Where backups are stored on Android: a complete guide to search and recovery

Losing important data on a smartphone is one of the most unpleasant situations for a user. Photos, contacts, messages, or app settings may disappear due to a factory reset, device failure, or accidental deletion. Fortunately, Android offers several backup mechanisms, but not all users know where exactly these copies are stored and how to access them.

The backup system on Android works at several levels: from automatic cloud backups through Google Account to manual local ones copies created using TWRP or third-party utilities. The problem is that this data is scattered across different folders, services and even devices. In this article, we will analyze all possible storage locations for backups - from standard functions Android 14 to hidden system directories that are not discussed in the official documentation.

You will learn:

• 🔍 How to find automatic backups in Google Drive and what exactly is saved there
• 📁 Where local backups (including hidden folders) are stored on the phone
• 🔧 How backups work in TWRP and other custom recovery
• ⚙️ Why some data is not restored and how to fix it

Before you start searching, make sure that backup is enabled on your device. To do this, check the settings in the System → Backupsection. If the option is disabled, all local copies may have been deleted after the last reboot or system update.

1. Cloud backups in Google Drive: what is saved and where to look

The main backup tool on most Android devices is Google Drive. The system automatically saves some of the data to the cloud, but many users are surprised when, after a reset, they do not find the expected files there. The fact is that Google not everything is backed up.

What exactly goes into the cloud backup:

• 📱 System settings: wallpaper, screen brightness, connected Wi-Fi networks, language settings
• 📞 Contact (if synchronization is enabled in Settings → Accounts → Google)
• 💬 Call log and SMS (only on some devices, for example, Pixel)
• 🎮 Application data (if the developer has added support for backup via Android Backup Service)
• 📁 Photos and videos is enabled (only if the function Google Photos)

Where to look for these copies:

1. Open Google Drive in a browser.
2. In the left menu, select Backups (Backup).
3. Find your device in the list by model (for example, Samsung Galaxy S23 or Xiaomi Redmi Note 12).
4. Click on the backup to see the date of the last save and the volume occupied.

Important: Google Drive stores only the latest version of the backup. If you want to save several recovery points, use local copies or third-party ones services like Titanium Backup.

2. Local backups: hidden folders and system directories

In addition to the cloud, Android creates local copies of some data directly on the device. These files are usually hidden from the user and can take up gigabytes of memory if they are not cleared. Where exactly to look for them?

The main storage locations for local backups:

Data type	Folder path	How to open
Application backups (ADB)	/data/data/com.android.backupconfirm/files/	root access or ADB required
Copies of SMS and call logs	/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/	Only with root or via TWRP
WhatsApp backups	/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/	Available without root, but the folder can be hidden
System settings (Nandroid)	/sdcard/TWRP/BACKUPS/	Created only through custom recovery

To see hidden folders, use a file manager with root support (for example Root Explorer or FX File ExplorerAn alternative way is to connect the phone to the PC and use the ADB command:

adb shell ls /data/data/com.android.backupconfirm/files/

Local backups are automatically deleted when resetting to factory settings, if not transferred to a memory card or external drive. To avoid this, copy the folder regularly TWRP/BACKUPS to your computer.

How to recover data from the WhatsApp/Databases folder?

Copy the file msgstore.db.crypt14 to the folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/, reinstall WhatsApp and confirm your phone number. The application will offer to restore chats from a local copy.

3. Backups in TWRP and other custom recovery

If your device is unlocked and a custom recovery is installed (for example, TWRP or OrangeFox), you can create full system images, including boot, system, data and other partitions. These copies are stored in a separate folder and take up a significant amount of space, but they allow you to restore the phone even after serious failures.

Where TWRP backups are stored:

• 📂 Main folder: /sdcard/TWRP/BACKUPS/[device_serial_number]/
• 🗃️ Inside it are folders with creation dates (for example, 2026-05-15--10-30-22_...)
• 📄 Each partition is saved as a separate file with the extension .win or .tar

How to create a backup in TWRP:

1. Boot into recovery (usually Power + Volume Up).
2. Select Backup.
3. Tick the partitions to copy (recommended Boot, System, Data).
4. Swipe to confirm.

Warning: TWRP backups are not compatible between different versions of recovery or firmware. For example, a copy made in TWRP 3.6.0may not be restored in TWRP 3.7.2.

4. Backups via ADB: how to make and where they are stored

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) allows you to create backups of applications and their data without root access. These copies are stored on the computer and can be restored even after a hard reset. However, the method has limitations: not all applications support backup via ADB, and some data (for example, passwords) may not be saved.

How to create a backup via ADB:

1. Connect your phone to the PC and enable USB debugging in the developer settings.
2. Open the command line and enter:

   adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab

3. On your phone, confirm the creation of a backup (you don’t have to set a password).

Where the backup file is stored:

• 💻 On computer along the specified path (in the example - C:\backup.ab).
• 📱 It is not saved on the phone - only on the PC.

To restore data, use the command:

adb restore C:\backup.ab

Please note: backup via ADB does not include system settings, SMS or contacts. They require separate solutions (for example SMS Backup & Restore).

5. Backups from manufacturers: Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei

Many brands offer their own solutions for backup, which are integrated into the firmware. These tools are often more convenient than standard ones, but they work only on devices of a specific brand.

Samsung (Smart Switch):

• 📱 Stores copies in /sdcard/SmartSwitchBackup/ or on a PC when connected via USB.
• 🔄 Supports recovery to new models (for example, from Galaxy S21 to S23).
• ⚠️ Does not save data of some third-party applications.

Xiaomi (Mi Backup):

• 📁 Storage folder: /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/.
• 🔐 Requires authorization in Mi Account for cloud backup.
• 📱 Local copies take up a lot of space (up to 5-10 GB).

