Data Backup Digest

Although many of us have already made the transition to Android’s Nougat operating system, and with others already participating in the beta version of the next big release, there are still plenty of users who rely on Marshmallow – or Android 6.0 – 6.0.1 – for their mobile communications. What many users don’t realize is the fact that Marshmallow, sometimes referred to as Android M, provides built-in backup functionality for nearly any app on your phone.

Known as specifically as “Auto Backup for Apps,” the feature lets your system backup critical app data without the need for manual intervention or scheduling. Any apps using the protocol are limited to 25 megabytes of backup data, which is synced to your individual Google Account. However, the backup data does not factor into your overall storage available through Google Drive.

There’s another interesting caveat about Google M’s Auto Backup for Apps, too. Because the utility is not connected to Google Play, most third-party apps can take advantage of the functionality to make life easier for the current generation of smartphone users. App developers who want to integrate the feature into their apps simply need to rebuild their app using version 23 of the software development kit, or SDK.

Developers retain full control over the exact data that is backed up via the utility. The app typically targets everything, including app-specific data, user preferences and login information, for archival, but individual developers can choose which data to archive and which to ignore. App developers can even opt out of the system altogether, as can consumers.

As the name implies, the purpose of the feature is to provide fully automated backups of your important data; you won’t have to do anything out of the ordinary. If you want to view the interface of the utility, go to your Settings page and click on the section “Auto Backup for Apps.” From there, look at the Manage Backups page for information on a list of the apps on your system and the exact amount of space they’re using. Keep in mind that there’s really nothing to tweak here, so you’ll have little to play with in the way of options or custom settings.

The utility provides automatic archival every 24 hours. Not only does this prevent the loss of data if your phone malfunctions, but it also streamlines the process of buying and transitioning to a brand new device. This can save countless hours of hassle and frustration when it comes to trying to transfer everything manually.

Restoration is also an automated process. This occurs whenever an app is reinstalled from the Google Play store or during setup. As you can see, the team with Android has made it as easy as possible to safeguard the data on your smartphone.

For more information on Google Android, please visit their official website at www.android.com. Not only can you find more details on Google M, but you’ll also be able to keep up-to-date on any late-breaking news or recent announcements from their development team.