lock things down.