Huawei (HiSuite):

• 💻 Copies are created only when connected to a PC via HiSuite.
• 📂 The files are stored in the app folder on the computer (for example, C:\Users\[name]\Huawei\Backup\).

Important: backups from manufacturers are not compatible between brands. For example, a copy from Smart Switch cannot be restored to Xiaomi, and vice versa.

6. copying: pros and cons

If standard tools are not enough, you can use applications from Google Play. They offer advanced functions, but require caution: some apps request unnecessary permissions or store data on their servers.

Popular backup applications:

Application	What it copies	Where it stores the data	Cons
Titanium Backup	Applications + data, SMS, logs	Locally or Google Disk	Requires root
Swift Backup	Applications, data (without root)	Local or cloud	Paid version for full functionality
SMS Backup & Restore	SMS, MMS, call log	Locally or Google Drive	Does not copy multimedia from messages

Before installing third-party software, check:

• 🔒 Does the application have access to the Internet (risk of data leakage).
• 📂 Where exactly are copies saved (some apps hide files in deep system folders).
• 🔄 Is recovery supported on other devices.

Attention: applications like Titanium Backup may conflict with new versions of Android (starting from Android 10). Before use, check compatibility on the forums (for example, XDA Developers).

7. Why a backup may not be restored and how to fix it

Even if you regularly create backups, problems may arise during restoration. Here are the most common reasons and ways to solve them:

Problem 1: Google Drive does not offer to restore data after a reset.

• 🔹 Make sure you are signed in to the same Google Accountthat was used for the backup.
• 🔹 Check if backup is enabled in the settings (System → Backup).
• 🔹 Wait 24 hours - sometimes recovery does not happen immediately.

Problem 2: Local TWRP backup does not is restored.

• 🔹 Check the compatibility of TWRP and firmware versions.
• 🔹 Make sure that the backup file is not damaged (try copying it to a PC and checking it with an archiver).
• 🔹 If the backup is encrypted, enter the correct password.

Problem 3: Applications crash after recovery.

• 🔹 Update applications to the latest versions via Google Play.
• 🔹 Clear the application cache in the settings (Applications → [name] → Memory → Clear cache).
• 🔹 If the problem persists, restore only the data, without APK files.

If the backup was created on another version of Android (for example, on Android 11, and you restore to Android 14), some data may not be transferred due to changes in the API. In this case, try restoring only critical files (contacts, SMS) manually.

8. How to automate the creation of backups

Manually creating backups is tedious, especially if you do it regularly. Fortunately, there are ways to automate the process:

For cloud copies:

• 🔄 Enable automatic backup in Settings → System → Backup.
• 📱 Install Google One for advanced backup management (15 GB available for free).

For local copies:

• 📅 Use Tasker or Automate to create backups by schedule.
• 🔧 Set up automatic folder copying TWRP/BACKUPS to your PC using Syncthing or Resilio Sync.

For applications:

• 📦 V Titanium Backup set up a schedule in the section Menu → Schedule.
• 🔄 Swift Backup enable automatic backup in the application settings.

Tip: if you often reflash your phone, create a separate folder on the memory card (for example, /sdcard/MyBackups/) and configure all utilities to save copies there. This way you can quickly copy everything to your PC before resetting.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about backups on Android

Is it possible to restore a backup a copy from one phone to another?

Yes, but with reservations:

• 📱 Google Drive: you can restore to any device with the same account, but some settings (for example, wallpaper) may not work.
• 🔧 TWRP: only if both phones have the same firmware and partition layout.
• 📁 Local copies (for example, WhatsApp): usually transferred without problems.

For applications use Titanium Backup or Swift Backup with the option "Restore to another device."

How much space does a backup copy take in Google Drive?

The volume depends on the amount of data:

• 📱 Basic backup (settings, contacts, applications) - 20-100 MB.
• 📸 If backup is enabled Google Photos — from 1 GB (depending on the number of photos/videos).
• 🎮 Game data (for example, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) - up to 5-10 GB.

Check in Google Drive in the section Storage.

Is it possible to restore a backup after replacing the motherboard?

Yes, but:

• 🔧 If the board is replaced to same model, restore the TWRP or Google Drive backup.
• 📱 If the model is different, restore only application data (via ADB or Titanium Backup), but not system settings.
• ⚠️ IMEI and other hardware bindings are not restored - they need to be reconfigured separately.

How to delete old backups to free up space?

Cleaning methods:

• 🌐 Google Drive: go to Backups, select the device and click Delete.
• 📁 Local copies: delete folders /TWRP/BACKUPS/ or /SmartSwitchBackup/ via a file manager.
• 🔧 ADB backups: delete files with the extension .ab on your computer.

Attention: after deleting a backup from Google Drive, it will be impossible to restore it impossible.

What data is NOT saved in backups?

Even a full backup is not includes:

• 🔐 Wi-Fi passwords (saved only on some devices, for example, Pixel).
• 📡 Data of some banking applications (for example, SberBank Online or Tinkoff block backup via ADB).
• 🎵 DRM-protected content (for example, downloaded movies from Netflix or Kinopoisk).
• 📱 Files in the folder Android/data/ (for example, game cache).

For critical data (for example, passwords), use specialized managers like Bitwarden or KeePass.

If you have not found the answer to your question, check official documentation Google or contact the forum XDA Developers (for technical questions on TWRP and custom firmware).

Regular backup is the only reliable way to protect data from loss. Do not rely on one method: combine cloud services, local copies and specialized utilities. Remember that even the most reliable devices can fail, and data recovery after physical damage is many times more expensive than preventative backups.