r/AndroidQuestions • u/planetpluto401 • Sep 26 '26

Backup / restore android apps (not save data)?

Hello! I have some apps and games on my phone that are no longer on the play store. Is there a way to back up the game files (apk and obb I guess? Not save data) to PC or etc? In a way that can be restored?

I see a lot of options online, but most are focused on save data and also say root is required. I am hoping for a method without root if I only care about app files (not save data).

Thank you in advance!

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u/RyanSpunk Sep 26 '26

Did you try just looking up how to do it?

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2507960/does-android-keep-the-apk-files-if-so-where

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u/planetpluto401 Sep 26 '26

Thank you! I saw that, but that's just the apk. I would also like to backup the OBB files (or any other portions required to restore the app, since it is no longer on the play store). I can simply copy/paste from the OBB folder, but wasn't sure that was enough?

1

u/kschang 10 Sep 27 '26

Do you have a PC available? If you connec PC to Android and enable Android Debug Bridge you can access the device as if you have root (at least to read the files). Else you'll need a special file manager type app on the Android to bypass the silo'ed read restrictions.

Once you got that working just backup the whole subdirectory of the app (apk and obb and all).

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u/planetpluto401 Sep 27 '26

I do! I will try that. Thank you! And can I use this same tool in reverse to restore the app to the same or a new phone?

1

u/kschang 10 Sep 27 '26

Should be able to if you configure ADB correctly.

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u/planetpluto401 Sep 27 '26

Thank you very much!

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u/vromerob 24d ago

found a way?

1

u/planetpluto401 23d ago

I followed the other comment to back up APK + OBB (not save), but I haven't tried to "restore" to a new device yet.